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Understanding the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)
Unlock the power of an RESP to secure your child’s educational future. Learn how tax-deferred growth, government grants, and flexible contribution options can ease the burden of rising post-secondary costs. Plan today for a brighter tomorrow!
Understanding Taxes Payable at Death in Canada
Discover how taxes impact your estate in Canada and explore strategies to minimize the burden. Learn how to manage earned income, deemed disposition, and withdrawals at death to preserve your legacy.
RDSP Explained
Secure the future for loved ones with disabilities through the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). Take advantage of tax-deferred growth and generous government contributions to build long-term financial security. Learn how the RDSP can be a powerful tool for your family's financial planning.
Getting Ready for Money Emergencies
Facing unexpected financial emergencies? An emergency fund acts as your financial safety net, ensuring peace of mind without dipping into savings or incurring debt. Start small, build steadily.
Protecting Key Talent using Group Benefits
Discover the secrets to retaining your organization's most valuable employees and gaining a competitive edge in today's dynamic job market. Learn how group benefits play a crucial role in fostering a knowledgeable and engaged workforce. From comprehensive health coverage to career development opportunities, this article unveils the keys to a sustainable future. Don't miss out on the chance to build a stronger, more prosperous tomorrow for your company. Read on and unlock the potential of group benefits!
Estate Planning for Blended Families
Blended families – where two people get married but have children from previous relationships – are becoming more common. On top of the day-to-day challenges of blending a family, new spouses also have to figure out how to plan their estates, so everyone is properly taken care of.
We cover all of the following a blended family must consider while estate planning:
• Sharing the Family Home
• Make the Most of a Registered Retirement Savings Plan
• How to Share Non-Registered Investments and Other Assets
• Why It's Important to Select a Good Trustee
• The Advantages of Life Insurance for Blended Family Planning
How to Choose and Customize a Group Benefits Plan for Small Businesses
Unlock the secrets to creating a brighter, sustainable future for your small business and employees. Discover the power of customized group benefits plans and why they're the key to success. Read the full article here!
Stay Ahead in 2024: A Comprehensive Checklist for Federal Tax Updates
Explore the upcoming 2024 Canadian tax changes affecting investors, business owners, and high-net-worth individuals. From capital gains adjustments to new incentives, stay informed with our comprehensive checklist.
2024 Federal Budget Highlights
On April 16, 2024, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, presented the federal budget.
While there are no changes to federal personal or corporate tax rates, the budget introduces:
• An increase in the portion of capital gains subject to tax, rising from 50% to 66.67%, starting June 25, 2024. However, individual gains up to $250,000 annually will retain the 50% rate.
• The lifetime exemption limit for capital gains has been raised to $1.25 million. Additionally, a new one-third inclusion rate is set for up to $2 million in capital gains for entrepreneurs.
• The budget confirms the alternative minimum tax changes planned for January 1, 2024 but lessens their impact on charitable contributions.
• This year's budget emphasizes making housing more affordable. It provides incentives for building rental properties specifically designed for long-term tenants.
• Introduces new support measures to aid people buying their first homes.
• Costs for specific patents and tech equipment and software can now be written off immediately.
• Canada carbon rebate for small business
Tax tips to know before filing your 2023 income tax
Unlock the secrets to maximizing your 2023 tax returns with our essential guide. From the new Advanced Canada Workers Benefit to crucial deductions for families, ensure you're not leaving money on the table this tax season.
TFSA vs RRSP – 2024
When looking to save money in a tax-efficient manner, Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSA) and Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP) can offer significant tax benefits. The main difference between the two is that TFSAs are ideal for short-term goals, such as saving for a down payment on a house or a vacation, as its growth is entirely tax-free, while RRSPs are more suitable for long-term goals such as retirement. When comparing deposit differences, TFSAs have a limit of $7,000 for the current year, while RRSPs have a limit of 18% of your pre-tax income from the previous year, with a maximum limit of $31,560. In terms of withdrawals, TFSAs have no conversion requirements and withdrawals are tax-free, while RRSPs must be converted to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) at age 71 and withdrawals are taxed as income.
