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Guaranteed Investment Funds

Investors Group Guaranteed Investment Funds (GIF), segregated fund policies issued by The Great-West Life Assurance Company, provide long-term investment growth potential with protective guarantee features to help minimize risk. These GIF policies combine the features of an insurance policy with the benefits of an investment fund – diversification, liquidity, growth opportunities and professional management.

If you’re looking for a measure of certainty in your investment portfolio, GIFs could be the right fit for your plan.

Features and Benefits

GIFs offer the following benefits to help you invest with confidence today and plan for the future

Risk management Using the principles of asset allocation, your investments can be diversified by asset class, investment style, geography and market capitalization.
Maturity guarantee[1] A maturity guarantee provides protection from stock market volatility. No matter how the market performs, at maturity you are guaranteed to receive the higher of the market value of the policy or, depending on the policy, 75% or 100% of your original investment (less a proportionate reduction for any withdrawals).
Death benefit guarantee[1]/[2] If the last annuitant dies before the policy matures, the designated beneficiary will receive the greater of the market value of the policy at the date of notification of death, or the guaranteed death benefit amount of 75% to 100% of all contributions allocated to the policy (less a proportionate reduction for any withdrawals).
Estate planning efficiencies The ability to designate a beneficiary on both non registered and registered plans makes GIF policies particularly valuable from an estate planning standpoint. When a beneficiary is designated, the value of the policy flows directly and privately to the beneficiaries, bypassing the owner’s estate, reducing probate fees and avoiding access by creditors. Unlike a will, but subject to provincial legislation, the payment of proceeds to the beneficiary cannot be contested – protecting the privacy of your personal affairs.
Potential for creditor protection[3] As the GIF policy is a type of life insurance contract, with the appropriate beneficiary designation, its value may be protected from the claims of creditors. This feature may be of particular interest to professionals and business owners who wish to shield their personal assets from business liabilities.
Lifetime income benefit[4] Selected policies provide an option to draw guaranteed income for life. Regular payouts add certainty and flexibility to your retirement years. This option is particularly attractive for individuals seeking guaranteed retirement income.

Talk with your Investors Group Consultant to see if GIF will fit with your plan.

[1] Features and guarantees vary by policy and age of annuitant and some limitations apply. Maturity and death benefit guarantees are reduced proportionately by withdrawals.

[2] Premiums contributed to a 75/100 guarantee or 100/100 guarantee when the youngest annuitant is age 80 or older are subject to a graded death benefit guarantee schedule.

[3] Creditor protection depends on court decisions and applicable legislation, which can be subject to change and can vary by province, and can never be guaranteed. Talk to your lawyer to find out more about the potential for creditor protection for your specific situation.

[4] Excess withdrawals will decrease the lifetime income amount and you will no longer be eligible for any future bonuses. An excess withdrawal is a withdrawal that exceeds the annual guaranteed income amount.

Insurance products and services offered through I.G. Insurance Services Inc. (in Québec, a financial services firm). Insurance license sponsored by The Great-West Life Assurance Company (outside of Québec). Investors Group/Great-West Life segregated fund policies are issued by The Great-West Life Assurance Company.

Subject to any applicable death benefit guarantee or maturity value guarantee, any part of the premium or other amount that is allocated to a segregated fund is invested at the risk of the policy owner and may increase or decrease in value according to the fluctuations in the market value of the assets of the segregated fund.

Short-term trading fees may apply if a premium is withdrawn or switched from a guaranteed investment fund within 90 days of being applied.