Empire Life segregated funds review (2026)

Empire Life is a well-established name offering a range of investment and insurance solutions to Canadians. For over 100 years, Empire Life has been offering investment solutions that are helpful in building wealth, generating income, or achieving financial security. Segregated funds (also called Guaranteed Investment Funds, or GIFs) are insurance contracts that invest in underlying funds and add protection for your capital at maturity and/or death.

Empire Life segregated funds provide guarantees ranging from 75% to 100% of your invested capital at maturity or death. Let’s take a detailed look at the segregated fund options available with Empire Life.

Our Empire Life segregated funds review

Empire Life defines its segregated funds through a simple, protection-based structure, offering three options: 75/75, 75/100, and 100/100. When you invest in an Empire Life segregated fund, your money is allocated to underlying funds. These fund options include balanced funds, Canadian equity, global and international equity, U.S. equity, and income funds. These funds are managed by established asset managers, including Empire Life Investments, Vanguard, Canoe Financial, and others. These asset managers help you build a diversified portfolio based on your risk tolerance and financial goals.

The key feature of Empire Life segregated funds is the flexibility to choose how much protection you need. Whether you prioritize lower fees with basic guarantees or higher protection with added features like resets, Empire Life allows you to align your investment strategy accordingly.

Overall, Empire Life segregated funds are a good choice for a diverse range of investors, from conservative to aggressive, and for those planning for their retirement or estates.

What types of segregated funds does Empire Life offer?

Empire Life, also a leading life insurance company in Canada, structures its segregated funds into three options: 75/75, 75/100, and 100/100. Instead of offering multiple series, Empire Life keeps its segregated fund options straightforward, with each option defined by how much protection it provides at maturity and death, along with added features such as resets and estate benefits.

All three options share common features: they provide insurance guarantees, a wide range of fund choices, and automatic annual death-benefit resets up to a certain age. However, the key difference lies in how much protection you get and who it suits best. In the section below, let’s take a closer look at the three segregated fund options offered by Empire Life.

1. Series 75/75

The Empire Life 75/75 option is designed for investors who are focused on long-term growth with basic protection. It is suitable for those who want creditor protection with guaranteed benefits at competitive fees.

Some of its key features and benefits include:

• Death and maturity guarantee: The 75/75 option offers a 75% guarantee at both maturity and death, ensuring that at least 75% of your invested capital is protected regardless of market performance
• Lower fees: Since the level of protection is lower compared to other options, this structure typically comes with lower fees, making it more cost-effective for growth-oriented investors
• Access to a wide range of funds: You can choose from a broad lineup of funds across asset classes such as equity, fixed income, and global equity funds, allowing you to build a diversified portfolio. These funds are offered by leading managers, including Empire Life Investments, Fidelity Investments, Vanguard, and Canoe Financial
• Reset feature: This series lets you protect market gains by increasing the death benefit guarantee until age 80

2. Series 75/100

The 75/100 option is designed for investors who want market growth with enhanced estate protection. It is particularly relevant for those who want to maximize their legacy.

Some of its key features and benefits include:

• 100% death benefit guarantee: This option ensures that your beneficiaries receive 100% of the invested amount or market value, whichever is higher upon death, making it a strong tool for estate planning
• 75% maturity guarantee: Like the 75/75 option, it also offers a 75% guarantee at maturity, despite any market fluctuations
• Balanced fees: While fees are higher than the 75/75 option, they remain moderate compared to the 100/100 option, offering a balanced approach between cost and security
• Reset options: The series 75/100 also comes with an automatic annual death benefit reset until age 80. This means that if your investment value increases over time, your guaranteed death benefit can be locked in at higher levels

3. Series 100/100

The 100/100 option is designed for investors who want maximum protection. It is particularly suitable for those nearing retirement or prioritizing estate protection.

Some of its key features and benefits include:

• Death benefit: The death benefit is 100% of deposits if the policy is issued before the annuitant’s 80th birthday, and 75% of deposits if issued after age 80.
• Maturity benefit: The maturity guarantee is structured differently compared to other options. If there are more than 15 years until maturity, 100% of your deposits are guaranteed. However, if there are less than 15 years until maturity, the guarantee reduces to 75% of the deposits
• Reset options: Automatic annual death benefit resets until age 80, which helps lock in market gains and increase the guaranteed value over time. 
• Maturity benefit guarantee resets: This series also has two client-initiated maturity benefit resets per calendar year, provided there is at least 15 years to the maturity date, up to age 90. This lets you to enhance your maturity guarantee
• Higher fees for enhanced protection: Because of the higher level of guarantees and added features, this option generally comes with higher fees than the others
• Maturity date: The maturity date is at least 15 years after the initial deposit, unlike the other two options, which have the same date as policy maturity

Empire Life segregated funds pros and cons

What other investment products does Empire Life offer?

Apart from segregated funds, Empire Life also offers the following investment options:

• Guaranteed Interest Contract (GIC): Empire Life GICs are fixed-income investments that provide guaranteed principal and predictable returns. They come with flexible term options ranging from short-term to long-term and can be held in both registered and non-registered plans. These products are suitable for conservative investors who want stability, capital protection, and steady growth without exposure to market volatility
• Immediate Annuities: Empire Life offers immediate annuities that provide a secure and predictable income stream in exchange for a lump-sum investment. You can choose from multiple options, including single life, joint and last survivor, and term-certain annuities, with or without guaranteed payout periods. The minimum deposit is $7,500, while the maximum deposit can be $1,000,000
• Option Plus Group RSP: The Option Plus Group RSP is a flexible retirement savings plan designed primarily for small businesses and their employees. The plan provides access to a mix of segregated funds, Guaranteed Interest Options (GIOs), and treasury interest options, giving members the flexibility to choose investments based on their risk tolerance

Are Empire Life segregated funds worth considering?

Yes, Empire Life segregated funds are worth considering. They become useful when:

• Estate planning matters: Segregated funds allow you to name beneficiaries directly, which can help bypass probate and ensure faster wealth transfer. Combined with death benefit guarantees (up to 100%), this makes them effective for preserving and passing on wealth
• You prefer flexibility: With options like 75/75, 75/100, and 100/100, you can choose how much protection you need instead of overpaying for features you may not use
• You want growth with a safety net: These funds provide exposure to a wide range of investments, while still offering built-in guarantees. This allows you to participate in market growth without taking on full market risk

How to buy Empire Life segregated funds with PolicyAdvisor

Want to buy Empire Life segregated funds with PolicyAdvisor? Here are the steps you need to follow:

• Connect with an advisor: Our expert advisors at PolicyAdvisor will help you understand your financial goals, investment timeline, risk comfort, and estate planning priorities. Based on this, we will help identify which Empire Life guarantee option (75/75, 75/100, or 100/100) fits your needs the best
• Review and compare your options: We will guide you through the different segregated fund choices available under Empire Life, including underlying fund options, guarantee levels, and features like resets
• Complete your investment setup: Once you have selected the right option, we will help you finalize the contract by choosing your guarantee structure, selecting funds, naming beneficiaries, and deciding how much you want to invest