Recession Risk: When The Central Bank Stops Being Boring

The Bank of Canada’s monetary policy should be boring. Like a hockey or soccer referee, people shouldn’t notice it. If they do, it usually means a contentious decision has been made. Interest-rate policy and inflation figures shouldn’t be the main topic of discussion around an average family dinner table.

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Not all Income is Equal – Three Categories to Consider in 2023

Now is a great time to look at your income investments. Recent interest rate hikes in North America have significantly reduced the prices, making 2023 an interesting entry point. But this is not about market timing or making a quick profit, it’s about taking advantage of structural changes in interest rate policy designed to deal with inflation and to unwind emergency lending rates post pandemic. There are many investments that could fall under the income category, so for simplicity we will define them as investments made with the primary purpose of generating cash flow. Looking at the prevailing conditions in 2023 there are three categories everyone should re-evaluate – bonds, REITs and infrastructure.

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The Taxing Issue of Succession Planning

Whether it’s the sight of Logan Roy foaming at the mouth at his conniving, inheritance-sucking kids in Succession or the recent Federal budget, which outlined new rules around intergenerational business transfers, the passing down of family wealth is a core part of a good financial plan.

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As Women Live Longer, They Should Also Plan For A Second Retirement

"Second Retirement" refers to the period after the death of the first spouse when the survivor must tend to household, financial and health matters alone. This article correctly points out that fewer still focus on the repercussions to the spouse who is left behind.

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Key Dates For 2023

In this brief 3-minute video, our Head of Financial Life Strategies, Monique Madan CFP, gives you a look ahead to some important tax considerations for 2023.

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Tax Season: Bucking the Trend

Even Albert Einstein, a man with a brain capable of solving the most complex physics equations, stumbled when it came to taxes. “The hardest thing in the world to understand,” he said, “is the income tax.”

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The Art and Science of Spending Money

Building wealth must be about more than just seeing a larger number on your investment statement each year.  Wealth translates into life satisfaction when it has a purpose. 

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2023: Building on a better base for investors

Investing money at its most basic is just delayed consumption. Putting $250 away versus buying another pair of shoes simply means you can buy those shoes at some point in the future. It makes sense then that the baseline goal of investing is to protect the purchasing power of your money.

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Keep Calm and Plan For Volatility

Keeping your nerve when you see minus signs on your portfolio statement is not easy. Throw in a global pandemic, the rising cost of living, interest rate hikes, and a news cycle of war and political division, and it’s little wonder many investors want to exit the market and hunker down until the good times return.

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