Why you may want to leave your RRSP to charity

At death, registered assets can pass tax-free “in kind” to a qualified, specifically designated beneficiary (typically your spouse or a dependent child). But what if you don’t have a qualifying beneficiary? Or your child reaches the age of majority and no longer qualifies as a dependent? Or suppose you and your spouse die at the same time. What happens then? […]

There’s a battle going on in the markets that’s likely having a run-off effect on your mutual fund portfolio. It’s the age-old David and Goliath story and, like the fable, care to guess who’s winning? For the past five years, small-cap stocks have been quietly but successfully muscling their way past many of the bigger, brawnier companies that underpin the […]

Tax Changes In January 2016, the taxation of testamentary trusts (trusts created through a will) will change. Up until now, they have been taxed at the same graduated tax rates as an individual. After January 1, 2016, all income in a testamentary trust will be taxed at the highest tax rate applicable in each province. Even without the advantageous tax […]

Teaching Kids How to Invest As parents, we work hard to keep our children happy and healthy and give them the tools they need to succeed as adults. That includes teaching them about money — why it’s important, where it comes from, and how to manage it wisely. Unfortunately, this is an area largely lacking in the school curriculum. Maybe that’s […]

Investing in mutual funds Few people predicted the dramatic drop in the price of oil in 2014. And while the consensus is that such low prices are unsustainable, no one can predict when they’ll rise again or how quickly. In the face of such uncertainty your planning decisions may be affected. Canada’s oil-based economy Whether your portfolio has been affected by […]