Are you Compatible…Financially?

By Debbie Saleem on 16 May 2023

Although it’s not always easy initiating conversations around money, talking openly about finances is important for your relationship’s wellbeing.

Sequence of Returns Risk

By Nick Hearne on 17 Sep 2018

Most investors understand that to achieve their long-term target rate of return, they will need to accept some volatility in the short and medium term.

Reaching Our Goals

By Cecilia Tsang on 15 May 2018

Recently I was sick after coming back on from a trip. This was the first time my husband and I traveled together without the children and I was looking forward to spending quality time with them upon my return.

Segregated Funds – Investing with a Safety Net

By on 20 Dec 2017

Investing today is not for the faint of heart. Fortunately for Canadians, segregated fund products offered by many life insurance companies provide a safety net for nervous investors.

A New Year’s Resolution You Shouldn’t Break – Saving For Retirement!

By on 20 Dec 2017

Many of us set New Year’s resolutions for ourselves and often those resolutions have to do with finances. January is the month we say, “Ok, this year I am going to save more and spend less”. By February, sometimes those resolutions are long forgotten.

Estate Planning Tips for Real Estate Investors

By on 20 Dec 2017

For many Canadians, the majority of their wealth is held in personally-owned real estate. For most, this will be limited to their principal residence; however, investment in recreational and real estate investment property also form a substantial part of estates. Due to the nature of real estate, it is important to do estate planning to realize optimum gain and minimize tax implications.

How Much Risk Can You Tolerate? Part 1 of 3

By on 20 Dec 2017

Will Rogers, the American humorist, when talking about the investment schemes in North America at the time, said, “I am less concerned with the return on my money, than I am with the return of my money”. Will was aware of the truth that the higher the potential rates of return on an investment, the greater chance of loss.

How Much Risk Can You Tolerate? Part 2 of 3

By on 20 Dec 2017

Last month, we discussed how much risk you could tolerate depending on your life situation. This month, we consider other risks to which each of us are exposed:

How Much Risk Can You Tolerate? Part 3 of 3

By on 20 Dec 2017

Over the past two months we have examined some of the risks that challenge most of us. It is almost impossible to avoid risk entirely. Knowing where the pitfalls lie and planning for them will certainly help.

Financial Planning – more exciting than you’d think

By on 20 Dec 2017

November is Financial Literacy Month and the week of November 16th–22nd is hailed as Financial Planning Week. Prominent not-for-profit organizations, Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) and the Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF) strive to raise awareness of financial planning as fundamental to the financial well-being of Canadians.

What’s so great about a Tax Free Savings Account?

By Anne Hammond on 20 Dec 2017

When the Canadian government first introduced the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA), it was most often used as a regular bank savings account where the interest was not taxed. But it can be so much more useful than that:

Change happens

By Brett A. Simpson on 20 Dec 2017

For most people “financial independence” is a goal. Achieving it relies on gradually converting our “Human Capital” capacity to work, through savings, into a lifelong cash flow. Having financial security or freedom of choice, means having an income, independent of government, employer and family, throughout our lifetime.

RRIF withdrawal rates

By Chris Eynon on 20 Dec 2017

Financial Planning Week in Canada

By Linson Chen on 20 Dec 2017

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.

Why Pessimism Is So Attractive

By Alain Quennec on 20 Dec 2017

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.

Protecting Your Greatest Asset

By Cecilia Tsang on 20 Dec 2017

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.

Canada Child Benefit – How will it affect my family?

By on 20 Dec 2017

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).

Is Your Daughter or Son off to University/College this Fall?

By Vera Vlaovich on 20 Dec 2017

September will soon be upon us and with ‘back to school’, your daughter or son may be entering their first year of university/college. Often, this transition is full of angst for both young adults and parents alike particularly if the student will attend an out-of-town university. The move includes living in a dorm, making new friends, adjusting to their new studies and most importantly— it may be their first experience of living away from home.

Less Time Shopping, More Time Planning

By on 20 Dec 2017

We haven’t hit Halloween yet, but I have already seen Christmas decorations at Costco.

How to Succeed at Retirement

By on 20 Dec 2017

Don’t simply retire from something; have something to retire to. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick

Taking Stock and Making Resolutions

By Anne Hammond on 20 Dec 2017

As the year draws to a close… if you’re like me, you may be looking back over the year – considering what worked, what didn’t, and what you might like to do differently or focus on next year.

Don’t Overlook a Guarantee of 20%, ever

By Christian White on 20 Dec 2017

When a child is a resident of Canada and receives a permanent social insurance number, they instantly qualify for Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) benefits.

Income Splitting 101

By Bryn Hamilton on 20 Dec 2017

If you or your partner receive qualified pension income, the federal government’s pension income-splitting provisions could mean extra money in your pocket when you file your income tax returns.

Taking the Emotion Out of Investing

By on 20 Dec 2017

As financial advisors, a big part of our job is to guide and steer investors in the right direction when it comes to portfolio management. The goal of a typical investor, and this may come as a shock to you, is to generate a consistent long-term return that is suitable to their risk profile and time horizon. However, the real shocking part is that the majority of investors do not achieve this and a big factor that plays to this underachievement is emotion.

The Ultimate Currency

By on 20 Dec 2017

What is the ultimate currency? Is it money? Canadian dollars or U.S. dollars? Is it gold or real estate? No, the ultimate currency is not a tangible asset at all. You can’t save time. You can only spend it… Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

Not for Profit – An Abundance of Opportunity

By Teresa Black Hughes on 20 Dec 2017

Many of us are involved in our communities with not-for-profit and charitable organizations. Passion moves us to serving and giving to organizations that make a difference in other people’s lives. Just as a financial plan makes a difference in guiding your personal financial situation, so does good governance and leadership in these not-for-profit and charitable organizations.

Sometimes Old Habits Require New Thinking

By Brett A. Simpson on 20 Dec 2017

Credit can be an extremely useful financial tool or a slippery slope to financial malpractice. Each of us must choose wisely how we manage our credit capacity (or lack thereof!).

Alphabet Soup

By Chris Eynon on 20 Dec 2017

When my mom was an advisor at Rogers Group Financial, I always marveled at all the letters after her name on her business card. Unlike many people, however, I knew what they represented in regards to the work involved in attaining them and how they bettered the work she did on behalf of her clients. My sister and I would go to sleep and mom would stay up studying late into the night so that she could absorb all the important knowledge each designation provided her.

Holiday conversations…

By Mark Neufeld on 20 Dec 2017

As we approach the holiday season, you’ll hopefully find some time to spend with family and/or friends. Many conversations will be had and some may be about that overdone turkey and some may even be about the investment markets.

What is responsible investing

By Linson Chen on 12 Dec 2017

Responsible investing (also known as ethical investing and socially responsible investing) is growing in popularity as more investors are seeking to align their portfolios with their values.