2024 Financial Calendar
Stay ahead in 2024 with our comprehensive financial calendar! From tax filing to benefit distributions, we guide you through key dates like the $7,000 TFSA contribution and $8,000 First Home Savings Account. Bookmark now for a financially savvy year!
2023 Personal Year-End Tax Tips
Maximize your tax savings! Discover expert tips on investments, family deductions, retirement, and more in our latest article.
2023 Year-End Tax Tips and Strategies for Business Owners
Maximize your tax benefits as a business owner in 2023! Learn key strategies for salary vs. dividends, passive investments, and more.
Understanding Target Loss Ratio and Your Group Benefits Plan
Unlock the mysteries of your group benefits plan! Discover how the target loss ratio (TLR) can influence your premiums and what it means for your company's future. Dive in now!
Empowering Your Family’s Financial Future: A Comprehensive Guide to Budgeting
Secure your family's financial future with effective budgeting. Learn how to gain financial clarity, achieve your goals, and prepare for emergencies in our comprehensive guide.
Why Insurance Is So Important If You’re A Single Parent
Being a single parent is a lot of responsibility. Learn how the right types of insurance can provide you and your family with the financial protection they need.
Understanding Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs)
A Tax-Free Savings Account is a powerful tool to help you achieve your financial goals. Whether you're saving for a new home, planning for retirement, or investing in your children's education, a TFSA can be a valuable part of your financial strategy. The flexibility and tax advantages it offers make it a great choice for many Canadians.
Remember, the sooner you start, the more time your investments have to grow tax-free. Every dollar counts when you're planning for the future, and a TFSA can help you make the most of your savings.
Don't wait until tomorrow to start planning for your future. Contact us today to begin your journey to financial security today.
The Five Steps to Insurance Planning
It’s essential to have enough insurance to give you peace of mind and make sure you are sufficiently insured. Working with an insurance agent can help make sure you are adequately insured.
The five steps to insurance planning are:
• Finding an insurance agent
• Meeting with your insurance agent
• Reviewing your insurance options
• Purchasing insurance
• Filing a claim (when necessary)
An insurance agent can help you understand your policy covers, how much your deductible will be, and all the steps involved in filing a claim.
Demystifying MER’s (Management Expense Ratio)
Investing in a fund involves knowing its associated costs, and the Management Expense Ratio (MER) is a crucial factor to consider. The MER is a percentage of the total assets in the investment fund that covers the fund's operating and management costs. It's important to note that the MER is subtracted from your investment returns, so a higher MER will result in lower net returns for you. For example, if a fund's expenses amounted to 2% of its assets, its MER would be 2%. It's crucial to understand the MER of a fund to make informed investment decisions and ensure that you're getting the most value for your money. In this article and infographic, we will break down the various components of the MER to help you better understand it.
First Home Savings Account (FHSA): What You Need to Know
Are you looking to buy your first home in Canada? The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) could help make it happen. This savings plan allows first-time home buyers to save up to $40,000 tax-free, with contributions being tax-deductible. In this article and infographic, we cover everything you need to know about FHSA, including eligibility requirements, contributions and deductions, qualifying investments, withdrawals, and transfers.
Tax Tips You Need To Know Before Filing Your 2022 Taxes
It’ll be time to file your 2022 taxes soon, and you must take advantage of every tax credit and deduction you can! Our article covers the following:
• Canada Workers Benefit.
• Claiming home office expenses.
• The tax deduction for zero-emissions vehicles.
• Return Of Fuel Charge Proceeds To Farmers Tax Credit.
• Eligible Educator School Supply Tax Credit.
Alberta 2023 Budget Highlights
On February 28, 2023, the Alberta Minister of Finance announced the 2023 budget. We have highlighted the most important financial measures you need to know, with an emphasis on the following:
• Tax credits.
• Decreased education property tax.
• Investing in education, tourism and infrastructure.
2022 Year End Tax Tips and Strategies for Business Owners
The end of 2022 is quickly approaching – which means for business owners, it's time to review tax tips and strategies to maximize your benefits.
Do you have enough for retirement?
