News Room

Time is Running Out for First-Time Home Buyers to Save in 2024

Owning a home, once almost considered a right of Canadian citizenship, has become a more distant dream for millions. The high cost of housing, coupled with a desperate shortage of supply, has turned the notion of home ownership into a near impossibility for many Canadians and those who have arrived in our country more recently.  The Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA) can help but it’s important to open an account before December 31, 2024 to create and preserve the contribution room.

Mark Your Calendar: May 22 CE Summit!

The topic of discussion is Retirement, Trust and Estate planning chocked full of critical information you need to know as you work with clients to maximize their wealth potential.  You’ll be treated to an in-depth analysis of the April 16 Federal Budget, a Trust boot camp, and a great discussion on retirement and cottage succession planning.  You don’t even have to leave your office!  Here’s why Connie, Zhu, DMA enjoys the Virtual CE Summits so much:

Become a Distinguished Master Advisor with the Skills to Develop Tax-Efficient Solutions for Retirement!

Do you have the skills to provide the process and structure your clients will need to effectively plan for their retirement? Differentiate yourself, attract new clients and increase profits by providing a high value service as a trusted advisor to your clients as a DMA™- Retirement Income Services Specialist. Learn more risk-free by taking a free DMA™ Program Orientation!

Ancient Tax Law: Still Here, Often Forgotten

Are you taking your exemption on foreign currency exchange gains?  Are you reporting them?  It’s part of some “ancient tax law” still with us today.  And some of those provisions are often forgotten. Here’s a few of them:

Fixing Interpretations:  Donors and Tax Strategies

As a financial advisor, a common query you might encounter is how clients can improve their financial position through charitable donations, particularly from sources like RRSPs/RRIFs or investments.  While there are tax-efficient strategies to encourage gifting from these sources, the suggestion that a donor can end up in a better financial position after making a gift is inherently flawed. Here’s why:

Federal & Provincial Budget Dates

The federal budget will be tabled on April 16 this year.  As at the time of writing the following provinces had released or announced their provincial budget dates.  Stay tuned to Knowledge Bureau Report  for budget highlights and special reports on significant tax and economic news:

Quebec Provincial Budget: March 12, 2024

It’s important to keep up with breaking tax news and that includes provincial tax changes, to help clients make important lifecycle decisions like whether to start a job or business in another province.  Here’s what’s new from the budget in Quebec, brought down March 12, 2024. 
 
 
 
Knowledge Bureau Poll Question

October was small business month! Do you think more Canadians today are interested in starting their own businesses?

  • Yes
    55 votes
    65.48%
  • No
    29 votes
    34.52%