Top Retirement Tips
Convert RRSPs to income – Roger and Sarah, retired for several years, have delayed taking income from their RRSPs so they could enjoy the tax deferred growth as long as possible. They must start an income from their RRSPs before the end of the year they turn age 71. Review investment portfolio – Joanne had […]
Why Time Matters
It is not uncommon for an individual or organization, such as a charity or community tennis club, to consult a financial planner or investment advisor regarding investment returns that can be generated on some spare cash that is not needed in the immediate future. As a result, the issue of investment “time horizon” is brought […]
Financial Plans and Marriage Breakdown
Statistics show that about half of marriages end in divorce. Ed and Liz are ending theirs and are concerned about changes that will have to be made to their financial and estate plans. Some considerations, also in common-law relationships, are: Life Insurance – The first thing that needs to be done is review beneficiary designations. […]
Retirement: The Promised Land or Crushing Boredom?
For years, you have been anticipating that last day at work. When it finally arrives, will it live up to your expectations? Retirement looks different in everyone’s imagination. For some, it means never wearing a tie again – for any reason. For others, it means traveling the world in designer clothes while attending fancy social […]
World Reserve Currency Regime
Canadians, like many nationalities, have a home bias when it comes to investing. The majority, if not all of their investments, such as RRSPs, real estate, mutual funds, segregated funds and businesses, are in Canada and are tied to its future economic growth. These Canadian investments could see reduced returns in the future, however, due […]
Millennial Money Mistakes
Investors who start saving at a young age automatically have one of the most powerful assets on their side: Time. To get ahead financially, young adults should beware of some of the most common pitfalls discussed below that can all too easily sabotage a financial success strategy. Not Taking Saving Seriously At the dawn of […]
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 […]