When preparing an asset allocation strategy for your specific objectives, it is important to not let the allure of high returns in “excess” of the benchmark lure you into a portfolio not suited for your risk tolerance. Over the course of your lifetime, your risk aversion in all aspects will continually change, but this is especially true as you near retirement.

As the focus on RRSP season is over, we turn our attention to the current tax season. It is important to note that personal tax returns must be filed by April 30th. We kindly ask that you provide us all documentation at least two weeks prior to the appropriate deadline.

Your company is an operating company or an investment holding company. It has retained profits or surplus cash that is not paid to you, since you do not need the income. Your corporation invests the cash in a balanced portfolio including a traditional fixed income component, which you earmark for your heirs or favourite charity. You want a financial planning strategy that will reduce taxes annually and increase the funds available when you die.

The Bank of Canada has been signaling for a while now that they will respond to inflation by raising interest rates. Sure enough, on March 2nd they announced a hike in the overnight rate by 0.25%. Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Our primary goal is to ensure Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs) and Wire orders are initiated, executed, and approved in a secure manner while meeting the needs of our clients. We want to ensure that you receive your fund requests when you need it; for example, buying a new car or any other purchase. Please review our client request process for EFTs & Wire Requests.

Given that the economy and stock markets react to news, you find market fluctuations worrisome. History shows a broad market decline is temporary and followed by a new high. For our part, we have been reviewing accounts continuously and rebalancing where suitable and warranted in line with mandate targets, time horizons, personal tax rates, risk tolerances etc.

Although it may seem early but it is never too early to start thinking about taxes! We will be sending out a more formal email in early February, but want to let all clients know that we are once again offering our popular tax preparation services for the 2021 tax year.

Many consider diversification to be holding smaller positions in a number of companies that you expect to perform well in the long term. While this is true, many investors trap themselves into exclusively investing within their home country, and many living in North America rarely venture outside Canada and the United States.

With the financial demands of school loans, living expenses, and finding a career path, many young people struggle to purchase their first home. Often, parents and grandparents are very sympathetic. They’ve enjoyed the financial benefits of long-term homeownership themselves and see how hard it is today to make that important first step into the real estate market.

The 2021 Financial Stress Index shows that 38% of Canadians said money was their biggest concern, outranking personal health (26%), work (20%), and relationships (15%). More than 51% said they lost sleep over money concerns and 31% say it led to health problems, a significant increase from 18% in 2020.

Over the last twelve months, increasing inquiries pertaining to principal residences have been received here at the office.

During my morning runs this summer, I was able to take advantage of this time to enjoy the audiobook The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.