Tax Mistakes Every Retiree Should Avoid
There are three tax mistakes that every retiree should avoid. In retirement, there are plenty of tax planning opportunities that can save you a significant amount of money. In meeting with 100s of retirees every year, we see the same mistakes being made over and over again. 1st Mistake: No Plan The first being […]
Best Questions To Ask A Financial Advisor
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/mYYBXuUOFFY” css=”.vc_custom_1663949989742{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1663950614367{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Whether you are looking to hire a financial advisor or already working with someone, there are a few key questions that you should get answered. Let’s dig into these questions and review some of the answers that should raise […]
Should You Be Using More Than One Financial Advisor?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/c0Mw80i-W_g” css=”.vc_custom_1662487692239{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1662487832459{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Instances of clients using multiple advisors rose after Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme was revealed during the 2008 financial crisis. However, in good or bad times, multiple advisors can lead to higher fees and lost efficiencies. Ponzi Scheme Protection Nobody […]
Invest Large Lump Sum of Money Tax-Efficiently By Using Your Children
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/sOt9ZbFEuSM” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1662486312178{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1662486400157{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Here is the scenario You’ve just inherited $1,000,000. You invest the million and it starts generating $40,000/year in dividends. $40,000 is great until you realize the tax man takes away $15,114 every year, leaving you with $24,886. What can you do? Well, you […]
Case Study: Simple Tweak Saves $50,000 in Taxes
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/Y_vUPZlcJvk” css=”.vc_custom_1661864039191{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1661864354903{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Two Main Concerns Sarah was concerned about two things now that she was retired. The first being how to invest tax efficiently. The second concern was with the portfolio fluctuations that she had experienced and now that she […]
Is Now The Right Time To Buy GICs?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/7OfiJJNvXE8″ css=”.vc_custom_1659448945344{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1659449580385{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Is now the right time to be buying a GIC? Lets start with, what exactly is a GIC? A GIC is a term investment that pays you a guaranteed interest rate on the anniversary of your purchase. Generally […]
Retirement Plan Leads to $900,000 in Savings
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/LyARyAqkxqw” css=”.vc_custom_1656081943350{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1656083233452{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Here is a real-life example of how two tweaks to a couple’s retirement plan, saved them over $900,000. For this video, we start by going over Donna and Steve’s (names have changed for confidentiality reasons) background and going over […]
Private Home Care
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]According to a recent survey[1] from CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons), nearly 95% of seniors want to stay in their homes as they age. This isn’t overly surprising considering the negative connotation associated with care homes. We all have that relative who we’ve heard say I’d rather ….. than […]
4 Conflicts Faced by Financial Advisors
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/XYdZYMit0o4″ css=”.vc_custom_1654110574687{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1654115009964{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Video Transcript: 4 Conflicts Faced by Financial Advisors If you are working with a financial advisor, you need to be aware of a few conflicts of interest that can affect your bottom line. Conflicts of interest will arise […]
Where Should I Invest?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/sv3I9T39enc” css=”.vc_custom_1653491806784{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1653493472178{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Today I will be discussing an option that business owners have when they have some cash inside the corporation that they do not need to fund their business. The question is “I have some money. Where should I invest? Inside my corporation, or should […]
Getting Ready for a Bear Market
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/Pmr4cslrJFI” css=”.vc_custom_1652372880628{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1652373623421{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Where are we today? When it comes to the markets, as of today May 10th, 2022, the market is down 15% from its high back on January 3rd of 2022. We are trending downwards so I want to talk to you about what […]
Using a Margin Account
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/nZNMGRdvkVM” css=”.vc_custom_1650377283130{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1651074583935{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Video Transcript Today I’m going to talk about a Margin Account and how it recently helped one of my clients who was in a tough spot. Before we get started, this strategy is not suitable for everyone, please talk to a professional before […]
AgriInvest
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/nm7u0FkgFlY” css=”.vc_custom_1646755023570{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1646760679141{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Today I want to talk to you about AgriInvest and why you should be withdrawing it. Leaving it in your AgriInvest Account When you put money in AgriInvest, let us say $5,000 in this scenario. The government will match your $5,000, for a […]
Our thoughts on the Russian Invasion
