Is it time for Chicken Little to stop worrying about falling acorns? Depending on which version of the story you read, I’m inclined to believe that Foxy Loxy has been inviting us into his lair to someday, maybe soon, “eat” all of us. When I say eat, I’m not talking literally, but I am talking…
Tax Changes – What’s New in 2014 Some of you may be wondering about the tax and financial changes that have taken place between 2013 and 2014. Although last year’s budget did not propose anything too substantial, there were a number of items that came into effect in January 2014. Dividend Tax Credit for Non-Eligible…
When I was growing up, we didn’t have seatbelts in our car. I remember going on long road trips and moving around in the car. While my father would drive through the night, I slept on the ledge in the back window while my brother and sister would sleep on the back seat. Mom would…
We were asked via our Facebook page if we could suggest a few financial habits to adopt this year, so we thought we’d use it to kick off the year as January’s newsletter topic. Do you have a good habit to add? Do you have a question we can answer in an upcoming newsletter? Please…
What is the real cost of living on borrowed money? Have we become a society addicted to debt? Based on some recent surveys, I would have to conclude that the answer is yes. For the last few years, RBC has conducted a debt poll. According to their survey, 38 per cent of those polled said…
With the end of the 2013 calendar year a mere few weeks away, we thought it an opportune time to remind our clients of deadlines which are fast approaching. Conversion of an RRSP to a RRIF If you turned 71 in 2013, you must convert your RRSP to a RRIF by December 31 of 2013.…
How do you envision your retirement? Do you see yourself as being rich or poor? Will you be self-sufficient or financially dependent on someone else? I imagine that for most retired (or nearly retired) people, you’ll have a better idea of what life will be like; but what if you’re 20 or 30 years away?…
Are you apathetic when it comes to financial advice? Apparently, if you own mutual funds, you are. At least that’s the conclusion of a recent survey conducted by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC). I don’t think this is a huge revelation considering we all have different opinions, but what I do find interesting…
Is your financial plan just a bunch of numbers crunched to the point of no return? I often wonder if the general public has any idea about what really goes on within the financial services industry. When they take the step towards planning for their financial objectives, are they receiving the best advice available or…
Internet Passwords Although it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when drafting your will, leaving a list of passwords behind is very important. It can make the task of wrapping up your estate easier with less confusion and headaches. Without these passwords, something as simple as closing an account can cause…