Succession begins long before ownership changes hands.
Protect What You Built. Preserve the Choices Ahead.
Insurance Across Canada and the United States
When Insurance Crosses a Border, Structure Matters.
Resolve the border questions before choosing or changing a policy.
A policy that works in one country may be taxed, owned, reported, or enforced differently in the other. A move, a new owner, or a change in family residence can also change the result.
We help gather the facts and bring the right Canadian and U.S. professionals together before a policy is bought, moved, changed, or used in an estate plan.
Peter J. Merrick, TEP, leads every plan. He sees how the family, business, and estate fit together. We bring in independent experts when needed.
Who We Help
Canadian families with U.S. property, business interests, work, residence, or family ties.
U.S. citizens or Green Card holders living in Canada.
Families with owners, insured people, beneficiaries, trustees, or executors in both countries.
People considering a policy or annuity issued outside the country where they live.
What We Help You Work Through
List each person’s citizenship, home, tax home, family ties, business interests, and plans to move.
List where the policy, its owner, the insured person, and the beneficiary are located.
Review currency, banking, payment, access, and future income needs.
Identify the legal, tax, reporting, estate, and licensing questions for each country.
Bring qualified Canadian and U.S. advisers into the work before the policy is put in place.
The Border Changes the Questions
Country of residence is only one fact. Citizenship, tax residence, where the policy was issued, who owns it, where the insured person lives, and who receives the money may all matter.
We organize these facts first. This prevents a product discussion from starting before the family knows which rules may apply.
Access Is Not Automatic
A policy offered in the United States may require U.S. ties, local banking, physical presence, or other conditions. State rules and the insurer’s own requirements can also apply.
Eligibility does not prove that a policy is suitable. It only shows that the next stage of review may be possible.
Ownership and Tax Treatment May Change
Moving to another country or changing the policy owner can affect tax, reports, beneficiaries, access to cash value, or the estate. The same contract may not receive the same treatment in both countries.
Do not move or change a policy until advisers have checked the effect in each country.
Use Licensed Help in the Right Place
Insurance laws and sales rules depend on location. Tax and estate advice also depends on the facts and the country.
We coordinate the review. The licensed insurance, legal, and tax professionals remain responsible for advice and implementation in their own areas.
What a Stronger Position Looks Like
You understand which countries and rules may affect the policy, who must give advice, and which questions must be resolved before you act.
What Happens Next
Start with a confidential conversation. Tell us what you own, what is changing, and where you need greater clarity.
Organize the whole picture. We identify the key facts, gaps, risks, and decisions that need attention.
Set the next steps. We put the work in the right order. We bring in legal, tax, insurance, and investment experts when needed.
Continue the Research
These resources provide more background for readers who want to go deeper.
Articles and Video Briefings
U.S./Canada Cross-Border Living Can Be a Taxing Pain - introduces the tax and planning friction created by life on both sides of the border
Wealth Architecture and the Discipline of Continuity - connects jurisdictional planning with long-term family control
One Policy, Zero Estate Taxes, Full Legacy - explores the role of insurance in a larger estate strategy
Frameworks and Planning Tools
The Liquidity Gap™ - tests whether cross-border obligations have an accessible funding source
Owning Assets in Order of Asset Security™ - examines ownership through control, access, independence and continuity
The Five Pillars of Succession Security™ - coordinates liquidity, ownership and transfer across the wider family plan
Explore the complete Reset Report library: Research | Frameworks | White Papers
Why Work With Us
We keep the insurance question connected to residence, ownership, tax, estate, currency, and family plans. Peter brings the Canadian and U.S. professionals together around one set of facts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Can a Canadian buy a U.S. insurance policy?
Sometimes. Access may depend on your home, citizenship, state rules, insurer rules, and the facts in the application. Access does not prove that the policy is a good fit.
Question 2: What happens to a policy if we move?
A move may affect tax, reporting, payments, policy changes, access to cash value, and the estate. Review the policy before moving or changing ownership.
Question 3: Does using U.S. dollars solve the cross-border issue?
No. Currency is only one part of the review. Country, ownership, residence, tax, reporting, licensing, and estate rules may still apply.
Question 4: Who confirms the final structure?
The answer may require licensed insurance professionals and qualified legal and tax advisers in both countries. We organize the facts and keep their work connected.
Take the Next Step
Your family, policy, business, or future move may connect Canada and the United States. We can put the facts in order before you decide.
If you want to keep learning, subscribe to the weekly Reset Report. It covers ownership, cash, succession, insurance, cross-border plans, and family wealth. Each subscriber also receives a free digital copy of The King of Main Street.
Peter J. Merrick
Cross-Border, Estate and Insurance Planning
Peter J. Merrick provides estate, succession, cross-border and insurance planning only in the applicable disclosed capacity and jurisdiction.
Insurance Advice
Insurance Processing
Insurance business is submitted and processed through MAX Financial Ltd. and applicable insurers.
Investment & Portfolio Relationships
Securities Advice
Peter J. Merrick’s role in any Axcess Capital Advisors Inc. relationship is referral-only. He is not an Axcess Dealing Representative and does not provide registration-dependent securities advice. Any securities or portfolio-management services are provided by the responsible registered person or independent portfolio manager under separate agreements.
Relationship Disclosure Information
Referral Relationship
Precious Metals Referrals
Direct precious-metals introductions may be made through Peter J. Merrick to New World Precious Metals under a separately disclosed referral arrangement.
Legal, Privacy & Disclosures
Independent Professional Relationships
PFC Wealth Solutions™ and Peter J. Merrick are separate professional practices. Each is responsible for its own services, agreements and applicable disclosures.
© 2026 Peter J. Merrick. All rights reserved.