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1646331106578{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]The recent Russian invasion has affected us all. From a humanitarian perspective, we hope this war is resolved quickly, and no further loss of innocent life will occur. From a portfolio management perspective, we recognize that these events are reverberating across global markets as investors are trying to assess […]
Make $146,000 Tax-Free in Retirement
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/iH8dSI4FPzU” css=”.vc_custom_1644860757290{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1644959421246{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Today we’re looking at a strategy that can earn you $146,000 tax-free in retirement. Reduce your income to zero In our scenario, we have a 65-year-old, who has a spouse, and both are receiving O.A.S. You would be receiving $642 per month. If […]
Access Money From Your LIRA
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/af0KFgu4sYQ” css=”.vc_custom_1644258310258{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1644258356979{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] What is a Manitoba LIRA? A Locked-in Retirement Account (LIRA) is a type of registered pension plan. If you worked for a company that had a pension plan and subsequently left that company for any number of reasons, you were […]
Don’t Run Out of Money
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/5r5INLh7Bbg” css=”.vc_custom_1642612256914{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text] Don’t run out of money In working with clients who are approaching retirement or early into it, there are two things they want to avoid. Large fluctuations in the value of their portfolio It’s time to be enjoying life, not worrying about a […]
Tax Season: Part 2
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/bbMEJFP5NQg” css=”.vc_custom_1641915791229{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text] Tax Preparation In Tax Season – Part 2, I dive deeper into what exactly tax preparation is and what you should look for. Whether you’re a do-it-yourself tax filer or hiring someone to do it for you, it can help you understand what questions you should ask and […]
How Is Your Investment Portfolio Taxed?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text] Don’t throw $440k out the window Has a credit card statement ever made you yell out, Holy Moly!!!!! (or insert expletive)? That’s what happened to me last week, and I quickly found myself on a call with my credit card provider. To my surprise, I was apparently treating someone […]
Donation Strategies for Farmers
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/zWA0wKorp3k” css=”.vc_custom_1640709640403{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1640709664781{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Here are some advanced tax planning strategies when it comes to donations. We discuss how you can donate your farm corporate shares and investments to save taxes and support your favourite causes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Capital Dividend Account
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/O3aKQ0iIM4Q” css=”.vc_custom_1637607466173{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1637608382130{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] What is it? A capital dividend account is a notional account that increases or decreases when you create capital gains or losses. You aren’t going to see a capital dividend account on any of your bank records or investment records. Before watching this […]
Avoiding the RRSP Tax Bomb
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text] Avoiding the RRSP Tax Bomb I recently met up with some old friends from high school, and we reminisced about some of the good times we had back in the day. We got to talking about the time I absolutely bombed during a class presentation. It was a total […]
Do You Own Mutual Funds?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/palMyXSrM0o” css=”.vc_custom_1634580487997{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text] Do you own mutual funds? If so, there’s likely a 98% chance your portfolio has had a below-average performance. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Tax-Free RRSP Withdrawals
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/j94SRt3X5sU” css=”.vc_custom_1633117683533{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Are Tax-Free RRSP Withdrawals possible? Let me tell you how we are able to do this. Last week, I was sitting down with a gentleman we’ll call John. Like many Canadians, John had buyers remorse regarding his RRSPs. When he went to make a […]
Why Inflation is Killing Your Investment Returns
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/exToZCcxybc” css=”.vc_custom_1632161361839{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1632161933042{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Inflation is continuing to be a hot topic these days, hitting 4.1% in Canada. In this video, Colin goes through an example showing how inflation is reducing your buying power, and what can you do with your portfolio to counteract inflation. To read more […]
Health Benefits Plan
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]While working, most people don’t pay much attention to the cost of their health benefits plan as it’s something they are required to pay into. However, a health benefits plan becomes optional once retired, so make sure you have the proper coverage that fits your needs. You may be […]
Personal Care Homes: The hidden cost
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]As I’ve outlined in the past (Die with Zero), I’m an advocate for spending more in retirement and enjoying life while you’re healthy enough to do so. I also believe in aggressively drawing down taxable accounts such as RRSPs and RRIFs (RRSP Tax Bomb) to potentially avoid a significant tax […]
Use the Bank’s Money
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/yIIr8H6eNjw” css=”.vc_custom_1627402856419{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]In this video, I’ll show you how you can grow your net worth by using the equity already built into your home.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Is Being Low Risk, High Risk?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/9Vwr8DjdLWk” css=”.vc_custom_1626107535062{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Today we are talking low-risk investments. The assumption is that low-risk investments are the safest option. When in fact, you are losing your purchasing power thanks to low-interest rates and rising inflation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
