Guaranteed Investment Funds or Segregated Funds that are offered by insurers, have unique advantages and characteristics that do not apply to mutual funds. Below you will find some information. Please be sure to request our guide “The Benefits of Guaranteed Investment Funds” to see more detailed and comprehensive information about the features and benefits of these investments. The guide includes charts, tables and examples, all of which will help you better understand how these funds can be used for your unique situation.
| Features and/or Benefits | Guaranteed Investment Funds | Mutual Funds |
|---|---|---|
| A guarantee of principal at maturity | Yes | No |
| A guarantee of principal at death | Yes | No |
| Ability to lock in market gains using resets | Yes | No |
| Potential credit protection for non-registered accounts | Yes | No |
| Possibility of reducing or eliminating probate fees | Yes | No |
| Increased level of confidentiality of assets at death | Yes | No |
| Quick access to investments in the event of death | Yes | No |
| Assuris protection | Yes | No |
**Except for guarantees offered upon maturity and upon death, any amounts allocated to a segregated fund/guaranteed investment fund is invested at the risk of the contract holder and may increase or decrease in value. Segregated fund fees are higher than mutual fund fees as they include an insurance fee component. Withdrawals reduce guarantees proportionately.
Certain age restrictions may apply and depend on the issuer.
