Back to School Tax Breaks
Like tax season, back-to-school season rolls around annually with certainty. But in today’s inflationary environment, the start-up costs for getting the family organizing for the school year may seem daunting. The good news is that tax and financial advisors can help clients understand their tax planning options and manage all the receipts that can lead to tax breaks later in the spring during tax filing time. Here’s a primer of topics you may wish to discuss:Subcontractor or Employee?
What are the implications of misclassifying workers as independent contractors to avoid paying statutory deductions? From a CRA point of view, plenty, and the consequences can be very expensive. At a time when terminations and layoffs due to uncertainty in the current business environment are occurring, getting these classifications right is important. There may, in fact, also be a legal requirement to pay severance to independent contractors.
Retirement Planning for Business Owners: A New Playbook for a New Economy
Business owners are facing unprecedented uncertainty as they approach retirement. Whether it’s fluctuating business valuations, changing tax policy, or succession challenges, today’s entrepreneurs need specialized, forward-thinking advice to navigate their financial future. That’s why the “Retirement Income Planning for Small Business Owners” session—delivered by Doug Nelson as part of the CE Savvy Summit on May 21, 2025—remains a critical learning opportunity for tax and financial advisors working with entrepreneurial clients. Missed the live event? Now it’s available on-demand! This session provides full access to the recordings, materials, and CE assessments — making it easier than ever to earn credits and sharpen your advisory edge at your own pace.
Leadership Opportunity: Canada’s Shrinking Head Office Economy
As Canada’s head office economy continues to contract, the responsibility for economic growth, innovation, and leadership is increasingly falling to small- and mid-sized businesses. This shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. And, it’s exactly why the DMA – Small Business Services Specialist Program should be a critical part of your professional development library. Designed to equip professionals with the tools to support sustainable business growth and succession, this online designation program prepares you to develop leadership skills from the ground up as Corporate Canada is experiencing a disturbing trend. Here’s more:
Acuity 2025 - Corporate Owned-Insurance as a Risk Mitigation Tool
Advisors often promote holding corporately owned insurance policies because it provides clients with the ability to fund their policies using lower corporate tax dollars. Proceeds are also received tax free on death. But there are important pitfalls, says Leanne Rodrigo, CPA, CA, a special guest Faculty Member at the Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors (DAC), November 23-26, 2025 in beautiful Puerto Vallarta. Early bird registration ends June 30 . There are many things to think about:
Canadian Dental Care Plan Renewal Deadline Approaches
Know Your Client! It’s a daily commitment and requirement, especially in the work that financial advisors do with their clients. It’s imperative that you ask about any significant changes in their lives. Has there been a significant new event: a move to take a new job or go to university, a marriage or divorce, a new birth, a disability or a death? And, in the case of income tested benefits such as the Canadian Dental Care Plan, (CDCP) do they qualify? Did they file their tax return on time to get it? Do you know the deadlines for doing so? Do you know when coverage ends if your client now longer qualifies?
Scale Your Business: There’s a Shortage of Tax Accountants
It’s time to scale up in the tax preparation and accounting industry. The industry currently engages close to 65,000 independent professionals who participates in helping over 60% of total tax filers. CRA itself engaged close to 60,000 employees to interact with taxpayers. But with the retirement of experienced accounting professionals on the horizon, increasing burnout from high demand work in short timeframes, the writing is on the wall: an acute shortage of qualified people is unfolding in the tax and accountancy services, and this has implications for our economy and financial stability. Consider the following statistics, and then, make a great investment in the DMA - Tax Services Specialist designation program to scale up your practice to meet a growing demand.
