Canada Needs a Financial Plan

According to a July 23 publication by the Fraser Institute, we are getting poorer here in Canada and the prospects for economic growth are looking grim.  This should be of concern to every Canadian concerned about their “real income” – that’s their purchasing power – and by extension - their ability to fund consumption now and for important family milestones in the future:  retirements, education and homeownership.  It’s grim, but there are practical suggestions for a turn around plan. Here’s a synopsis of the report.   

Frank Arnold of Woodville, Ontario completed Knowledge Bureau’s Use of Trusts in Tax and Estate Planning course while pursuing his Master Financial Advisor - Retirement and Succession Services Specialist credentials. He explained why lifelong learning is essential in the tax and financial services: “I feel that learning never really ends. Rules and legislative changes are created constantly, therefore, giving up on learning means giving up on valuable expertise.”

Almost 40 per cent of Canada is north of the 60th parallel. But how many Canadians in the South truly understand northern issues, or the riches of the North, its unique, fragile ecology and centuries of Inuit, Dene and northern First Nations traditions? Senator Patricia Bovey will be providing important economic and social insights as the closing keynote speaker at the Distinguished Advisor Conference next week.

Finance Canada will release its Fall Economic Statement on November 21, about a month later than it was last year. In the meantime, it released two important documents on October 25 and 29: A Notice of Ways and Means Motion and Bill C-86: the second Budget Implementation Act which together enable remaining initiatives outlined in the February 27, 2018 Federal Budget.

It pays to file outstanding tax returns before year end, not only to recover refunds that CRA may still owe you, but also to avoid paying penalties and interest that would be charged for gross negligence or in some cases, tax evasion. But also, when you don’t file on time, you miss out on important tax planning opportunities that may end for you on December 31. Here are 8 important reasons to review your return before year-end.

Budget 2018 proposed a new five-week Employment Insurance (EI) Parental Sharing Benefit that will be available as a “use it or lose it” benefit top-up when both parents agree to share parental leave, starting March 17, 2019. Now Finance Canada offers further details with Bill C-86 on how the program will work to benefit Canadians.

According to recent tax filing statistics, charitable giving has been on the decline in Canada – except in Manitoba! But that doesn’t mean that generosity ceases to exist. Philanthropic investment trends are changing, and people are giving back in new and different ways. That provides an important opportunity for advisors to help clients with a philanthropic conversation, while deepening their own professional fulfillment.