Selecting a Mutual Fund

Using a Screener Mutual funds play a dominant role in Canadians’ investing lives. Even for the self-directed investor, that is, someone who does not have an investment advisor recommending particular investments and who could therefore choose to invest in individual stocks, mutual funds continue to be...

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Is your investment advisor legitimate?

Sources for checking on an advisor’s registration and disciplinary history I am a big fan of the combination of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) investing with Advice-Only, Fee-for-Service financial planning. I think it can be a cost-effective combination for many. On the other hand, there are many people who...

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The Role of the Executor

An Introduction to Estate Planning – Part 5 Once you die perhaps the most obvious observation one can make is that you are no longer in charge. The only way to establish some degree of control over what happens to your assets, your estate, is to...

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Charitable Giving

An Introduction to Estate Planning – Part 4 I read about a well-off senior couple who had four children. They decided to “adopt a fifth child” for estate planning purposes. This meant that, in their will, instead of distributing their assets four ways equally among their...

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Children: Trusts and RESPs

AN INTRODUCTION TO ESTATE PLANNING – PART 3.2 In my last post, I discussed the importance of naming a guardian in your will, someone who will take care of your children if you die before they are old enough to take care of themselves. Another item...

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CHILDREN: GUARDIANSHIP

AN INTRODUCTION TO ESTATE PLANNING – PART 3.1 When people get around to making a will, they often think of their family first. If they are married, they will think of their spouse first. Some assets can be inherited directly, outside of the will. Here I...

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We’re all going to die!

An Introduction to Estate Planning – Part 1 Several years ago, when I was a pastor, I spent a portion of one year involved in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), the kind of training that is often required of chaplains. One of the statements made earlier on...

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Clarifying Your Vision for Retirement

An Introduction to Retirement Planning – Part 4 Planning for retirement is not just about money. I think you could reasonably argue that money is almost the last thing to be considered. It is the tool that makes your plans for retirement executable. Mind you, it...

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