Redefining Retirement
Retirement used to mean a gold watch, a pension and spending time on hobbies or new pastimes. For some this may still be true, but times have changed and there are new realities that will affect how retirement will look in the future. The largest segment of the population in Canada today, the “Baby Boomers”, […]
Pay Down Debt or Retire in Comfort?
Increasingly consumers in major Canadian cities such as Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver or Toronto, are faced with a dilemma of how to best manage their cash flow in the face of record mortgage and consumer debt. A February poll by CIBC asked Canadians whether, if they had extra funds they would contribute to an RRSP or […]
But I’m Invincible
Most people have a false sense of security by believing that they will not be victims of a critical illness like cancer, heart attack or stroke; and if they are, that the healthcare system will look after them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, […]
Tax Avoidance Strategy: Pension-Splitting
One out of every three workers is covered by a registered pension plan (RPP). That’s over 6 million people. Like all hard-working Canadians, they are looking forward to a satisfying retirement. Nothing helps create a pleasant experience in your golden years like a steady stream of income every month. What if you found out you […]
Evolution of an Investor
Sometimes during social events or other gatherings a person will approach someone in the financial services business with an opening question: “I hear you do investments. What kind of returns can I expect?”. The type of questions asked by individuals are usually a good indication of their investing experience. Newer (younger) investors are often more […]
Living Longer & Retiring Faster
Over the last one hundred years, every new generation of Canadians has enjoyed the benefit of a longer life expectancy. With dramatic improvements in health care, the human life span has never been longer. Additionally, some have set their sights on early retirement. The combination of living longer and retiring earlier creates a serious cash […]
Is Probate Right for Your Estate?
Estate planning can be an overwhelming process. Whether it is your own estate or you are the executor for someone else, the checklist can seem never-ending. A financial advisor can help make sure your checklist is complete before you start checking the boxes. One of those items on the checklist is probate, the legal process […]
The Either / Or Financial Decision
When it comes to making financial decisions most people focus on eitheror scenarios; that is making a tactical decision that may or may not reflect a larger financial strategy or wealth accumulation context. We often see these types of isolated, one-off decision choices in media articles that pose dilemmas such as: Is it better to […]
Thinking Like the Rich
There are some things that the rich do and the way they think that makes them different from you and me. These habits contribute to their ability to build and maintain long-lasting wealth and financial independence across several generations. The first lesson is that they tend to live below their means in terms of their […]
Naming Beneficiaries for Your RSPs
Most people list tax elimination or minimization as a top priority in their estate plans. For most, Registered Savings Plans (RSPs), which includes RRSPs and RRIFs, are one of their most significant assets. Most RSP accounts hold investment funds or securities that are very liquid, often accessible within a few days. Unlike most other assets, […]