The Importance of Provincial Budgets: Elbows Up and No Bracket Creep!

Some of the right things are happening in Nova Scotia, from the perspective of improving standards of living in that province.  And that’s important news because according to the Fraser Institute, Canadians have suffered the worst five-year decline in their standard of living over the 2020-to-2024 period since the Great Depression.  It notes, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person decreased by 2.0% (0.4% annually) ; this despite aggregate GDP growth of 1.5% over the period.  Further, all ten provinces are experiencing stagnation, which is unique in our history.  So what’s the good news in Nova Scotia, at this critical juncture?

Young advisors are the future of an industry that’s rapidly transforming, and Knowledge Bureau will be honoring an up-and-coming change-maker at November’s Distinguished Advisor Conference in Quebec City. Nominations for the Distinguished Young Advisor Award are being accepted until August 31, 2018.

Inflation has hit its highest point since February 2012’s 2.6%. It now sits at a lofty 2.5%, and is expected to hold steady until the second half of 2019. Poorly understood, inflation, together with high taxes and rising interest rates, is a great wealth eroder.

Addressing workplace diversity and inclusion is a core approach for achieving the higher standards of care demanded of today’s tax consultants and financial advisors. But what does it take to rise above our “Canadian Privilege” to achieve better results for a changing demographic landscape in your advisory practice?

Will the CPP be enough to provide security in retirement? That’s a big question for many who face higher premiums for the mandatory plan starting in January of 2019. But to get the most out of your CPP, it pays to get some professional advice.

Complex new tax rules were introduced for 2018 and 2019. Tax accountants, wealth advisors, and taxpayers will need to follow the “after-tax lifeline” of an invested personal or corporate dollar with 12 planning strategies.

Are you considering owning a business with a partner? It’s a great opportunity to hone your leadership skills, especially if you’re making the transition from employment to self-employment. But, you may want to think twice: partnerships can be tricky business.