Retirement – Are You Prepared?

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Whether you are decades away from retirement or if it is just around the corner, being aware of the planning opportunities will take the fear and uncertainty out of this major life event.

How is Your Retirement Shaping Up?

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If you are one of the lucky ones who participate in a pension plan, consider yourself to be very fortunate. Statistics show that only approximately one-third of paid workers in Canada are covered by a registered pension plan. * If your plan is a Defined Benefit Pension Plan (DBPP) you can consider yourself even more fortunate as this is considered to be the crown jewel of pension plans. The other type of plan available is a Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP). So, how do these plans differ?

Understanding Early CPP: When and Why to Consider It

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New Rules governing the Canada Pension Plan took full effect in 2016. Under these rules, the earliest you can take your CPP Pension is age 60, the latest is 70. The standard question regarding CPP remains the same - should I take it early or wait?

TFSA vs RRSP – 2024

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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.

Are You On The Right Track?

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In bull markets, some investors develop unhealthy expectations as to the long term yields their investments should provide. Ten years ago, some came to accept returns as high as 15% to 20% per annum as the base return their fund and portfolio managers were expected to provide. Of course, these expectations came crashing back to earth in 2008 as the bull was chased away by a very large bear. Today, many fund managers are of the opinion that double digit returns are going to be very difficult to achieve with any consistency over the long term. Is it time for us to lower our expectations?

Prepare in Advance for Next Year’s Tax Filing

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Was last year’s filing of your income tax return a satisfying experience for you? Did you have a sense of accomplishment or dismay? For many, the April 30th deadline seems to arrive way too soon. If this is the case with you, starting the process much earlier would seem to be the answer. The process should include proper record keeping, taking advantage of the tax-saving methods available to you, and, perhaps, finally getting a professional to complete and file your return on your behalf.

Do you have enough for retirement?

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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

Alberta 2023 Budget Highlights

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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.

British Columbia 2023 Budget Highlights

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On February 28, 2023, the B.C. Minister of Finance announced the 2023 budget. We have highlighted the most important financial measures you need to know: • Tax credit changes. • Increases to the B.C Family Benefit. • Carbon tax changes. • Other important tax changes. • Healthcare and housing spending.

2023 Financial Calendar

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Welcome to our 2023 financial calendar! This calendar is designed to help you keep track of important financial dates and deadlines, such as tax filing and government benefit distribution. You can bookmark this page for easy reference or add these dates to your personal calendar to ensure you don't miss any important financial obligations.