Segregated Fund

Interested in segregated funds, eh? Hope you’re Canadian.

Segregated funds are annuity contracts, i.e. contracts between a customer and a financial institution (usually an insurance company) that eventually give the customer a stream of cash payments over time. If you want to set up a steady fixed income for yourself in retirement, an annuity might be something to look at.

Segregated funds are annuities that are deferred and variable, and come with life insurance benefits. That means the customer can decide when payouts start, and that the annuity is tied to investments: mutual funds, bonds, stocks, and money market accounts.

It sounds like it's all fun and games, but remember: there’s the accumulation phase where you’re putting money in before the payout phase starts. As you put money into a segregated fund, it's invested. When the payout phase starts, you’ll get your income, even if your account isn’t doing too hot on the market. Remember, the point of doing an annuity, which is usually through an insurance company, is for the protection of the insurance. They’ve got your back when times are tough.

Plus, segregated funds have that life insurance benefit part, which means that, if you die, your bennies will get passed to your beneficiaries in some manner. Some also offer capital appreciation, making segregated funds a one-stop-shop for retirees looking for a safe place to invest their wealth.

First maple syrup...now segregated funds. Those Canadians are onto something.