Category Archives: financial planning

Time to Take the Tax Free Savings Account Seriously

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Rick

The Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) was introduced in 2009. In 2009 and subsequent years through 2012, the TFSA dollar limit was $5,000 per year. For the years 2013 and 2014, the TFSA dollar limit is $5,500. For anyone who … Continue reading →

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Four Elements of Financial Planning

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Rick

When most people hear the term “financial planning”, they automatically assume it has something to do with saving and investing. While saving and investing are integral components of financial planning, they represent only one part of the equation. As we … Continue reading →

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Growing Pains for Small Businesses

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Guest

Running a small business is never easy, but it can be extremely fulfilling for the entrepreneur who makes it work. The early days of any new business revolve around market development, cash flow, and general administration, such as keeping compliant … Continue reading →

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Do You Need a Power of Attorney?

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Rick

In our line of work we are occasionally required to act on the instructions provided by a third party. In order to accept instructions from a third party we must have a duly executed Power of Attorney, or POA. A … Continue reading →

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The Purpose of Your RRSP

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Rick

You are probably hearing a lot these days about the options for your Registered Retirement Savings Plan, or RRSP. The reason is that the deadline for 2013 eligible contributions is fast approaching. Thanks to various government programs, the RRSP has … Continue reading →

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Your Investment Policy Statement

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Rick

Welcome to 2014! We thought we would begin the year with a suggestion for a New Year’s Resolution. Establish your personal Investment Policy Statement, or IPS. An IPS is a document that puts in writing a number of parameters that … Continue reading →

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Panic Doesn’t Pay

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Rick

The US market dropped about 5% during the month of August. This caused memories of 2008-2009 to surface. Some investors began to feel anxious and wanted to make decisions about how to protect themselves against losses. People often feel tempted … Continue reading →

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Death and Taxes

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Rick

You’ve heard it before. There are only two certainties in life: death and taxes. Both are unavoidable. But did you know that the biggest tax bill you may ever have to pay is actually on your tax return filed after … Continue reading →

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Comparing Bankruptcy and Debt Settlement

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Guest

Debt has become a way of life for many people. A home loan, a car loan and other unsecured debts are common and necessary in some cases. However, there comes a point when the debt becomes out of control, and … Continue reading →

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Predatory Lenders: A Debt Trap

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Guest

If a shady, unlicensed lender is only too eager to grant you a loan, it may just be too good to be true. These lenders prey on desperate people in tough economic times. Getting a loan in this economy isn’t … Continue reading →

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