End of year reminders and strategies

We’ve got some financial to-dos to stay on track and tips to come out ahead. All must be completed by December 31, and some will be achieved more smoothly if you start early....

Read more

Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Many life decisions can be difficult, but when they involve a financial component, input from your lawyer, accountant or advisor could help in some way. Here are a few scenarios to illustrate how such input can make a difference....

Read more

Should a retirement plan include your home?

When your home represents a sizable portion of your net worth, you might wonder if downsizing would give you a more comfortable retirement. It’s a decision that not only involves financial planning, but practical and psychological factors as well....

Read more

Teaching your children to manage money

Today’s youth may prefer to pick up information online, but when it comes to learning about financial life, parents still have some influence. Here are a few teaching moments....

Read more

How to choose a beneficiary for your RRSP or RRIF

One factor drives many decisions behind naming a beneficiary for a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). When an individual passes away, remaining assets in the RRSP or RRIF are taxed as income at......

Read more

How to save tax as a couple

You can’t escape paying tax on income, but you may be able to split some of your income with your spouse. And if your spouse is in a lower tax bracket, you’ll pay less tax as a couple. Here are three scenarios that illustrate some of the tax-saving.....

Read more

When education savings may need a boost

If a parent bases post-secondary education savings on average costs, the amount needed for tuition would be $6,838 for each academic year, based on the 2018/2019 average for Canadian universities. But what if the child decides to pursue......

Read more

Are you entering the retirement risk zone?

For several decades as an investor, there was always a silver lining to a market downturn. That’s when investment managers purchased stocks at value prices so you could enjoy higher returns when the market rebounded. But that all changes when......

Read more

How often should you check your portfolio?

Your portfolio represents your future, so it’s only natural to want to monitor how your investments are doing. How often you need to check largely depends on the type of investor you are. Active investors who constantly buy and sell individual......

Read more

Next best thing to saving tax now

The federal government has recently taken away several tax advantages enjoyed by individual Canadians and businesses, from ending tax-free switching of corporate class funds to removing key benefits of income sprinkling....

Read more