(519) 852-0318 russ@moneyarchitect.ca

Login Sign Up

LogoLogoLogoLogoLogo
  • Home
  • About
    • About Russ
    • How We Work
  • Services
  • FAQ
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • General Resources
    • Calculators
    • Books
    • Podcasts
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • About Russ
    • How We Work
  • Services
  • FAQ
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • General Resources
    • Calculators
    • Books
    • Podcasts
  • Contact

This is Not a “Consumer Alert”: Tax on the Sole Survivor’s Estate

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

I came across a recent CTV News Consumer Alert article/video clip about taxes on the estate when the bulk of the deceased’s assets were held in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and a principal residence that had been owned as a secondary property for...

Read More

Personal Finance and Stewardship for Low-Income Households

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

Stewardship is a Luxury For many Canadians earning minimum wage, stewardship feels like a luxury word. It belongs to the vocabulary of the wealthy, people with disposable income, not those just trying to get through the month.   Imagine a single parent working multiple part-time jobs without benefits,...

Read More

Making the Most of RESP Withdrawals: A Guide for Parents

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

As summer winds down, many Canadian families are preparing their children for post-secondary education. For parents like Lisa and Jason, both 50 years old and living in Red Deer, Alberta, this means more than just shopping for residence supplies. It also means figuring out how...

Read More

Estate Planning for a Retired Couple: A Strategic Approach

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

Let’s imagine a married couple, James and Sandra, both age 65, recently retired, and living in Winnipeg.   They own a mortgage-free home worth about $500,000. Their financial assets are currently worth about $1.7 million with 25% in RRSPs, 15% in TFSAs, and 60% in a jointly...

Read More

The “Canada First TFSA Top-Up” – A Policy Analysis

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

You may have heard that the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has proposed the introduction of the “Canada First TFSA Top-Up,” a plan to allow Canadians to contribute an extra $5,000 in their Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), as long as the amount qualifies as a...

Read More

What Investors Can and Cannot Control: A Guide for DIY Investors

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

It should be understood that investing can be challenging. In this case, I’m not talking about the process of investing, the purchase of a mutual fund or Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). Rather, I am referring to the uncertainty, the inevitable fluctuations in the prices of the...

Read More

RRSP Season: Why Last-Minute Contributions Could Cost You

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

The image above, posted on Flickr, is of a Hina Matsuri display, the Doll Festival, held in Japan on March 3 every year. On this day, families with girls wish their daughters a successful and happy life. March 3, 2025 also happens to be the...

Read More

The Mystery of Missing Pension Plan Members: The $3.6 Billion Problem

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

The Problem Nobody Sees Nearly 200,000 pension plan members in Ontario alone are “missing,” leaving $3.6 billion in unclaimed assets, according to a report from the National Institute on Ageing.*   Who are these  “missing pension plan members”? They are individuals entitled to pension benefits but disconnected from...

Read More

Tax Planning Strategies for a High-Income Couple

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

Meet Ashley and Ryan There are many high-income earning households across Canada. Some of them may have stepped into high-paying roles early on, while others have had careers that had the potential for high incomes that were not realized until 15 or 20 years or more...

Read More

Tax Planning Strategies for Canadians

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

Meet June and Jack, a Canadian couple in their mid-30s. They’ve been diligent about saving and investing, but as they sat down to review their Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), they were alarmed by the numbers they saw. Despite their best...

Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6

Russ Writes

  • This is Not a “Consumer Alert”: Tax on the Sole Survivor’s Estate
  • How Can Stock Picking Be Wrong When It Feels So Right?
  • Personal Finance and Stewardship for Low-Income Households
  • Case Study: Susan’s Retirement – RRSP vs. Non-Registered Investing
  • Making the Most of RESP Withdrawals: A Guide for Parents

Contact

Russell J. Sawatsky
Certified Financial Planner®
T: (519) 852-0318
E: russ@moneyarchitect.ca

© Copyright Money Architect Financial Planning
Admin Login  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Use  |  Contact