Many of us dream of the day that we can retire and have the time to ourselves that we have dreamed of for so many years. But, to have a genuinely contented and relaxing retirement, you need to ensure that you have the means to afford it. So, now's the best time to consider the three critical stages of retirement planning.
1) Accumulation
2) Pre-retirement
3) Retirement
Insurance Planning for Incorporated Professionals
For incorporated professionals, making sure your business is financially protected can be overwhelming. Incorporated Professionals face a unique set of challenges when it comes to managing risk. Insurance can play an important role.
Don’t lose all your hard-earned money to taxes
It’s essential to manage your tax planning properly – both while you are living and for after your death. You want as much of your money as possible to go to your beneficiaries, not the government. Our article contains three tips to help you do that:
1. Learn how to make the most of the lifetime capital gains exemption.
2. Figure out ways to decrease your end-of-life tax bill.
3. Look into Immediate Financing Arrangements.
Five Ways To Withdraw Money From Your Business In A Tax-Efficient Manner
You have worked long and hard to build up your business, and now you are ready to withdraw money from your business' bank account. But you don't want to get hit with a huge tax bill. So here are 5 ways to withdraw money from your business in a tax-efficient manner.
Don’t lose all your hard-earned money to taxes
It’s essential to manage your tax planning properly – both while you are living and for after your death. You want as much of your money as possible to go to your beneficiaries, not the government. Our article contains three tips to help you do that:
1. Learn how to make the most of the lifetime capital gains exemption.
2. Figure out ways to decrease your end-of-life tax bill.
3. Look into Immediate Financing Arrangements.
2021 Income Tax Year Tips
It’ll be time to file your 2021 taxes soon, and you must take advantage of every tax credit and deduction that you can. Our article includes information on a variety of subjects you need to know about, including what to do if you’ve had to repay COVID-19 benefits, how to plan ahead if you’re self-employed or retiring soon, and what you need to know if you have a home office or employer-provided benefits.
Group Retirement Benefits
Working at an organization that offers a pension plan is one of the greatest financial advantages a Canadian can enjoy. Pension plans are designed to provide retirement income and help employees reach their retirement goals and for business owners- help retain key employees.
The Five Steps to Investment Planning
An investment advisor can help you figure out what the right investment choices are for you.
The five steps to investment planning are:
• Meeting your investment advisor
• Determining your goals and expectations
• Developing your investment plan
• Implementing your investment plan
• Monitoring the plan
The sooner you start planning for retirement, the sooner you can get there! An investment advisor can help you get there quicker.
The Need for Personal Life Insurance
At different stages of life, the need for life insurance will vary, here's a list of reasons for life insurance.
Group Insurance vs Individual Life Insurance
While it’s great to have group coverage from your employer or association, in most cases, people don’t understand the that there are important differences when it comes to group life insurance vs. self owned life insurance.
Estate Freeze
No business owner likes to think about handing over their business they've built from the ground up. But the fact of the matter is, you will have to do it eventually. Even more concerning, what if you were to become ill or incapacitated? Making a decision of this magnitude during trying times would not be ideal.
For the business owner, an estate freeze can be an integral part of your estate planning strategy. The purpose of an estate freeze is to lock-in (freeze) the value of the business, freeing the successor from the tax liability that may arise should the business' value increase.
Life Insurance after 60- is it necessary?
You may have had life insurance for as long as you can remember. You knew it was important to make sure that your family would be taken care of and be able to pay their bills if anything happened to you.
But now that you’re over 60, your children are grown, and your mortgage is paid off, you may feel you don’t need life insurance anymore. However, there are some circumstances under which it may still make sense for you to have life insurance:
• You still have substantial debt.
• You have dependent children or grandchildren.
• You want to be able to leave a financial legacy.
Estate Planning for Young Families
Estate Planning for Young Families
Federal Budget 2021 Highlights
On April 19, 2021, the Federal Government released their 2021 budget. Our article contains highlights of the various financial measures in this budget, divided into three different sections:
• Business Highlights, including an extension to COVID-19 Emergency Business Supports, new programs to support job creation, and a change in interest deductibility limits.
• Individual Highlights, including details on the tax treatment and repayment of personal COVID-19 benefits (such as CERB), eligibility changes to the Disability Tax Credit, an increase in OAS for those 75 and up, and support for job skills retraining.
