Will My Investments Go to My Family the Way I Intend?
You've spent a lifetime building your investments. The question is whether they'll actually reach the people you intend, in the proportions you intend, at the time you intend. Surprisingly often, the answer is no — not because of a missing will, but because of beneficiary designations, account ownership, and probate rules that quietly override what the will says. A good estate plan aligns every account and document so the outcome matches the intent.
Watch: Will my investments go to my family the way I intend?
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Taivi Tayler on beneficiary designations, probate, and making sure your investments reach the right people.
Taivi Tayler on beneficiary designations, probate, and making sure your investments reach the right people.
Where intentions quietly go wrong
Beneficiary designations on RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs and insurance contracts generally override the will. An ex-spouse left on a beneficiary form, or a designation never updated after a family change, means the asset passes differently than you intended. Probate fees, while not a 'tax' in name, also reduce the estate on larger accounts, and accounts with no named beneficiary may pass through probate and its delays.
Making the structure match the wish
The goal isn't a single document — it's a coordinated set of designations, ownership structures, and documents that all point the same direction. That includes reviewing beneficiaries on every account, considering joint ownership or a trust where appropriate, and ensuring the will, powers of attorney, and financial plan reflect today's family, not the family as it was when they were written.
Where plans go wrong, and what to do
Stale beneficiary designations overriding the will
Review and update beneficiaries on every registered account and insurance policy after any family change.
Probate fees on large investment accounts
Use designated beneficiaries, joint ownership, or trust structures where appropriate to reduce probate.
Will and POA written for a past stage of life
Refresh legal documents so they reflect today's family, assets, and intentions.
No coordination between accounts, will, and plan
Align every designation and document so the outcome matches your stated intent.
This is exactly what the check-up covers.
In about 3 minutes you'll see where this issue sits in your own plan — then book a free review with Taivi to talk it through.
Or call Taivi directly: 1-866-550-6932