How to Tackle Inflation
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] I just paid $100 for a chocolate bar! Some of you may remember when inflation hit double digits in the ’80s. Back then, paying 15% on your mortgage was reasonable, and Canada savings bonds were doubling your money every five years. When the cost of goods goes up, it has many effects. Only time […]
Easy Retirement Plan
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1622528651185{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]The finish line is just around the corner; what should you be doing as you approach retirement? Here are 5 steps to an easy retirement plan 1. Determine how you want to spend your time? In my experience, there are two reasons people choose […]
Die with Zero
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1621958102486{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Die with zero: Start spending more today If you ask someone when they plan on taking their Canada Pension Plan (CPP), I can almost guarantee they will want to take it as soon as they are eligible (age 60). The most common reason I […]
Cancel Your Loan Insurance?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/gugJq5eMFag” css=”.vc_custom_1621352907103{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1621352930446{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]In this weeks video I go over creditor insurance and how it can be replaced with more cost-effective personal insurance.[/vc_column_text][dt_fancy_image image_id=”5919″ width=”700″ css=”.vc_custom_1621353575577{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Should You Sell Your Home?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1621392818438{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Should You Sell Your Home? Can you believe how much Tom made selling his house down the street? Chances are, you’ve likely been a part of a conversation such as this one over the last year. The Winnipeg housing market has been red […]
Invest Tax-Free: MTAR Account
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/V9PzignBjxs”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1620140093905{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] In Canada, there are three ways you can grow your savings tax-free. Tax-Free Savings Account Principle Residence MTAR Accounts Most Canadians aren’t aware of MTAR accounts and the huge benefits they provide. This is especially true if you plan on leaving funds to […]
Investing at Market Highs
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1619537666872{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Last week, I spoke about buying into the stock market when prices were low. As we saw, there have been many occasions where it would have been opportune to buy low over the last 25 years.[/vc_column_text][dt_fancy_image image_id=”5617″ width=”1000″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1619538525428{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] How about […]
Bitcoin
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/CxEyGmBtZas” css=”.vc_custom_1619501881071{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1619502231933{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Our quick thoughts on whether or not you should be adding Bitcoin to your investment portfolio. Here are a couple of links if you are looking for more information on Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies What are Cryptocurrencies Bitcoin Chart [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Should You Always Buy Low?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1618867661310{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Have you ever heard the term “buy low, sell high?” For those of you who haven’t, this is a simple investment strategy that advocates to buy into the stock market when prices are low and to sell when prices are high. If we look back […]
How to deal with the next stock market correction?
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616511375503{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Today marks the one-year anniversary of the stock market hitting its bottom on March 23, 2020. At the time, there were still so many unknowns with COVID-19. In fact, the media was still calling it the Coronavirus. A couple of days after the market hits […]
RRSP Tax Bomb
[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1612380408194{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/yd1jwxKchYI”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1639420006496{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] One of the biggest issues with an RRSP is the tax bomb it can create. We first go over the Canadian tax system to understand why this tax bomb can happen and then a strategy on how to avoid it! How can you […]
What is a reverse mortgage
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/kcx3bQ_zx1o” css=”.vc_custom_1615868350972{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_text] What is a reverse mortgage Where were you when you first heard the term reverse mortgage? If you’re like me, it was through a cheezy commercial on day time TV. Because of this, I was always skeptical of these products, and I […]
Financial Advisors: Are They All The Same?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1611704668102{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Are All Financial Advisors the Same? The 3 Types When choosing a financial advisor, it can be challenging to differentiate between all available options. They all say: “I’ve been doing this for X years, and my returns have been stellar.” But what else should you be considering beyond returns? While all […]
Gifting the Farmland
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/BY5NKn3F2Sc” css=”.vc_custom_1630350208840{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Gifting the Farmland In this week’s video we review the different ways you can gift farmland to your children along with the pros and cons of both methods.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Taking Care of Your Grandkids
