Disclosure. I am a licensed Financial Security Advisor, Mutual Fund Representative, and Group Insurance & Annuity Plans Advisor. I am not a lawyer, tax lawyer, or accountant. I discuss taxes only as they relate to specific insurance, investment, and estate strategies; I do not provide general tax optimization or comprehensive financial planning. Content is educational only. Mutual funds offered through WhiteHaven Securities Inc. Insurance products offered through iAssure Inc. Coordinate decisions with your CPA, notary, or lawyer. See Disclaimer and Privacy.

Corporate Insurance Articles & Explainers

Guides on corporate life insurance, buy-sell, key person, group benefits, estate strategy. Quebec & Ontario incorporated owners. Montreal & Toronto.

Why this is important

  • Corporate life insurance offers tax-exempt growth and tax-free wealth extraction through the CDA.
  • Life insurance can fund buy-sell agreements, protect key people, and provide estate liquidity.
  • Understanding insurance as an asset class helps optimize corporate portfolios for long-term results.

If this resonates, you might want to read more articles.

Summary

Below you'll find educational guides and articles designed to help incorporated business owners understand corporate life insurance, buy-sell agreements, key person insurance, group benefits, and estate preservation strategies. Each article focuses on structure, tax efficiency, and long-term wealth building.

Whether you're exploring corporate life insurance as an asset class, funding buy-sell agreements, protecting key people, or strategy estate transfers, these guides break down complex insurance topics into actionable insights for incorporated business owners.

Insurance Articles

Life Insurance as a Corporate Asset Class

Why the wealthiest families use permanent insurance not for "protection," but for tax arbitrage. Learn how life insurance can serve as a corporate asset class with tax-exempt growth and tax-free estate transfers.

Tax Strategies · Insurance · Estate Strategies

Participating Whole Life Insurance in Canada

How participating whole life works inside a Canadian corporation: the mechanics, tax treatment, and why business owners treat it as an asset class. Includes portfolio structure, dividends, and the estate transfer mechanism.

Whole Life · Estate Strategies · Corporate Tax · CDA

Universal Life Insurance for Business Owners in Canada

Universal life explained for incorporated business owners: how it works, costs (premium tax, COI, fees), risks, and when it makes sense as a corporate tax shelter. Investment control vs whole life.

Universal Life · Estate Strategies · Corporate Tax · CDA

Corporate Life Insurance for Estate Transfer

Compare corporate-held life insurance to capital gains portfolios for estate transfer. See how life insurance creates tax-free wealth extraction through the CDA, reducing estate taxes and improving outcomes.

Estate Strategies · Life Insurance · Tax Strategies · CDA

Buy-Sell Agreement Funding: Death of a Partner

How life insurance funds buy-sell agreements when a partner dies. Learn about corporate redemption, criss-cross purchase, and promissory note methods, plus tax implications through the Capital Dividend Account.

Buy-Sell Agreement · Life Insurance · Partnership Planning

Buy-Sell Agreement Funding: Disability of a Partner

How disability insurance funds buy-sell agreements when a partner becomes disabled. Learn about disability definitions, elimination periods, payment methods, and tax implications.

Buy-Sell Agreement · Disability Insurance · Partnership Planning

Key Person Insurance Canada: Protecting Your Business

How life insurance protects your business when a critical employee or owner dies. Learn how to determine coverage amounts, tax considerations, and why key person insurance matters for small businesses.

Key Person Insurance · Business Insurance · Small Business

Personal vs Corporate-Owned Life Insurance

How to choose between personal and corporate ownership of life insurance. Learn about tax considerations, estate strategy, creditor protection, and when each structure makes sense.

Life Insurance · Estate Strategies · Tax Strategies

Case Studies

Real examples of how we've helped business owners structure insurance solutions for business protection, partnership agreements, and estate strategy.

Business Loan Insurance Case Study

How an independent insurance approach helped a business owner secure approximately 30% lower premiums for required corporate loan insurance during COVID-19. Learn why protecting business value matters more than just covering loans.

Case Study · Business Insurance · Life Insurance

Partner Buy-Sell Agreement Funding Case Study

How two cybersecurity company partners structured a buy-sell agreement funded by life insurance to protect over $10 million in business value. Learn how to value a knowledge-based company and ensure partners can buy out each other's shares.

Case Study · Buy-Sell Agreement · Partnership Planning

$3 Million in Your Corporation: Universal Life vs Taxable Portfolio

Visual case study: 47-year-old deposits $300K/year for 10 years. Two paths (taxable portfolio vs universal life with investment control). 5% illustrated growth. Different outcomes for investors who want fund selection.

Case Study · Universal Life · Corporate Tax · Visual Summary

Corporate Estate Strategies with Whole Life Case Study

How a business owner used participating whole life insurance to structure long-term corporate wealth transfer. Learn why whole life can provide comparable growth to moderate-aggressive portfolios with lower volatility and tax efficiency.

Case Study · Estate Strategies · Whole Life Insurance

Universal Life for Active Investors Case Study

How an IT contractor used universal life insurance to tax-shelter corporate investments while maintaining active control over investment selection. Learn when universal life makes more sense than whole life for knowledgeable investors.

Case Study · Estate Strategies · Universal Life Insurance

Important: All case studies are anonymized to protect client confidentiality. These are illustrative examples of process and approach, not guarantees of outcomes. Every situation is unique, and what worked in these cases may not be appropriate for your circumstances.

Related Topics

Insurance strategies often coordinate with investment and tax strategy:

Browse All Articles

View all educational guides and articles covering corporate investing, tax strategies, insurance, and estate strategy.

Full Disclosure.

This content is for information and education only. It explains general concepts that may apply to incorporated business owners, but it is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice.

Tax Considerations:

  • Tax rules are complex and subject to change
  • Strategies and benefits depend on your specific circumstances, province, and business structure
  • Always consult with a qualified CPA before implementing any tax strategy
  • Provincial variations in rates and rules may apply (Québec vs. Ontario differences exist)
  • Past tax treatment does not guarantee future treatment

Investment Risk Disclosure:

  • Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal
  • There is no guarantee that any investment strategy will achieve its objectives
  • Investment values fluctuate with market conditions, and you may receive less than you originally invested
  • Tax efficiency is one factor; risk, fees, and total returns all matter
  • Past performance does not guarantee future results

Insurance Illustrations:

  • Insurance illustrations show projected values based on assumptions that may not be guaranteed
  • Actual results will vary based on factors including interest rates, mortality experience, and expenses
  • Non-guaranteed elements (such as dividends or credited interest rates) are not promises of future performance
  • Review both guaranteed and non-guaranteed projections with your advisor before making decisions

Content Accuracy:

  • We strive to ensure information is accurate and current, but laws and regulations change frequently
  • Information reflects our understanding at the time of publication and may not reflect subsequent changes
  • If you believe any content contains an error, please contact us

Regulatory:

  • Mutual funds are offered through Valeurs Mobilières WhiteHaven Inc.
  • Insurance products and certain other services are provided through iAssure Inc., an independent firm in the insurance of persons and in the group insurance of persons
  • These activities are neither the business nor the responsibility of Valeurs Mobilières WhiteHaven Inc.

Professional Advice:

  • This article is not a substitute for professional advice from your CPA, lawyer, or financial advisor
  • Work with your professional team to understand how these concepts apply to your specific situation
  • For personalized advice, a formal engagement and suitability review are required

See Disclaimer and Privacy Policy for details.

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