Correct, Glacier is part of Sanlam, however it is their pure LISP platform and works completely differently to a “life insurance” based investment platform.
If a beneficiary is nominated, the funds will be paid directly to the beneficiary and will not flow to the estate, they are however still a deemed asset in the estate this subject to estate duty.
Consider looking at a pure LISP platform like Momentum Wealth or Glacier. Relatively low, transparent fee structures and large fund range.
Endowments are not "excluded' from an estate upon death, they are a deemed asset, which means that they do attract estate duty, however no executors fees...