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 4 Things you can do to help your grandkids today Traditionally, inheritances have been passed on to the next generation, but as Canadians are living longer than ever, that train of thought is changing. Many people realize that if they live into their early 90’s, that means their kids will likely already be retired. […]
Should I Be Buying RRSPs?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/WCWwAhFa7kY” align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1612464257262{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text] Should I Be Buying RRSPs? The answer to that question is going to depend on a few different factors. This latest video can help you understand whether or not investing in RRSPs is the right decision for you. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Beware of AMT
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/NOzkZQx7Fjw” css=”.vc_custom_1630350334573{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1630350311731{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Beware of AMT Here is a quick video on what alternative minimum tax is and how it works. Enjoy![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Too Much Cash in Your Corp!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/exR8blXVnOA” css=”.vc_custom_1630350554688{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text] Too much cash in your corp See my latest video going over a case study where one farmer thought his farm corporation qualified for the lifetime capital gains exemption but didn’t due to having too much cash.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Tax Planning Strategies: Dealing with Capital Gains (Part 4)
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Wanda has been investing for a long time and is quite familiar with buying when prices are low and selling when prices are high. Past non-registered account purchase In 2010, she had purchased $100,000 of ABC Corp, and today, it’s worth $250,000. Wanda is now ready to sell her investment as she believes the […]
Tax Planning Strategies: Tax-Loss Selling (Part 3)
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Tax-Loss Selling Judy bought $400,000 of ABC Bank shares in her non-registered account. Today her ABC Bank shares are worth $375,000, and she is showing a $25,000 loss. Judy plans on holding these shares for the next ten years, so she isn’t overly concerned with the short term drop in her investment. For this […]
Let’s Multiply Your Capital Gains Exemption
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/VqzR8GWy8mY” css=”.vc_custom_1630352006724{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text] Let’s Multiply Your Capital Gains Exemption As a farmer, you have a lifetime exemption of one million dollar on the sale of farmland. If you exceed that amount, you could be looking at a large tax bill. Here is an option to increase your capital gains exemption. In this video, we will show two things. First, when no plan is in place and the ensuing tax bill. Second, […]
Tax Planning Strategies: 4 Strategies You Should Implement this Year (Part 2)
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] It’s the beginning of December, and Bob has purchased a rental property from his brother. Imagine how unfair it would be if Bob had to pay tax on his brother’s rental income for the entire year. Fortunately for Bob, that’s not the case, but this can happen when you purchase an investment in a […]
Tax Planning Strategies: 4 Strategies You Should Implement this Year (Part 1)
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Much like the summer months, December seems to come and go in the blink of an eye. We’re all so busy with work events and family gatherings that year end tax planning often gets neglected. With COVID forcing most of us to stay home this year, we can all use this opportunity to make sure […]
Managing Your Portfolio in Retirement
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]https://youtu.be/3mwAUqolv20 Managing Your Portfolio in Retirement The financial industry tends to make things more complex than they need to be. As a result, topics like this usually go in one ear and out the other. My aim with this webinar is to simplify this topic by providing an explanations (in simple English). This webinar will cover topics to be aware of as you approach or […]
US Elections – Should you make moves in your portfolio?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The US election is weeks away and there is no shortage of predictions on how the winner will impact the markets and economy as a whole. Although our natural reaction is to guess how the outcome of the election will impact your wealth, it becomes a futile exercise when we realize how much there is […]
Retirement: What You Need to Know
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]https://youtu.be/6UwIGk_WKoU You’ve worked hard for decades, and now that you are approaching or entering retirement, you could find yourself exposed to significant taxes without the proper strategies in place. Keep more of what you’ve built and enjoy the retirement you deserve. This complimentary video will cover the following topics: Am I on […]
The GIS Strategy: How To Receive Tax-Free Income
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/4RmIFXCjoaM” css=”.vc_custom_1615868841483{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]As an Investment Advisor and Certified Financial Planner, I’m relied upon to reduce my client’s tax bill as much as possible. Today, I wanted to share with you a strategy that, if implemented correctly, can see your family receive nearly $140,000 tax-free from the government. That’s a lot of […]
The Market Has Never Taken a Dollar from Anyone
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] The S&P 500 rises to a record close, fully wiping out its coronavirus losses With the US market hitting a new all-time high yesterday, I wanted to review one of my favorite sayings when it comes to investing: “The Market Has Never Taken a Dollar from Anyone” Whenever I mention this to new investors […]
Getting The Best Of Both Worlds From Your Pension
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqV8Ehobmkc Wouldn’t it be great to have the benefits of commuting your pension as well as the benefits of a monthly pension? In this brief video, I go over how you can have the best of both worlds. As always, if you’d like to discuss your personal situation and explore your financial options, feel free […]
