IFSE Institute Updated LLQP Exam Questions and Answers by kyrie

In Ontario, the pension legislation stipulates that a spouse is entitled to receive a minimum of 50% of the member’s pension benefits as a survivor benefit if the member dies. This applies to defined benefit pension plans (DBPP), which provide a predetermined benefit upon retirement. Therefore, as the spouse of Maria, Juan would be entitled to receive at least half of Maria’s pension upon her death, as specified by Ontario pension regulations. This survivor benefit is a guaranteed right and requires consent from both spouses for any reduction or waiver. Options C and D are incorrect as Ontario law mandates a minimum 50% survivor benefit without provision for reduction to 25%, and Juan's entitlement is tied to their marital status and statutory rights, which may not apply if they are separated or divorced at the time of Maria's death. Option A is incorrect because Ontario legislation does not provide for an increased benefit by waiving the survivor benefit​​.

In the absence of a designated beneficiary, the proceeds of a life insurance policy are generally paid to the estate (succession) of the deceased, in this case, Baheya. Quebec law stipulates that without a specific beneficiary, the policy death benefit becomes part of the deceased’s estate and is distributed according to her will or intestate succession laws. Since Baheya did not name a beneficiary, the death benefit will be managed within her estate rather than automatically passing to Zaid, Omar, or their child​​.

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When a beneficiary is designated as "revocable" and predeceases the policyholder, their share of the benefit typically reverts to the surviving beneficiaries rather than the deceased beneficiary’s estate. In this case, since Michelle has predeceased Danny, her portion of the benefit is divided equally between Donna-Joe and Stephanie, the remaining beneficiaries. Therefore, each of them would receive 50% of the total death benefit, which is $500,000. If the beneficiaries had been designated as "irrevocable" or if there were specific contingent beneficiaries, different rules might apply​​.

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Since Emma is a minor, naming her directly as a beneficiary would complicate access to funds until she reaches the age of majority. Additionally, Steve, given his circumstances, would not be a suitable option. Instead,naming a trusteefor Emma's benefit would ensure that the funds are managed responsibly until she is of legal age to handle the inheritance. This setup aligns with Bethenny's intention to provide financial security for Emma, allowing a trusted adult to manage the funds in Emma's best interests​​.