• Additional Highlights, including a proposed federal minimum wage of $15, changes to the GST New Housing Rebate conditions, and new or increased taxes in areas such as luxury goods, tobacco, and Canadian housing owned by non-resident foreign owners.
What’s new for the 2021 tax-filing season?
Tax season is upon us once again. But since 2020 was a year like no other, the 2021 tax-filing season will also be different. Due to all the changes in both where and how Canadians worked, the Canadian government has introduced some new tax credits and deductions to keep pace with these changes. Our article covers all of the following:
• How to claim home office expenses
• The new Canada Training Credit
• Pandemic emergency funds
• New digital news subscription tax credit
2021 Financial Calendar
We’ve put together a financial calendar for 2021. It contains all the dates you need to know to make the most of your government benefits and investment options. Whether you want to bookmark this or print it out and post it somewhere prominent, you’ll have everything you need to know in one place!
Government of Canada to allow up to $400 for home office expenses
For the 2020 tax year, the Government of Canada introduced a temporary flat rate method to allow Canadians working from home this year due to Covid-19 to claim expenses of up to $400.
Business Owners: 2020 Tax Planning Tips for the End of the Year
It's a great time to review your business finances now that we are nearing year-end. We have listed some of the critical areas to consider and provide you with some helpful guidelines to make sure that you cover all the essentials. We have divided our tax planning tips into four sections:
- Year-end tax checklist
- Remuneration
- Business tax
- Estate
Highlights of the 2020 Federal Fall Economic Statement | Additional $20,000 CEBA loan available now
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland recently provided the government's fall economic update. It included information on the government's strategy for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and its plan to help shape the recovery. We've summarized the highlights for you:
• Corporate Tax Changes, including extensions to subsidy programs.
• Personal Tax Changes, including additional Canada Child Benefit Plan payments and a new "Work from home" tax credit.
• Indirect Tax Changes, including the proposal to charge GST/HST on services provided via digital platforms, as well as the temporary removal of GST/HST on face masks and shields.
For business owners, as of December 4th, the CEBA loan has been expanded by an additional $20,000.
Personal Tax Planning Tips – End of 2020 Tax Year
To help our clients, we’ve put together a comprehensive article filled with great tips on how to get ready for 2020 tax season. Here’s a summary of our personal tax tips article:
• Details about the different COVID-19 benefits programs and the tax ramifications of them
• Information about family tax issues including the Canada Child Benefits and tips on how to split income.
• Managing investments. Details about contributing to various savings plans such as a TFSA, RESP, or RDSP. Also tips on how and when to donate to charity and how to time the purchase or sale of investments.
• Retirement planning. How to make the most of your RRSP, things to know if you’ve turned 71, and tips on RRIF conversion.
The Difference between Segregated Funds and Mutual Funds
Segregated Funds and Mutual Funds often have many of the same benefits however there are key differences you should consider like Maturity and Death Benefit Guarantees.
10 Essential Decisions for Business Owners
Business owners are busy… they’re busy running a successful business, wearing lots of hats and making a ton of decisions. We've put together a list of 10 essential decisions for every business owner to consider.
Insurance Planning for Business Owners
For business owners, making sure your business is financially protected can be overwhelming. Business owners face a unique set of challenges when it comes to managing risk. Insurance can play an important role.
Insurance Planning for Young Families
For young families, making sure your family is financially protected can be overwhelming, especially since there’s so much information floating online. This infographic addresses the importance of insurance- personal insurance.
Tax Loss Selling
Over the last few weeks, the financial market has taken a downturn amidst fears over Coronavirus.
Understandably, you are concerned with your portfolio, it’s important to stay level-headed to avoid making financial missteps. However, staying level-headed doesn’t necessarily mean you sit there and do nothing. In fact, one consideration you can look is taking an active tax management approach.
Tax loss selling is a strategy to crystallize or realize any capital losses in your non-registered accounts so it can be used to offset any capital gains.
