This year has been a brutal one for investors. Stocks are down, bonds are down, real estate is down—there has been nowhere to hide. The Toronto Stock Exchange net total return is negative 11% year-to-date. The S&P 500 has been much worse, with a 23% drop. Canadian bonds, as measured by the FTSE Canada Universe Bond Index, haveRead more about GIC rates are looking more and more attractive – Should you sell stocks and move to GIC’s?[…]

  When it comes to retirement costs, most people think about food, shelter, travel and entertainment. Yet, there’s a more common expense that requires some very detailed planning: taxes. When it comes to taxes, we need to recognize it is often life’s single greatest expense. Advisors are called upon increasingly to help investors navigate theRead more about Avoiding the tax traps that can eat away at retirement income.[…]

Investing at all-time highs. Sometimes markets seem to race from one high point to the next. At times like these, investors may face what some refer to as ‘psychological barriers to entry.’ They may question whether it’s the best time to put new money into the market. After all, investing at all-time highs means payingRead more about Timing the Market[…]

The threat of a higher capital gains tax rate is resurfacing as Ottawa looks for ways to pay down a soaring deficit amid billions in spending on pandemic-relief measures. There has been speculation ahead of each federal budget in recent years that the government will be tempted to increase the so-called capital gains inclusion rate,Read more about Is a tax hike on capital gains on the federal budget horizon?[…]

When to claim benefits from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) – or its Quebec counterpart, the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) – is an important financial decision for retiring Canadians. With an ageing population and widespread concern that Canadians are inadequately prepared for retirement, it is critical that retiring workers understand how to get the mostRead more about Is there Value in delaying CPP/QPP Benefits?[…]

Corporate owned insurance can have many benefits. A policy owned by your operating company though, can cause quite a few headaches. When it comes time to sell your operating company, you may find it very difficult to transfer the policy out of the company. In fact, this type of transfer can have onerous tax consequences.Read more about Corporately owned Life Insurance set-up[…]

It’s been on the News for a few weeks already and everyone is wishing it was not. It’s been named Covid 19, is causing chaos and very few are spared. What is currently happening is disrupting lives and economies around the world. No one saw it coming, not so fast in any case. Financial MarketsRead more about Keep Calm, Carry On…..Stay Invested![…]

COMPARING TFSA AND RRSP The literature on this topic abounds and yet, there still seems to be much confusion in the Canadian consumer/investor’s mind. The real difference between the RRSP and TFSA comes down to their contribution limits and withdrawal restrictions as well as how and when you pay taxes following these events. TFSA basicsRead more about The big Canadian Conundrum: RRSP OR TFSA?[…]

Will you be working in 2020? Maximum RRSP contribution: The total amount you can contribute to your RRSP each year is made up of your contribution limit for the current year plus any “carry-forward” contribution room from previous years. Your RRSP contribution limit for 2019 is 18% of the earned income you reported on your tax returnRead more about Key Tax numbers for 2020[…]