How to Lower the Cost of Estate Planning with Segregated Funds
How to Lower the Cost of Estate Planning with Segregated Funds
By Matt Ogden — The Collaborative Financial Coach
A Personal Reflection on Legacy
Estate planning is one of those topics that people tend to avoid — until life forces them to face it.
Over the years, I’ve coached hundreds of clients through transitions: parents passing, estates being settled, families trying to make sense of what comes next. But this past year, I experienced it personally when I lost my father.
Even though I’ve spent nearly three decades helping others prepare, it still hit hard — emotionally and logistically. What gave me comfort, though, was knowing that he had structured things thoughtfully. His planning wasn’t just about money; it was an act of love.
That experience reaffirmed something I tell every client: Estate planning isn’t about dying — it’s about caring.
And one of the most powerful, compassionate tools I’ve used to help families simplify that process is something many people have never heard of: segregated funds.
Why So Many Estates Become Complicated (and Costly)
If you’ve ever had to deal with an estate, you know how quickly it can become overwhelming. Probate paperwork. Legal fees. Delays. Stress.
It’s not unusual for a family to wait months — even years — for assets to be released, while paying thousands in court and legal costs.
That’s not the legacy most parents want to leave behind.
How Segregated Funds Ease the Burden
Here’s the good news: there’s a way to make things easier for the people you love.
Segregated funds are a type of investment offered through insurance companies that combine the growth of mutual funds with the protection of insurance.
The magic is in their structure:
➡️ When you name a beneficiary on a segregated fund, the money bypasses probate entirely.
➡️ It goes directly — and privately — to the person you’ve chosen.
➡️ No waiting. No legal wrangling. No court fees.
It’s one of the few investment tools that can help you lower estate costs and avoid unnecessary delays, all while keeping your family’s financial life private.
To put it in perspective:
Probate fees in Canada can reach up to 1.5% of your estate value. On $500,000, that’s $7,500 gone.
With segregated funds, that amount could instead stay with your loved ones — exactly where you intended it to be.
I’ve Seen It Firsthand — Professionally and Personally
Over my 27 years as a financial coach, I’ve helped countless families use segregated funds to simplify wealth transfer. But it wasn’t until I went through it with my own father’s passing that I truly felt how powerful this planning tool can be.
In that moment, I wasn’t “the advisor.” I was the son — trying to make sense of everything, comfort my family, and handle logistics during a deeply emotional time.
Because of my father’s preparation, many of his investments — held in segregated funds — were transferred quickly, privately, and without legal headaches. It was one of the greatest gifts he could’ve left behind: peace of mind.
That’s when it really hit me — estate planning isn’t about avoiding paperwork. It’s about protecting the people you love from unnecessary stress when they’re already grieving.
The OS5 Approach: Protecting What Matters Most
In our OS5 System, segregated funds often form part of what I call the Protected Legacy Layer — the financial foundation that ensures your life’s work transitions smoothly and privately to your beneficiaries.
We use them not as a product, but as a strategy — one that brings together growth, protection, and compassion.
Because planning isn’t just about the numbers in your portfolio. It’s about the people those numbers will one day support.
It’s Like Strength Training for Your Legacy
I often tell clients that building wealth is a lot like building muscle — you don’t just focus on lifting heavy weights; you strengthen your foundation.
Segregated funds act like the stabilizers of your financial fitness. They protect your foundation while allowing your wealth to grow confidently.
When you combine that protection with consistent investing and thoughtful estate planning, you don’t just leave behind money — you leave behind stability, clarity, and care.
Final Thought: Love in the Details
Losing my dad reminded me that estate planning is really about love written in financial form. It’s how you say, “I’ve got you,” even when you’re not here.
Ask yourself: If you could make your legacy simpler, faster, and more protected — wouldn’t that be one of the kindest gifts you could leave behind?
Let’s Protect Your Legacy — Together
At Ogden Financial, we help clients create peace of mind through personalized estate and investment strategies — built on empathy, experience, and care.
If you want to explore how segregated funds can lower estate costs and make life easier for the people you love, let’s talk.
📞 Book your complimentary strategy session today. Together, we’ll help you protect what matters most — your family’s peace of mind.