How Commuting Your Pension Allows You To Manipulate Your Income
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrjWlPOqz2w&feature=youtu.be Deciding between commuting your pension or opting for the monthly income stream is a big retirement decision that contains several complexities. In this brief 3-minute video I provide clarity on the benefits of taking the commuted value compared to the monthly income stream. If you’d like to discuss your personal situation and explore your […]
Understanding the Proposed CSSB Pension Changes
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1611896333374{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]https://youtu.be/2r5I0HeZNa4?t=2 *It was expected that Bill 43 would receive Royal Assent (Approval) when the Legislature reconvened in the fall. However, since the Throne Speech was moved up to October 7th, the bills that were being discussed during the spring session have been put on pause. Because of this, the status and timing […]
Why are markets going up?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been having this discussion with clients. Why does the market continue to rise while unemployment in the US is sitting at 40 million (the size of Canada’s population), and most businesses aren’t even close to running at 100% capacity? Everyone has their opinions and theories as to what is […]
Significant changes being proposed to the CSSB pension
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1615397984394{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]*Bill 43 received Royal Assent (Approval) when the Legislature reconvened in October 2020. If you have a CSSB pension, there could be significant changes coming that will affect how the commuted value of your pension is calculated. As I’ve mentioned in the past (Pension or Lump Sum, How to Decide), you […]
Financial Advice for Manitoba Hydro Employees
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/6lPhNQyQ1Zk” css=”.vc_custom_1615869473595{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1611901511867{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]I’ve had the pleasure of working with several clients who work or have retired from Manitoba Hydro. While each person’s financial situation is different, some commonalities exist amongst those sharing and employer. This guide identifies those shared characteristics and provides advice regarding their financial planning implications. […]
Approaching Retirement: 5 things you need to look at
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1612244179887{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]What once seemed so far away is now within reach. You’ve been working most of your adult life, and you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Retirement! The question now becomes, are you ready? Here’s a list of 5 things you need to look at as you […]
My uncensored opinion about RRSPs if you have a pension
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1612815094599{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”] Psychologists call this phenomenon the “illusionary truth effect.” According to Psychology Today, “When determining whether a given claim is true, we don’t always critically evaluate sources or search for corroborating evidence. Instead, we often intuitively evaluate whether a certain claim feels true. And a claim feels more “true” if it comes […]
How to gift wealth to your adult children
I was reading the other day that the current cost of raising a child from birth to 17 is about $325,000. And yet, after all that we still want to gift them our wealth?!?! We must be crazy! But having had a child in the last year, I get it. There’s nothing a parent wouldn’t […]
50 Investing Guidelines To Follow
Consider these two stocks. Over the last five years, Stock “A” has seen its share price sputter with a negative return of 3.19%. Over that same period, its revenue growth ranks dead last compared to its competitors. Its historical valuation multiple also ranks last, which indicates that its competitors have a greater opportunity for growth. […]
How the news can negatively affect your portfolio
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Do you recall the last time you turned off the nightly news and told yourself, “I feel great about where the world is headed!”? It’s probably been a long time. You’ll be hard pressed to come away with one feel-good story because the fact of the matter is these stories don’t sell. Don’t buy into […]
How to properly manage a retirement portfolio
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]https://youtu.be/q9N2DAt0Djk Are you tired of turning on the nightly news and worrying about how the day’s events are affecting your retirement portfolio? Are you worried about the day-to-day fluctuations of the stock market? This week we take a look at how to properly manage your retirement portfolio with the Bucketing Strategy so that you […]
Important considerations to make before accepting an early retirement package
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Companies will often offer employees early retirement packages to encourage them to retire. This is usually done when the company is looking to cut costs and reduce staff. Before making a decision, there are many questions to be addressed. All of which are specific to individual preferences and circumstances. Here are eight such considerations to […]
5 Reasons you should keep your monthly pension
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Over the last couple of months, we’ve taken a look at some of the reasons you should withdraw the commuted value from your defined benefit pension plan. (See: Five reasons you should take your pension as a lump sum payout and What happens when you withdraw your pension?) The best strategy always depends on personal circumstances, […]
What happens when you withdraw your pension?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]https://youtu.be/JcziaDS5R2M Today we’ll be going over what happens when choosing the lump sum payout option from your defined benefit pension plan. As you’re likely aware, a defined benefit pension plan will pay you a monthly income for life, so why choose the lump sum payout option instead? A few common reasons include: Pension […]
Is life insurance an investment or expense?
