TFSA Notices And Penalty Risks
The latest Federal Budget included an administrative rule change1 that allows CRA to automatically send you notices electronically without your prior permission or registration. The risk, as noted in the recent case of a B.C. taxpayer, is this may lead to penalties for TFSA over contributions. It is your responsibility now to regularly check your […]
Getting Back to Basics
Recessions, stock-market declines, housing market bubbles, joblessness and, most recently, a global pandemic have created a series of challenges for people trying to start, grow or maintain a retirement savings plan. Given this rollercoaster, it’s natural to wonder if you’re doing all you can to protect your retirement nest egg. Taking a “back to basics” […]
Be Careful with RRSP Beneficiary Designations
When Margaret and James married in 2005, it was a second marriage for both of them. They had no children, so when they did their financial planning, their wills were clear that 100% of their estates would go to the other. Believing this was sufficient protection, they built a life and continued to grow their […]
When Investment Returns Matter
The goal of financial planning is to build enough assets, by the time you retire, that the income earned from investments (including pensions etc.) will provide you with your desired lifestyle, without the need to get out of bed and go to work. Simple, right? All other discussions relate to the strategies you can […]
Mortgage Insurance: Not Necessarily as Advertised
It’s all part of the process when you are arranging a mortgage for your new home. The bank employee inevitably asks if you would like to purchase mortgage insurance. No one likes to think about their own mortality; however, we all know deep down that stuff happens. People contract terminal illnesses or suffer debilitating or […]
Tax Planning for Severance Packages
Over the past year, economic stresses worldwide have resulted in many employees receiving severance packages and being advised that their services are no longer required. The longer you’ve been employed with an organization, the higher your severance package will be. With the national job market still experiencing varying levels of stress, it is more important […]
What’s Your Investing Personality?
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The Many Benefits of RESPs
As busy parents, just meeting your family’s needs each day can eclipse thoughts of the future. Add to that juggling act the cost of running a home, daycare, mortgage and car payments, and it’s easy to see how setting funds aside for a child’s future education can become something you’ll “do later” when you have […]
The Power of You
The key financial planning lesson that Covid-19 has taught us all, is that no matter how many planning scenarios a person considers, it is extremely difficult to get it perfectly right! Covid has impacted Canadians’ ability to hold, build and keep cash reserves. For many, it has affected their ability to work and earn […]
Questions. Questions. Questions.
It is increasingly difficult to ignore some of the trading action in the markets that is causing surprising moves in equity values while the underlying economy continues to struggle (refer to U.S. unemployment data, for example). This type of divergence has occurred in the past and at some point, the values reflected in the stock, […]
Time-Tested Money Management Strategies
As we grow up, what we learn about money from our parents can significantly influence how we earn, save, and grow our wealth. Meaghan, an elementary school teacher, credits her mother for her healthy approach to finances today. “I was lucky to grow up understanding that I could control my financial future if I was […]
Preparing for Retirement? Learn How RRIFs Work
If you’ve been contributing to a pension or Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and retirement or your 71st birthday is around the corner, you’re required to convert that nest egg into a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). This benefits you because an RRIF allows you to withdraw savings as income while still letting you grow […]
Does Buy and Hold Still Work?
As an investment strategy, “Buy and Hold” is just what it sounds like: you buy an investment and hold it for an extended period, riding out market fluctuations and selling when the price reaches your target. The underlying logic of this strategy is that investments tend to gain value over time. That long-term gain, along […]
Will You Put Your Parents’ Retirement at Risk?