Coronavirus & Market Uncertainty – $82 billion in aid for Families and Businesses
On March 18th, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced a further $82 billion in support including $27 billion in direct support for Canadian workers and businesses. This is in addition to the $20 billion announced days earlier which includes $10 billion available through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to help small and medium-sized businesses.
Coronavirus & Market Uncertainty – Federal Government $20 billion economic aid package
On March 13th, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, outlined Canada's response to COVID-19 including new investments to help protect Canadians and businesses. The total value of an aid package could be up to $20 billion across the country which includes $10 billion available through the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) to help small and medium-sized businesses. Here are some details of the programs they are funding:
Comparing TFSAs and RRSPs – 2020
We examine the difference between RRSP and TFSA in the deposit and withdrawal stage.
RRSP Tax Savings Calculator for the 2019 Tax Year
The 2019 RRSP Tax Savings Calculator
2020 Financial Calendar
Financial Calendar for 2020- All the deadlines you need to know to maximize your benefits!
2019 Tax Tips for Employees
Now that we are nearing year end, it’s a good time to review your finances. With the federal election over and no major tax personal tax changes for this year, 2019 is a good year to make sure you are effectively tax planning.
Succession Planning for Business Owners
Business owners deal with a unique set of challenges. One of these challenges includes succession planning. A succession plan is the process of the transfer of ownership, management and interest of a business. When should a business owner have a succession plan? A succession plan is required through the survival, growth and maturity stage of a business. All business owners, partners and shareholders should have a plan in place during these business stages.
6 Steps to Retirement Success
Retirement planning can be challenging, we’ve outlined what we feel are 6 steps to retirement success. Talk to us about a complimentary comprehensive review of your retirement plan.
The Difference between Segregated Funds and Mutual Funds
Segregated Funds or Mutual Funds? What's the difference?
Investing as a Business Owner
Many business owners have built up earnings in their corporation and are looking for tax efficient ways to pull the earnings out to achieve their personal and business financial goals. We outline the factors to consider when investing as a corporation.
Financial Advice
An advisor can help you determine where you are today financially and where you want to go. An advisor can provide you guidance on how to reach your short, medium and long term financial goals.
Real Estate or Investments?
One of the age-old financial quandaries asked of financial advisors is “shall I invest in property or funds?”. Predictably, the answer is not at all straightforward and depends on many factors, including your own financial style, personality and circumstances. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each choice to help you to be better informed about which could be the most lucrative option for you
2019 Federal Budget
The 2019 budget is titled “Investing in the Middle Class. Here are the highlights from the 2019 Federal Budget.
2019 Tax Calculator
Calculate your combined Provincial and Federal Tax in your Province
Comparing TFSA’s and RRSP’s – 2019
If you are seeking ways to save in the most tax-efficient manner available, TFSAs and RRSPs can both be effective options for you to achieve your savings goals more quickly. However, each plan does have distinct differences and advantages / disadvantages. Let’s take a look at their key features
2019 Financial Calendar
Financial Calendar for 2019- All the deadlines you need to know to maximize your benefits!
Tax Planning Tips for End of 2018
Now that we are nearing year end, it’s a good time to review your finances. 2018 saw a number of major changes to tax legislation come in force and more will apply in 2019, therefore you should consider available opportunities and planning strategies prior to year-end.
The Importance of a Financial Plan
The importance of a financial plan. Working with us to create your financial plan helps you identify your long and short term life goals.Talk to us to see how we can help you.
Passive Investment Income Limit
Morneau’s federal budget announced earlier this year informed us how the government will treat passive income in a Canadian Controlled Private Corporation. (CCPC) The government’s main concern was that under the current rules a “tax deferral advantage” exists since tax on active business income is usually lower than the top personal marginal tax rate. Therefore if the corporate funds were invested for a long period of time, shareholders might end up with more after-tax amount than if it was invested personally.
Getting the best from a financial advisor
Working with a professional to help you to make sense of your finances can be a wise move, but for this relationship to work effectively it is important that you understand what to expect from your financial advisor.
Alberta Budget 2018
The 2018 budget for Alberta focuses on the diversification of its post-recession economy, with the aim of creating more stability and less vulnerability to future fluctuations in oil prices. Read for some of the highlights