Estate Planning in St. Albert to Protect Your Future

The Best Time To Start Planning For Your Estate Is Today

Now that you've built your wealth, you want to safeguard it for your children, grandchildren, or any causes that are important to you. At Lindsay Financial, we understand how important it is to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. That's why we offer comprehensive estate planning services that are tailored to your unique financial situation and goals.

Estate Planning?

More complex financial affairs call for a comprehensive estate plan. Estate planning is a process that helps you answer questions like:

• Who gets what after I have passed?
• Can I preserve even more of my wealth for my beneficiaries?
• How can I make things easier for my loved ones during a difficult period?
• Who will ensure that my ultimate wishes are carried out after my death?
• Will all my assets be easily located (financial, digital, mementos, heirlooms)?



The greying of Canada's population is accelerating. For the first time in history, seniors now outnumber children. Looking ahead, population projections show the gap between the two age groups will continue to widen. By 2031, almost one in four Canadians will be 65 or older. A growing segment of the population should be making sure their affairs are in order, and estate planning can help.

Why Do You Need an Estate Plan?

Having a properly drafted will is the cornerstone of an estate plan. But as your financial affairs become more complex, the need for more holistic planning grows.

If you have children, philanthropic goals, and valuable assets (like your investments, business, or vacation home), you need a comprehensive estate plan to make sure the wealth you've worked hard to build is distributed according to your wishes.

On top of that, an estate plan can help reduce the potential costs and delays involved in settling your estate, such as estate tax and probate fees.

Depending on your unique situation, there are different ways to achieve your estate planning goals, including wills, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, insurance, trusts, tax planning, and charitable gifts and foundations.

When to start (and review) your estate plan?

It's best to start your estate financial planning when you're in relatively good health. Planning for uncertainties and incapacity, such as changes to your health and well-being, is an important part of comprehensive estate planning. You'll need to have the right documents in place, including powers of attorney, to ensure your financial and health decisions are taken care of if you're unable to do so.

Remember, estate planning is an ongoing process that should be revisited as your life circumstances change. Our team will help you review and revise your estate plan as your children grow, your assets become more complex, your goals evolve, and technology and society change. We'll also help you plan for unique circumstances, such as passing on your digital assets.

If any of the following circumstances occur, it's time to review your estate plan:

• Death of a spouse
• Marriage or remarriage
• Birth of a child or grandchild
• Death of a beneficiary
• Purchase or sale of a business
• A beneficiary with special needs will receive a share of the estate (this requires special trust planning)
• The executor named in Will predeceases you
• Purchase of foreign property

Our Estate Planning Services

At Lindsay Financial, we understand that everyone's financial situation is unique, and that is why our financial services and estate planning services are tailored to meet your specific needs. Our estate planning team will work with you to understand your objectives and help you preserve family harmony.

Our services include:

• Wills: A will is a legal document that outlines your wishes for the distribution of your assets after your death. Our professionals will help you draft a will that ensures your loved ones are taken care of and your assets are distributed according to your wishes.

• Powers of Attorney: A power of attorney or attorney document is a type of legal documents that allows you to designate someone to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Our professionals will help you draft a power of attorney to ensure that your financial and healthcare decisions are taken care of in the event that you become incapacitated.

• Trusts: A trust is a legal arrangement that allows you to transfer assets to a trustee to be held for the benefit of your beneficiaries. Trusts can be an effective way to reduce taxes and protect assets from creditors. Our professionals will help you set up a trust that meets your unique needs.

• Tax Planning: Our professionals will work with you to minimize the tax implications of transferring your assets to your beneficiaries. We will help you understand the personal finance and tax consequences of your estate plan and help you make informed decisions.

• Charitable Giving: If you are passionate about giving back to your community, our professionals can help you set up a charitable foundation or make charitable gifts as part of your estate plan. We will work with you to ensure that your charitable giving is aligned with your values and objectives.

So whether you need a consultation about estate taxes, the estate planning process, or a final tax return, we are here to help you.

This is the Time to Start Planning for Your Estate

If you are interested in learning more about our estate planning St Albert services, and investment management, or would like to schedule a consultation with one of our Trust and Estate Professionals, please contact us today. We look forward to working with you to protect your financial future and ensure that your legacy is preserved for generations to come.