Estate Planning Explained: Will vs. Trust In Canada
How wills, beneficiary designations, joint ownership, and trusts actually control your assets in Canada – and why many families discover critical estate planning gaps only after a crisis occurs.
The Power Of A Family Trust
📥 Free resources from this episode
Estate Planning Audit: Where Are Your Gaps?
The Advisors TableEstate Planning Audit: Where Are Your Gaps?
Map every asset you own to one of three transfer buckets. See exactly who gets what when you die, and whether that's who you intended. Most people find at least one surprise.
Show Notes
Most Canadians think their will controls everything they own.
It doesn't.
Your will may only govern a small portion of your assets – while the rest passes outside of it entirely.
In This Solo, We Cover:
• The 3 ways assets transfer when someone dies
• Why beneficiary forms override your will
• How joint ownership bypasses probate completely
• What your will actually controls – and what it doesn't
• Why powers of attorney matter during incapacity
• How family trusts can help with tax planning, control, and asset protection
• The 21-year trust rule most families never hear about
Estate planning isn't just about death – it's about control, taxes, incapacity, and protecting your family when life changes unexpectedly.
And many families only discover the gaps after a crisis has already happened.
If you have children, a corporation, aging parents, or significant assets, this is a conversation worth having before it becomes urgent.
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