Do you and your parents have powers of attorney?
If someone suffers a cognitive decline and loses their ability to manage their financial affairs, it’s a common misconception that a loved one can automatically step in and take over. That’s only the case when the person in need has made a power of attorney for property. The “power of attorney” is the legal document, […]
Managing your RRIF withdrawals effectively
Each year, you’re required to make a minimum Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) withdrawal, calculated as a percentage of your RRIF assets. The percentage is based on your age, and it increases each year. Every withdrawal is taxed as regular income, but several strategies can help reduce the impact of the tax liability. Use your […]
Prepare your children for financial responsibility
Financial literacy month—November, in Canada— is just around the corner. We have reason to be proud: Canadian youth rank among the top in the world for financial literacy. Every three years, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducts a survey among 15-year-old students in 20 countries. In the most recent results, Canada tied for […]
Ever get emotional about your investments?
Often, it’s wise to trust our emotions, but something strange happens when it comes to investing. When markets soar, our emotions try to sway us to buy high, and when markets fall, our emotional response is to want to sell—the opposite of the “buy low, sell high” investment ideal. The chart shows the path of […]
In the world of investing, time is your friend
When you think of how time helps you achieve investment objectives, the first thing that comes to mind may be compound growth. You make an investment, reinvest your returns year after year, and continue to earn returns on both your original contribution and all of the accumulated returns. Given enough time, the value of the […]