Are you thinking about purchasing life insurance as a succession planning tool, but having trouble wrapping your head around the annual costs? You might be thinking, “I could be using this cash to buy more land, pay off debt, increase my salary, upgrade my equipment, etc.” I get it, insurance isn’t a very exciting topic, […]
Should I buy life insurance today or tomorrow?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Life insurance is one tool farmers use to help equalize their estate. Below is a comparison of the different costs of buying your life insurance today rather than waiting until you’re older. The scenario You have two children. One would like to farm; the other one isn’t interested. You want to make things […]
Five reasons you should take your pension as a lump sum payout
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] If you’re planning to leave your employer due to your retirement or a change in career paths, then you may be faced with the decision to either take your pension as a lump sum or as a monthly income. What is a defined benefit plan? A defined benefit plan promises to pay a pre-determined […]
How to supercharge your RRSP
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Don Jacobs is three years away from retirement and is looking for a way to supercharge his RRSP. With the 2018 RRSP deadline just around the corner, we help Don maximize his contributions so he can achieve his retirement goal in the next three years. Now that Don’s contribution has been […]
How much do I need to save for retirement?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When I first started working in the financial industry over 3,000,000 minutes ago, one of the common rules of thumb was that you needed to save 20% of your income for your retirement. I immediately began to question this advice as it seemed too simple to implement, not to mention an extreme generalization. Imagine if […]
Why your RRSP should grow as little as possible
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFAZL6qPwkE&feature=youtu.be Is your portfolio properly structured to minimize tax? Can I keep more money in my pocket without increasing the risk in my portfolio? Find out why your RRSP should grow as little as possible in this week’s video. Enjoy videos? Check out the Video Category for more great strategies. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Can I retire if I still have debt?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]More and more Canadians are retiring with debt, but does that make it a viable solution for your retirement plan? We would all like to be debt free once we retire but it isn’t always possible. Ask yourself this The big question you need to ask yourself is “How was the debt accumulated?” If you […]
Am I on Track to Retire? – Video
Am I on track to retire? This is a very common question I receive, so today I wanted to give you a simple way that you can get an answer to this question without pulling your hair out. Bob is 55 years old and approaching retirement. He plans on spending his winters in Phoenix and […]
Get the most out of your retirement savings
Sometimes withdrawing more is the best strategy. Introducing Daniel Daniel worked hard all his life, so by the time he retired he had accumulated a healthy amount of savings in his RRSP. It’s not because Daniel had an overabundant cashflow. There were years where he had to choose between replacing his TV or contributing to […]
Generating retirement income from your farmland
Entering retirement with farmland that you can use to generate rental income is a great way to create a steady income. However, there are a few points to consider to make sure you’re generating enough income and being as tax efficient as possible. Have a plan Unfortunately, land isn’t like a savings account. If you’re […]
Timing your Retirement to Save Tax $$$
You’ve been targeting the unreduced pension date that you’ve seen on your yearly pension statement for the last twenty years. It’s finally within arm’s reach and you are set on retiring on that exact date. You’ve put in the time and you’re tired of hearing Carl’s nonsense about the Jets around the water cooler. As […]
I Just Sold my Farm, Now What?
You’ve put in years of blood, sweat, and tears into your life’s work and you’re finally able to enjoy the fruits of your labour. You no longer have to worry and stress about grain prices, rain, carbon taxes or whatever other phenomena that affected your crops. You’re now sitting at home, looking at your (presumably […]
Should I Help Pay for my Child’s University Education? (Part 3)
Over the last few weeks, we’ve taken a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of helping your child pay for their university education. I’ve received a lot of inquiries as to what the right balance is in regards to being supportive or not, so I figured I would share with you my thoughts […]
Should I Help Pay for my Child’s Education (Part 2)
Last week we reviewed some of the benefits of helping your child pay for their education, but today well examine some of the disadvantages of paying for their school. Or should we call it their party fund? Your Financial Position In much the same way airlines tell you to put on your oxygen mask before […]
Should I Help Pay for my Child’s Education? (Part 1)
The cost of education is continually rising with an average tuition increase of 3.1% across Canadian universities for the 2017-2018 academic year. So should you be helping your child pay for their university education? In this three-part series, we’ll take a look at some of the advantages, disadvantages, and my recommendations when it comes to […]
Passing Down the Family Cottage
Cottages often hold a lot of sentimental value to families and are home to a lot of great memories. Many cottage owners would like to see their children and grandchildren get the same joy from the property that they did, even after they are gone. It may seem like a nice sentiment but leaving the […]