Pay Yourself First for Financial Success
A fire breaks out in a movie theatre. You’re there with your spouse and children, as are several local merchants. Who do you save first? The butcher? The banker? The hardware store owner? Their families? Or your family and yourself? A ridiculous question. Of course you would save your family and yourself first. Then why […]
Finding the Right Retirement Location
Grant and Sarah are planning on retiring within the next two years. Paul and Linda, already retired, are thinking about making a move. Whether you are about to retire or are already retired and considering a change, you should consider: Where you want to retire is one of the biggest decisions you will make. Do […]
Law of Large Numbers
Over the next several years, governments in advanced countries will likely continue to struggle with mounting debt burdens and the associated rising costs of servicing that debt. It is also noteworthy to remember that total government debt continues to increase every year because of deficit spending. So how does the Law of Large Numbers apply […]
Maximize Your RRSP Return Through Asset Location
Do you know the real rate of return on your investments? Generally, Canadians measure the success of their investments based only on the rate of return. While it provides a good snapshot of whether an investment is doing well or not, it is not the only criterion for a true picture of success. A good […]
Too Much Life at the End of the Money
You have probably heard the phrase; too much month left at the end of the money. Paying for housing, groceries, fuel, utilities and various child rearing expenses, although very necessary, can put a huge strain on a family when outlays sometimes exceed your income. Fortunately, this is usually only a temporary hiccup in most people’s […]
Predicting Financial Events
Clients often call when markets are looking a bit shaky, or newspaper articles are predicting the next market correction, recession, bubble, etc. The challenge with reacting to such events or news is that the external circumstances rarely have anything to do with your specific situation and plan. Your mission, should you choose to embrace it, […]
Your Financial Dream Killer
Despite what many people think, the number one financial dream killer isn’t portfolio losses, or financial emergencies, or unemployment, and not even natural disasters. The number one reason people fail to reach their financial goals is procrastination – putting off the inevitable until the cost of your dreams or goals become prohibitively expensive. Why People […]
Buying and Selling the Business when an Owner Dies
Like many business owners, Rick and Warren thought it would be a simple process to continue the business when one of them died. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rick and Warren had a printing company and were equal partners. Warren died suddenly. Warren’s shares passed to his widow, Sarah, who became Rick’s new […]
Looking at Investment Returns
A major Canadian financial institution ran an investment promotion earlier this year that promised attractive returns for GIC-type investors, who needed higher returns to generate income. While dealing with an advisor from this particular institution on another matter, the conversation turned to the details of their offer. The highlighted promotion offered a much higher monthly […]
Be Prepared For Emergencies & Opportunities
Randy worked for a small business. When the owner died suddenly, the business accounts were frozen and it took several weeks before they could be accessed to meet payroll. Randy had trouble meeting his financial obligations and had to find a new job. Jane worked at a small company for many years. When the owner […]