Archives: Newsletter

Is a 7 per cent unemployment rate acceptable? According to some — absolutely! As a matter of fact, quarterly unemployment never fell below 7% throughout the 1980s & 1990s. The unemployment rate in July increased to 7.2% from 7.1% in June. This reflected a net job loss of 39,000 jobs across Canada. Now that may seem like…

Do you ever wonder what happens to the money you donate to charity? Have you ever taken the time to find out? People give to charity for various reasons, but I think most people give because they believe it’s going to help the people or animals that the charity represents. Usually this is the case,…

Our monthly newsletters highlight areas of concern and hopefully let you know how we can help. Over at The Huffington Post, Tim Paziuk’s blog covers a broader range of topics from a more personal point of view. Check out a few recent posts below, or click here to go directly to Tim’s blog. How the…

Have you noticed over the last few months that the banks have really been pushing variable (floating) rate mortgages? The banks are basing this on historical information, which in my opinion is irrelevant today. It is true that, overall, interest rates have been on a downward trend over the last two decades. There have been…

I read an article the other day that brought up a problem that sadly, happens more than we think; dying before you collect Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement benefits. Although there were a couple of factual mistakes, the message was clear and correct — a lot of people contribute a lot of money into CPP and never…

A common concern among our clients is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) rules pertaining to automobiles. A few of the most frequently asked questions are as follows: Should I buy or lease my vehicle? This is actually a very complex question and entire books have been devoted to the subject. It depends on many variables…

Usually people respond with positive or negative comments to my blogs each week. This one is different. I’m looking for your opinion on where health care should fall between capitalism and the public good. I work with hundreds of physicians in regards to their finances and we often discuss what’s going on in the medical…

There is a raging debate on how financial advisors are compensated for financial products, particularly how they receive commissions hidden in mutual fund fees. Advocis president and CEO Greg Pollock recently published a piece in the Financial Post against the idea of banning commissions, and the debate was then taken up by both the Globe and MailandBNN, where…

All businesses need bookkeeping. At the very least, recording income and expenses allows a business to determine its profitability. Bookkeeping also prepares a business for completing annual financial statements, which may be required by law. Finally, regular bookkeeping means “the books” can be queried at any time for a current snapshot of how the business…

Canadian news is mired in ethical debates these days, from questions over government officials’ rising salaries, to charity speaking fees, travel expenses, and even substance abuse. What’s the common thread in all this? Lots and lots of lawyers’ fees! These lawyers no doubt have their work cut out for them. But let’s take a look…