Financial Advice for New and Expecting Parents
Whether you’re expecting a child, planning to have one soon or have just become a new parent, you’re about to embark on one of the most rewarding journeys that life has to offer. It’s also one of the most expensive: an average of $12,500 per year until age 18.1. That’s $225,000 per child, and it […]
Optimizing Your RRIF
Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) are one method of drawing an income from Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) in retirement. There are a few things to consider to get the best value from your retirement savings with RRIFs. For many Canadians, RRSP savings will be the major source of their retirement income. The main concern […]
Revisiting Your Financial Plan
The hits keep coming! With the recently concluded Federal election essentially changing nothing in Ottawa, there is little doubt that annual spending deficits will probably continue to reach new levels. Along with this renewed deficit spending Canadians can expect to see higher consumer prices as various economic disruptions continue to impact Canada and other nations […]
Moving Your Employer Pension Between Jobs
As the pandemic slowly recedes, work-life balance trends emerge. A recent Angus Reid survey revealed that 19% of Canadians would quit or look for a new job if required to return to the office. 25% of survey participants stated they would look for new employment after returning to office. If you have a pension at […]
Using a Trust to Avoid Probate Fees
When Simon’s father passed away two years ago, he didn’t think much about how his estate would be handled. His mother had died five years before, and his dad’s will was clear about how his assets would be divided. Then came probate, a process to confirm the validity of his will. Not only did unexpected […]
A Point In Time
There are moments in time when significant economic shifts occur that alter the future. One such moment occurred in late August 2019 at the close of the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. This is an annual and exclusive central banking conference to foster open discussion about important and current policy matters. Bank of England Governor, and […]
Tax Tips for Sole Proprietors
Freelancer, self-employed, contractor, independent, temporary or gig worker and entrepreneur are all terms used to describe sole proprietors. While sole proprietorship isn’t new, it is most definitely on the rise. Sole proprietorship – popularly referred to as “gig work” or the “gig economy”- is fast becoming a thriving industry in Canada. A new generation of […]
Advice for the Sandwich Generation
It seemed there was nothing her father couldn’t do when Margaret was growing up. He was the most capable person she knew. Widowed by the time he was 55, he lived an independent and full life, never relying on Margaret for anything other than her company. Four years ago, however, Margaret began noticing changes. Subtle […]
Storyline Investing
The point of the headline is to distinguish what kind of investor you are. Do you follow storylines as described in the media headlines, or do you rely upon numbers and data to build your wealth and achieve financial independence? Warren Buffett has made this point clearly by stating that in the short term, the […]
The Power of Compound Interest
“Money makes money. And the money that money makes, makes more money.”1 This quote by Benjamin Franklin is referencing the power of compound interest. Albert Einstein extolled the wealth-building virtues of compound interest as well. He is reputed as saying he considered it to be man’s greatest invention and the eighth wonder of the world.2 […]