Think Forward,
Planning Right to Left.

We need to start at the end and work back to today.
Aspirations. Goals. Wealth.
How do we help get you there?

Turning advice inside out.

Our team specializes in creating conversations, ideas & strategies for high net worth clients, growth minded business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs and those seeking advice on retirement & income planning. We are committed to providing you genuine, bias-free, investment and financial planning advice through all life stages. By having a robust, forward thinking, advice centric model, we deliver advice where its most needed. Utilizing a hybrid of technology, clever ideas, and old world values, advice is delivered with integrity, teamwork, and care.

Turning advice inside out.

Our team specializes in creating conversations, ideas & strategies for high net worth clients, growth minded business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs and those seeking advice on retirement & income planning. We are committed to providing you genuine, bias-free, investment and financial planning advice through all life stages. By having a robust, forward thinking, advice centric model, we deliver advice where its most needed. Utilizing a hybrid of technology, clever ideas, and old world values, advice is delivered with integrity, teamwork, and care.

Old World Views Modern Approach

You have different needs, aspirations & goals

What is your personality style?

Conservative, Adventurous, Disciplined, Methodical, Spontaneous, Cautious, Individualist, Growth Focused, Ambitious

What are your lifestyle needs?

Travelling in retirement? Focus on your business growth? Enjoying your life? Looking after your family? Ensuring your employees are secure? Grandchildren? Building a legacy? Passing on or selling your business? Requiring more income or better management today?

Our Focus Is On You

Life’s most precious asset is time. We give you time.

Discover our podcast

For the Growth Minded Business
Owner and Entrepreneur

Listen Now

Wisdom is the reward of experience and should be shared.

The Key to Financial Success: Keeping Your Advisor in the Loop!

Introduction:

Life is a rollercoaster, and as it takes unexpected twists and turns, our financial situations evolve with it. As a responsible investor, staying connected with your financial advisor is essential. By keeping them up-to-date on changes in your life, such as income fluctuations, marital status, or the arrival of a new family member, you empower them to tailor your financial strategy to meet your evolving needs. In this blog post, we’ll explore the vital importance of maintaining open lines of communication with your advisor and how it can lead you to long-term financial success.

“The Secret Sauce to Financial Bliss:  Honesty and Communication!”

The Power of Honesty:  Trust and transparency are the bedrock of any successful relationship, including the one you have with your financial advisor. Being honest about changes in your life allows your advisor to accurately assess your financial situation and make informed decisions. Whether it’s a raise or a pay cut, updating your advisor about your income can help optimize your investment strategy and maximize returns.

“The Butterfly Effect:  How Life Changes Impact Your Finances”

Navigating Major Life Events:  Life is full of milestones that can significantly impact your financial landscape. When you tie the knot, welcome a child, or experience other major life changes, it’s crucial to inform your advisor promptly. Marriage may require updating beneficiary designations and insurance coverage, while a new addition to the family may lead to college savings planning. By sharing these developments, you empower your advisor to adapt your financial plan accordingly, ensuring a solid foundation for the future.

“Baby on Board:  Secure Your Child’s Financial Future!”

Preparing for the Future:  Your financial advisor is your guide through life’s financial journey, and as your circumstances evolve, so should your investment strategy. Regularly updating your advisor about significant life changes enables them to align your portfolio with your long-term goals. Whether it’s retirement planning, estate management, or funding your child’s education, your advisor can help you take proactive steps to secure a prosperous future.

“From Success to Significance:  Empower Your Advisor to Help You Make a Difference”

Philanthropy and Legacy Planning:  If making a positive impact on society is a priority, discussing your philanthropic goals with your advisor is essential. By sharing your desires to support charitable causes or leave a legacy, your advisor can integrate philanthropy into your financial plan. Together, you can develop strategies such as donor-advised funds or charitable trusts that align with your values and make a lasting difference.

Conclusion:

Regularly updating your financial advisor about changes in your life isn’t just a courtesy—it’s a proactive step toward achieving your financial goals. By fostering open lines of communication, you provide your advisor with the information necessary to tailor your investment strategy, navigate major life events, and secure your financial future. Remember, your advisor is your trusted partner in building wealth, so keep them in the loop, and together, you can pave the way to long-term financial success.

 

Boost Your Savings with Automated Contributions

Let’s dive right in on a powerful savings strategy that can make a significant impact on your financial well-being: automated contributions. By leveraging technology and setting up automatic contributions, you can effortlessly save money and build a stronger financial future. Let’s explore how this simple habit can pave the way to financial success.

“Set It and Forget It: Automate Your Savings for Stress-Free Financial Growth!”

The Power of Automation: Life can get busy, and amidst the hustle and bustle, saving money often takes a backseat. However, by automating your savings, you can remove the mental burden of manual transfers and make consistent progress towards your financial goals. Setting up automatic contributions ensures that a portion of your income is saved without requiring any active effort from you.

“Make Savings a Priority: Pay Yourself First!”

Pay Yourself First: One of the fundamental principles of successful saving is to prioritize yourself. Instead of saving what’s left at the end of the month, make it a habit to save first. When you receive your paycheck, allocate a predetermined percentage or fixed amount towards savings and have it automatically transferred to your investments. This way, you ensure that your future self is taken care of before other expenses arise.

