If you are a regular reader of our blog, I think it is safe to assume that you are a person who is interested in your financial future. It is widely accepted that, if we want to have enough money for retirement, we need to start saving and investing as early as possible. The sooner we start, the more we will accumulate. This same adage holds true for our health. Investments we make in our health today will also pay off in the future.
In February 2013, the BC government announced that any BC resident with an RESP for a child born on or after Jan. 1, 2007, may apply for a one-time grant of $1,200 between the child’s sixth and seventh birthday. Two years have passed since then, as it has taken the government time to develop the applications, and for Financial Institutions to obtain approval to offer the grant.
November 15 – 21st is the 7th annual Financial Planning Week in Canada. This is part of an ongoing effort to promote financial well-being and raise the awareness of engaging in financial planning with a qualified professional.
Changes are coming with the new Federal government. Not all the details are known yet, but here is a brief summary of some of the changes that may impact your finances:
In 1960, life expectancy in Canada was 71.13 years old, today it is over 80. While we may like to think we are living longer because we are healthier than our parents and grandparents were, the reality is that medical advances have dramatically improved survival rates of people who suffer from a critical illness.
So, you haven’t fully ‘topped-up’ your RRSP? There’s still time to make a contribution and have it count towards reducing your taxable income earned in 2015, if you do so before February 29th. Here are some things to consider before the deadline:
Markets have gone through some ups and downs in the last decade, and this has caused many investors to be worried and pessimistic about the future. Throughout history, people have been apprehensive about times yet to come.
Most of us want to protect the things that we have worked so hard to acquire. We make sure that we have home insurance to protect our homes and car insurance to protect our cars. Every time we purchase an electronic item, we are asked if we want to buy insurance on it, or extend the warranty, in case it breaks. We may also research and secure life insurance to ensure that our loved ones will be financially secure in the unfortunate case of our passing.
In Canada, as in many countries around the world, our life expectancy continues to increase. In B.C., these rates are the highest of all the province— just slightly higher than the Canadian average.
There were many changes in this year’s Federal Budget and Canadians families should pay attention specifically to the new Canada Child Benefit (CCB). Starting July 2016, this will replace both the former Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) and the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB).
