The Pros and Cons of Commuting a Pension

In years gone by, many people sought a job that would provide the proverbial “gold-plated” pension plan, by which was meant a defined benefit pension, what one might refer to as a “true” pension. That is, once you retired, you would get guaranteed, possibly inflation-protected,...

Read More

Understanding Canadian Tax Rates

I have sometimes heard it said, “There’s no point in earning extra income; it’s just going to be taxed away.” Oddly enough, no one seems to turn away a raise.   Graduated vs. Flat Tax Canada has a graduated income tax regime. This means that the more you...

Read More

Withdrawing from your RRSP

You have been diligently saving for your retirement in your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). However, after surveying your finances, needs, and opportunities, you decide that you need to withdraw some money from your RRSP.   The RRSP is, as the name indicates, a savings plan. You...

Read More

Estate Planning: Probating a Will

Probating a will sounds uncomfortable, doesn't it? Kind of like the legal equivalent of a doctor giving you a thorough physical exam…   Perhaps there is something to that analogy. Although simple, small estates with a single heir may not require probating, the probate process has value...

Read More

Why do People Stay Poor?

As I write this in mid-September, there are rumblings in the media that the upcoming throne speech from the Government of Canada will include a significant push toward some version of Universal Basic Income (UBI). Is Canada ready for this?   The “Mincome” Example While Mincome, the “Manitoba...

Read More