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It’s hard to believe we’re half-way through 2018 already. How are you doing against the financial priorities you set for yourself? Has it been awhile since you checked your progress? Earlier this year, we provided our annual financial planning checklist to make it easy to assess. Everyone’s ... Keep Reading "Ready for your 6-month (financial) check-up?" >

In a blog post last summer, we reminded our readers about the tax savings opportunities of prescribed rate loans. At the time, we cautioned that interest rate increases were on the horizon and would reduce the amount of the annual savings available to a high-income household. Based upon the ... Keep Reading "Interest on prescribed rate loans set to rise April 1" >

Did you make any financial resolutions for 2018? Below we have created a month-by-month financial planning checklist to help you organize and optimize your affairs. Some tasks are deadline driven – like tax filings, RRSP contributions, etc. Others fall under the category of ‘important but not ... Keep Reading "Your Personal Finance Checklist for 2018" >

As a new parent myself, I know that raising a family is costly. Even more so for families who pay for their children (or grandchildren) to attend private school. For example, at a private school in my Toronto neighbourhood, tuition is roughly $21,000 annually, per child, for grades 1-8, and ... Keep Reading "How to save $15,000 a year on private school tuition" >

The federal government announced last week that it will table its budget on March 22nd – putting an end to the guessing game. Speculation remains rampant about possible changes to capital gains taxation. Rumours are circulating that the federal government may increase the capital gains ... Keep Reading "Possible changes to capital gains taxation" >

To help you plan for 2016, we offer this month-by-month guide to organizing and optimizing your financial affairs. Keep Reading "Financial planning checklist – 2016" >

Last week, John Heinzl of the Globe and Mail wrote a good piece on The Difference Between Advisors and Counsellors. He did a nice job of spelling out the key aspects of what it means to work with a professional investment counsellor versus a commissioned salesperson. Keep Reading "Choosing an investment professional" >

It seems the U.S. federal government is turning up the heat on offshore US citizens who aren’t part of the U.S. tax system – and they’re getting more focused on finding them.  This potentially has implications for U.S. citizens living in Canada. In an announcement earlier this year, the U.S. ... Keep Reading "IRS targeting U.S. citizens living ‘offshore’" >

Many wealthy parents wonder how their children will manage an inheritance. We spend years preparing our children to be independent;  it’s no wonder many wealthy parents are concerned about how money may taint their children’s drive or motivation. Our clients vary widely in their ... Keep Reading "Preview Trust – A perfect Christmas gift from wealthy parents" >

I was given a lottery ticket as birthday gift at a dinner with friends on the weekend. The condition was that we would all share the pot. It was great value to dream for even a few hours of how life could change with $41 million. Sudden wealth via the lottery, inheritance or selling a... Keep Reading "Winning the lottery – a dream for all; a nightmare for some" >