Sometimes, stuff isn’t just stuff — advisors take note Published by Investment Executive February 12, 2026 “I give all of my personal effects and household contents to be divided among my children and/or beneficiaries as my trustee, in their absolute discretion, shall determine.” Few sentences in a will create more stress for executors than this one, or one of its many close cousins. It is almost always inserted with good intentions. It is meant to provide flexibility and sim

Financial advisors can address property challenges, encourage clarity in wills Published in Investment Executive August 20, 2024 One of my summer cottage activities in the early evening is to watch the sunset and troll for walleyes (a.k.a. pickerel). Inevitably, I catch a rock bass — a smaller freshwater fish. At first bite, an angler will think they have a much larger fish on their line, as the rock bass is aggressive. It requires careful handling, given its spiny dorsal fin

A client scenario shows the importance of inquiring about assets you don’t administer Published by Investment Executive October 25, 2022 An estate plan has gone askew, and, consequently, a surviving spouse may be unable to afford payments for her retirement home and be forced to move in with her children. In this real client scenario, the family’s financial advisor had no idea that the surviving spouse was in a desperate situation despite the family owning a business that was

Jump the credibility curve with executors and beneficiaries Published by Investment Executive April 13, 2022 Litigation is a common threat in estate administration, often arising from miscommunication or a lack of communication. Closing the inevitable communication gap between beneficiaries and executors will help you better serve clients and build your book. First, a bit of background. An executor (referred to as an estate trustee in Ontario and liquidator in Quebec, with th