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...
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“A million dollars isn’t what it used to be.” Even with low inflation that saying is true. Depending on where you live, your home may easily be worth over a million dollars. To my surprise, there are over three hundred $1,000,000+ listings within the city...
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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...
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FPAC Pro Bono Planning I am a member of the Financial Planning Association of Canada™ (FPAC). Our mission is to build the practice of financial planning into a principled and client-centred profession. Among FPAC’s activities, such as advocacy before governments and regulators (I am a member...
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This will be my last blog post until the new year. I wish all readers a sense of joy in this season of celebration. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! There are two accounts that I think are worth considering for 2024 if you have not...
Read MoreAmerican financial planning guru, Michael Kitces, observes that many retirees, after accumulating a substantial portfolio of assets to cover their retirement spending, wind up continuing to grow their assets throughout most of their retirement. There is an element of prudence in this practice because the...
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Scenario Let’s imagine that you are 35 years old and you have just inherited $50,000. You wonder whether it makes sense to contribute to your RRSP, your TFSA, or whether you should open a non-registered account and invest the money there. You live in Ontario and your...
Read MoreMy dad’s birthday was September 2. He died a little over four years ago just short of age 89. Thanks to his thoughtful approach to financial matters and the careful executorship of my brother, Rob, we four siblings received our inheritances in a timely manner. What...
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Defined Benefit pension plans are required to use a funded ratio, also referred to as a solvency ratio, in determining whether the plan is sufficiently funded. This approach can also be used to assess the funding adequacy, or solvency, of your own retirement savings. What is...
Read MoreAffordable housing is a huge issue in household finance these days. Prices have increased to ridiculous levels. Governments are under pressure to address this situation, even though they are being pulled in two directions. On one hand, the real estate industry is a major part...
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