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?

In the end, it was a philosophical battle that tested who is best responsible for the future of retirement savings in Canada: only 18.6% of respondants to Knowledge Bureau’s July poll question answered yes when asked, “In your opinion, is the enhanced CPP a better retirement savings plan than putting the equivalent amount of premiums into a TFSA?” The remaining 81.4% voted no—in favor of the tax-paid contributions to a tax-exempt savings vehicle over mandatory, partially deductible contributions to a taxable fund.

Knowledge Bureau is pleased to welcome Portfolio Strategies as the Exclusive Sponsor of the Distinguished Master Financial Advisor Graduation Luncheon at the Distinguished Advisor Conference, November 6-9 in San Diego. Portfolio Strategies’ President, Mark Kent, will be on hand at this prestigious event to congratulate graduates and present them with their designation pins and special gifts.

Bookkeeping is the cornerstone of any small business. In fact, keeping track of cash flows is a key stressor more many.  That’s where a highly qualified professional bookkeeper comes in:  to help steer the business into calm waters before any waves come aboard.  If you want to be that professional, Knowledge Bureau’s Advanced Bookkeeping for Multiple Business course is the best choice to up your game.

Do you want to learn a whole new way of thinking about your business so you can be at least 100 times more excited about your future? Bill Bishop, CEO of Bishop Communication Inc. and publisher of Disrupter Magazine, will explain how in his must-hear session at the Distinguished Advisor Conference 2016.  Final registrations are open now to September 30.

Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too. Believe in yourself enough to accept the idea that you have an equal right to it. Diane Sawyer

The refundable tax credits replacing the Family Tax Cut, Universal Child Care Benefit arrive this week.  What to expect?  Tax and financial advisors could be very busy tending to questions about the whether the size of the cheques is right, and filing 2015 tax returns for delinquent filers.