“Small Steps, Big Impact: Watch Your Savings Grow!”

The Magic of Compound Interest: Automating your savings not only instills discipline but also allows you to take advantage of the power of compound interest. Over time, even small contributions can grow exponentially as interest compounds on your savings. By consistently funneling money into your investment, you can harness the magic of compound interest and watch your wealth grow steadily.

“Incremental Increases: Boost Your Savings Effortlessly!”

Incremental Increases: As your income grows or expenses decrease, consider increasing the amount you automatically contribute to your investments. Gradually bumping up your savings rate can be painless, as it adapts to your financial circumstances without disrupting your lifestyle significantly. Aim to periodically review and adjust your automated contributions to ensure they align with your financial goals and aspirations.

Conclusion:

Automating your savings is a game-changer when it comes to achieving financial success. By making consistent contributions to your investments without the need for constant monitoring, you can build a solid financial foundation. Remember, every small step you take today will lead to a brighter financial future tomorrow. So, set up those automated contributions, pay yourself first, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your savings are on the right track. Happy saving!

 

Pay Only Your Fair Share to Canada Revenue Agency

Executive Summary

Tax season is hardly anyone’s favourite time of year.  What can make it even worse is seeing a negative balance on your tax account and having to pay extra income tax to the CRA.  Simply being aware of a few tax planning strategies can help ensure that you don’t get hit hard when tax season rolls around.

What You Need to Know

  1. RRSP Contributions – Contributions to an RRSP are deductible against your income tax, which can result in either a deduction in your taxes or even a refund.   RRSP contributions are reported on line 208 of your T1 General Tax Return. The financial institution that holds your investment will issue your tax receipts.  Contributions from March-December 2023 will be taxed on your 2023 return, but any contributions made between Jan 1, 2024- Feb 29, 2024 can be taxed on either your 2023 or 2024 return.  Taxpayers can contribute up to 18% of their income every year to their RRSP.
  1. Capital Gains/Losses – Many people are aware that any capital gains on their investments must be reported on their tax return; however, you can also report your capital losses.  Capital losses can offset capital gains on your tax return, therefore lowering your tax bill.   While there are a few exceptions, capital losses can generally be carried forward indefinitely and carried back three years.
  1. Carrying Charges – If you earned investment income last year, the CRA would allow you to claim carrying charges against certain types of income.  There can be some gray areas with carrying charges, it is always best to check with a tax professional regarding what can and cannot be claimed. Types of charges can include:
    • Investment fees and fees for looking after your investments.
    • You may be able to claim fees involved with obtaining financial advice.
    • Fees paid to an accountant.
    • Any interest paid for a policy loan that was used to earn income.
    • Legal fees involved in getting support payments that your current or ex-spouse will have to pay to you.
  1. Changing Tax Rules – Last but not least, the best way to make the most of your taxes is to keep up with the ever-changing tax rules.  New deductions and credits are being added all the time though they may not be widely advertised.  Taking some time to find out what’s new this year might present you with a tax-saving opportunity you may not have otherwise known about.

Pay-down your Mortgage or Top-up your TFSA

Executive Summary

The question of reducing debt or contributing to savings will continue to be debated for as long as people plan to retire in Canada.

Of course opting for both: reducing debt and increasing savings is the ideal. As for which is better, however, really depends on the individuals involved, their goals and feelings and their unique financial situations.

If you find you just can’t decide whether to save or pay off, start by contributing to a TFSA; those deposits can easily be withdrawn and applied to your mortgage.

What you need to know

Tax implications are not a consideration.  Mortgages and TFSAs both deal with after-tax dollars.  Any additional payments against your mortgage or sent to your TFSA will be after you have paid income tax, and there is no reduction in taxable income for making contributions to a TFSA.  Also, when the capital gain from the home (assuming it’s your principal residence) and any growth and withdrawals from your TFSA will not be subject to income tax.

To simplify the matter, the question becomes ‘can I earn more inside my TFSA than I pay in mortgage interest?”  If your mortgage interest is 4% per annum, paying down your mortgage by $10,000 will save you $400 in interest charges each year.  Placing the same $10,000 in your TFSA earning 4% per annum will earn you $400 each year.

One difference is that next year the original $10,000 will be $10,400 and at the end of year two at 4% become $10,816 with compound interest.

For some people becoming debt-free as soon as possible buys peace of mind and freedom, for others a nest-egg and the security and flexibility it provides is more important.

Bottom Line

If you find yourself torn between building a nest-egg and paying off your mortgage, we encourage you to get in touch to set up a short conversation where we discuss your goals, crunch some numbers and find the perfect solution for you.

Business Solutions

What can we do for your business?

From helping you better understand how a strong employee benefits program can help your business grow, to assisting you protect a key employee, through to designing a customized owner compensation strategy, we can assist in strengthening your position in the marketplace.

Personal Solutions

How’s your relationship with your financial planner or advisor?

You’re here as you are looking for a team who can help with your specialized needs and understand your goals. It’s taken a lifetime to accumulate your wealth, and it’s important to get this right. To have the right fit.

Read what our clients have to say