Financial Library

Don't Bet Your Retirement on a Simple Approach

Feb 12 2018

You have probably heard about the old 70 percent rule that suggests retirees will need the equivalent of about 70 percent of their current income level to maintain their lifestyle in retirement. This assumes that retirement living costs will be 30 percent less during working years. While it may have been applied appropriately for retirees two or three decades ago, it is fraught with significant risk and potential disaster for today's retirees.

retirement planning

There is Risk and There is Risk

Jan 15 2018

The penny finally dropped a couple of months ago during a client conversation about the risk of investing in the equity markets. The client was reluctant to commit money to the investment markets and gave me several reasons - "the markets were too high and ready to crash", "there were safer alternatives", "I never fully recovered my money from the 2008 Credit Crisis" - to justify his point of view.

risk management

investments

investment planning

Four Financial Promises to Keep

Jan 15 2018

We've had a few weeks to make and break our New Year's resolutions. Now is a good time to make some promises to give your finances an extra boost in 2018 and help see you better off by year-end.

financial strategies

The Magic Number!

Dec 11 2017

The conversation with clients about retirement income planning is much different from those conversations that occur over the years while they are building retirement assets using vehicles such as pensions, RRSPs, LIRA's, TFSAs and so on.

retirement income

retirement planning

A Little Knowledge Can Make Life Less Taxing

Dec 11 2017

It doesn't take long after receiving your first paycheck to realize that all of your money is not your own. The Canadian government is an active partner in your earnings, and the more money you make, the larger it takes.

A better understanding of taxes and how they apply to you can result in hundreds of dollars of savings back into your pocket each year.

tax planning

Grandma and Grandpa Santa

Dec 11 2017

Is it Christmas again already? Time passes too fast when you achieve grandparent status, and George and Grace are wondering once again what to give their grandchildren. Some years ago they realized they had no idea what toys were suitable, so started giving them cash. It seemed to get frittered away on things that soon became boring or obsolete.

education planning