Floyd Gradley

What happens when an RESP subscriber dies?

What happens when the RESP subscriber—the person who creates and contributes to an RESP—dies before the RESP is fully paid out?

By Floyd Gradley |April 1, 2015

5 min read

Estate Planning

Should your client dodge probate?

Probate-related questions are among the most common questions heard during estate planning discussions. What is probate? Can it be avoided? Should it be avoided? As an advisor, it’s important to be able to answer those questions.

By Floyd Gradley |January 3, 2012

6 min read

Tax News

The pitfalls of joint tenancy

Joint tenancy has always been a complex estate planning tool

By Floyd Gradley |June 2, 2011

6 min read

Tax News

Estate planning for blended families

Blended families are increasingly common and as an advisor you’ll likely have clients with children from one or more prior relationships. In most blended family situations, each partner wants to ensure that when they die, their children, as well as their new love, will be treated fairly and will receive as much financial support as possible.

By Floyd Gradley |February 4, 2011

9 min read

Tax News

Estate freeze can enhance succession, planning

A successful entrepreneur usually encounters many difficult decisions when preparing his or her succession and estate plan. One of those decisions is whether to implement an estate freeze. Let’s look in on Michelle , our case study, as she struggles with that question while developing her succession and estate plan. Michelle is 58 years old. […]

By Floyd Gradley |September 24, 2010

9 min read

Tax News

Preserving a charitable legacy

Most of your clients make philanthropy a part of their life, committing either time or money to assist others. Many of those philanthropists want to continue their charitable giving even if they become mentally incapable of doing so. In addition, many of those clients want to use charitable giving to leave behind an admirable legacy […]

By Floyd Gradley |January 29, 2010

4 min read

Tax News

The power of appointment: Who will speak for you?

To not have a voice, to not have a say can be the most helpless feeling of all. Everyone needs to appoint someone to speak for them in case they become mentally incapable and cannot make decisions for themselves. Mental incapacity can occur at any age and often the consequences are worst for young adults […]

By Floyd Gradley |October 9, 2009

8 min read

Estate Planning

RESPs and estate implications

Registered education savings plans have become the cornerstone for saving for a child’s or grandchild’s post-secondary education. With this increased popularity, you can expect that your clients will more often encounter RESPs during their administration of estates. And because of the larger RESP values, it is more likely that disagreements will arise respecting the administration […]

By Floyd Gradley |May 12, 2009

6 min read