Make it a family affair - IFCG

1 FOCUS ON INSUraNCeMake it a family affairpay for final expenses when your parents die such as funeral costs, probate, executor fees, legal fees, and capital gains taxes. In many cases, in the age of extend-ed life spans, your parents will live until you are nearing retirement yourself, making this a form of retirement financial planning and also a way for them to leave more of an estate for all of their heirs (not just you).You are allowed to buy life insurance for your parents, but be aware that they typically must have medical exams and sign the application.

2 Note that there may be coverage limits, which we can discuss. We can also recommend the proper amount of coverage and the right type of policy. nUsing life insurance to secure your family s financial future can some-times require creative planning. Providing your parents with a life insurance policy is one way to give everybody the peace of mind that insurance is designed to bring. The fact is many retirees have minimal life insurance coverage or no insurance at all. Often they d like to have more, but can t afford the premiums.

3 Taking out a policy on your parents will relieve them of the concerns of paying premiums or increasing coverage and meet the same objectives as if they purchase insurance themselves. The proceeds of a life insurance policy can meet any number of financial objectives. A policy can provide funds to Independent Financial Concepts Group Ltd. Langstaff Road - Concord Office: 1700 Langstaff Road, Suite 1001 Concord, ON L4K 3S3 Telephone: (905) 202-8430 Fax: (905) 695-0507 Holly Street - Toronto Office: 20 Holly Street, Suite 207 Toronto, ON M4S 3B1 Telephone: (416) 486-3989 Fax: (416) 486-4061 Website: It s summer a time to relax and get away from it all.

4 That relaxed feeling is a great reminder for why you should take the worry out of your financial future. Whether you re planning for a stress-free retirement or simply want the peace of mind that comes from knowing today s financial needs are taken care of, it s important to be confident in whatever lies ahead. So while you might take a summer vacation, your money never should. We re committed to helping you find innovative ways to make investments work harder for you. The world is full of investment oppor- tunities.

5 However, many of them are in countries that you might not have ventured into, investment-wise. Not being familiar with the financial markets in certain countries can prevent you from taking advantage of investment potential outside , there is a simple and effective way to invest in countries that can add some spice to your portfolio, while benefitting from expert advice and professional manage-ment: single-country segregated advantage of a concentrated focusSingle-country funds specialize in invest-ments in companies located in a particular country.

6 They are an effective alternative choice to wider-ranging geographic area funds that typically include investments in a number of countries. Single-country funds provide exposure to narrower yet potentially lucrative slices of the global market to which you normally wouldn t have access, or where you might be reluctant to venture through individual securities. With one investment, a single-country segregated fund lets you hone your international focus while increasing portfolio diversification.

7 The advantage of accessThese funds help overcome the difficulties you might have investing in individual securities in these countries. Many foreign markets can be difficult to navigate because of language barriers, a lack of research material available to individuals, and difficulties trading securities from Canada. Canadian segregated fund organizations offer a selection of single-country funds, including those that focus on China, Japan, and India. These funds are managed by fund managers in these countries who know their economies, financial markets, circumstances and individual companies in their target countries.

8 Segregated fund portfolio management teams comb these markets for attractive investment opportunities that meet each fund s individual objectives. Their expertise turns what the average investor might sees as a barrier into an opportunity for investors in a single-country fund. The advantage of diversificationWith one investment, you instantly have a stake in a wide selection of holdings. This level of diversification can be extremely difficult to achieve through individual investments in foreign countries.

9 It may also be costly, since buying and selling stocks on foreign exchanges is typically more expensive than trading on those of North , some caution is warranted. While single-country funds can often be leading performers, they can also be volatile. Global investments may be subject to market and economic forces that differ from those in North America. For these reasons, single-country funds should be a supplement to a core segregated fund strategy, not your principal investment focus. Who are single-country funds for?

10 Investors who have a specific interest in one country, or who want to build a broad-based international fund portfolio through a series of country and regional funds. Talk to us. We can work with you to explore the world of single-country funds and help select the right investments for your segregated fund portfolio. nFor more opportunities, take your portfolio on a trip Segregated FUNdSJust one destination? expect higher risk, higher potential rewardSource: Globefund 15-year segregated fund reviewAverage return of all funds in group for a one-year period, reflecting a reinvestment of dividends, and subtracting management fees and 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 potential returns make single-country funds very attractive.