Investments
Know what you’re investing in — and what comes with it.
The account, the investment and the contract — explained before you decide.
Why this structure can matter
Your money is in the market. Your agreement is with an insurer.
That contract is what can carry features an investment on its own cannot.
Two moments the contract can define.
Some contracts include defined maturity or death-benefit provisions.
Terms, dates, amounts and withdrawal effects depend on the specific contract.
A named person, written into the contract.
A beneficiary designation may be available, depending on the account and contract.
Legal and estate effects depend on registration, jurisdiction, designation and circumstances.
And what it does not change
The structure does not remove market risk. Values can rise or fall, and investment performance is not guaranteed.
Available investment accounts
Account types that may be available.
Familiar registrations. The structure inside them is what differs.
TFSA
Tax-Free Savings Account
RRSP
Registered Retirement Savings Plan
FHSA
First Home Savings Account
RESP
Registered Education Savings Plan
RDSP
Registered Disability Savings Plan
RRIF
Registered Retirement Income Fund
Non-registered
Non-registered investment account
Account types, investments and contract features vary by carrier, contract and circumstances.
What you are actually investing in
Real market investments, held through segregated funds.
Four broad kinds of market exposure — not four products.
Equity
Companies and equity markets.
Fixed income
Bonds and other lending exposure.
Balanced
Multiple asset types within a fund.
Short-term
Short-duration investment exposure.
Educational categories only. Actual investment choices depend on the carrier and the contract.
Clearstone Investments
Segregated funds · individual variable insurance contracts (IVICs) · insurance-based investment solutions
Not individual securities or mutual funds.
The structure
How the pieces fit together.
The investment and contract are related — not the same thing.
Registration
Account and ownership
The insurance contract
Individual variable insurance contract
Segregated fund allocations
Contract-specific terms
- Guarantee terms
- Withdrawals
- Costs
- Beneficiary provisions
Outside the contract
Underlying market exposure
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01 Registered or non-registered, and in whose name.
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02 An insurance contract issued by the carrier.
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03 Fund allocations are chosen through that contract.
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04 Each allocation invests in real markets. Values rise and fall.
Why Clearstone for segregated funds?
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Start with the job
What the investment needs to do decides the structure.
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Understand both sides
The investment and the contract, seen together — features, costs and conditions.
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An independent practice
Not owned by or affiliated with a single insurer.
Our carrier partners
Clearstone works with multiple Canadian insurers. Availability varies by carrier and contract.
Distribution relationship
Insurance products are distributed through IDC Worldsource Insurance Network Inc.
What you still need to weigh
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Costs
Costs vary by fund, series, guarantee option and contract.
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Withdrawals and terms
Withdrawals may affect contract benefits and can have tax or cost implications.
The documents govern the terms
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The contract
The binding agreement with the carrier.
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Information Folder
With applicable Fund Facts or current issuer material.
Start with what you need the investment to do.
Talk it through before you decide — the account, the investment, the contract.
No account numbers or financial details needed to start.