When Sarah graduated from university and got her first job as a regional sales rep, her parents bought her a car to ensure she’d have a reliable vehicle for the travelling her new position would require. Sadly, only weeks after receiving this generous gift, Sarah hit black ice while driving and lost control. Fortunately, she […]
Caring For Aging Parents
Today, 28% of Canadians provide some form of unpaid caregiving to relatives or family friends. Seniors make up the largest group of those requiring this type of care. The evolving concern is that 65+ is one of Canada’s fastest-growing segments and is expected to double over the next 20 years.1 This is a result of […]
Planning Ahead During Uncertain Times
As some provinces head into a second COVID-19 lockdown, some people are asking the question: Why bother investing for the long term? For many, especially Millennials, the task of building financial wealth and security looks increasingly hopeless. Even the most prudent small business owners were caught short during the lock down in the spring and […]
Why You Should Choose a Financial Advisor
There are common misconceptions about the value of working with a financial advisor. Some believe you have to be rich to be worthy of financial advice. Others take a DIY approach, believing that online resources will guide their needs. Some people feel that they are too young, too old, or too much in debt to […]
Planning to Protect Your Legacy
Your estate is everything you own today – your home, savings, investments, life insurance and personal possessions. So, no matter where you may be on your financial journey, you have an estate that needs protecting. But how you approach this plan is important. Julie decided to save money by purchasing a “legal will kit” online. […]
Your TFSA in 2021. What Can You Contribute?
When it comes to flexible investment tools, there’s nothing quite like a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). This registered account allows you to hold not just savings but also investment equities like stocks, bonds, mutual funds and GICs. All of your investments grow tax-free in a TFSA. What’s even better? You’re not taxed when you make […]
Post-Holiday Debt? You’re Not Alone
“This is the last time I’m starting a new year saddled with credit card debt,” says Tiffany, a 48-year-old computer analyst. “I’ve said this every January for the past five years. This year, I’ve got to keep this promise to myself. I don’t want to spend another 12 months catching up, only to fall behind […]
Helping Adult Children Buy A Home
With the average price of a home in Canada 1 costing roughly $530,000 in 2020 , it’s getting harder for first-time buyers to enter the market. This is likely why a growing number of parents are stepping up to help their adult children purchase a home. While it’s admirable to offer this level of support […]
Is Inflation Missing?
Many commentators are expecting increased inflation in the coming months as Central Banks globally have ramped up their money creation efforts in response to the increased market volatility last March. There are different types of inflation, but most people have experienced price inflation, whereby excess demand is met by rising prices. The next round of […]
Holiday Spending Strategies
The holiday season is a time for connection and giving, but it can also be costly. According to PwC Canada’s 2019 Holiday Outlook report1, Canadians spent an average of $1593 on holiday shopping last year. As this year’s present buying season begins, here are some helpful tips that could help you avoid overspending and taking […]
Protect Yourself From Scams
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, 45,000 Canadians lost more than $96 million to online and telephone scams in 20191. These stats are rising dramatically in our post-COVID reality. In April 2020 alone, there were 6566 reports and 2317 victims defrauded of over $8.3 million. The isolation and anxiety brought about by the global pandemic […]
A State of Financial Wellness
Money has long been the number one stressor for many Canadians, and there’s no doubt that COVID has magnified this reality. It has upended jobs, security, health and financial stability for people across the country. Millions of Canadians are struggling to cover their bills. In March of 2020, 49% of Canadians were just $200 from […]
Simple Strategies To Save On Your Mortgage
Buying a house is usually the most significant investment decision anyone ever makes. Owning a house also tends to have an outsized impact on a person’s overall financial strategy during their lifetime. Buying wisely and choosing the right debt strategy can get you mortgage-free faster. By just following a few simple strategies, you could live […]
Moving For a New Job? Consider the Costs
A job change is no longer just about higher pay or a better title. It can also be about achieving a healthier life balance or simply trying something new. In many cases, a new job includes relocating to a new community. A new opportunity can be very exciting, but even the most positive change comes […]
When Volatility Arrives, Optimism is Key!
The focus here is on you as an investor! What do you bring to the table in terms of investment experience and personal temperament (emotions) that impacts your investment returns and satisfaction while building your nest egg? October is a seasonal time of the year when investment markets often decline as part of a […]
Put Your Eggs In Many Baskets
When their investment savings plummeted in the 2001 stock market crash, Adam and Sonya were concerned, but not panicked. Retirement was a long way out, so they had plenty of time to recover. The couple decided to try their hand at ‘timing the market’ (buying and selling stocks based on expected market fluctuations) to recover […]
Leaving a Legacy
Recently retired Ross and Penny have an estate planning challenge. They’ve accumulated a comfortable net worth, with a good portion of it in liquid investments. They plan to leave everything to their three adult children, but they also want to help them financially right now. The problem is that all of their children have a […]
