Many Canadians designate a direct beneficiary on their RRSP, RRIF, TFSA or insurance policies without giving it a second thought (although in Quebec, beneficiary designations are only effective on insurance policies). However, designating a direct beneficiary is not recommended for many plan/policy owners, where they have non-traditional or unique family situations, as it can lead to unfavourable tax implications for beneficiaries.
Did you know that many Canadians are not adequately prepared to pass on or inherit family wealth? This is often due to a lack of communication and planning. The good news is that it’s never too early or too late to start. Planning helps you identify tax saving opportunities, mitigate potential financial gaps and maximize your current lifestyle.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have embraced an environment where employees work from home. With the opportunity to work from home, some Canadians are taking the opportunity to work from anywhere. For some that means working from the cottage or working from a foreign location. Before you switch from working from home to a location of your choice, there are a few things that you should consider.
The lifetime capital gains exemption (LCGE) is one of the key tax planning advantages available to small business owners, farmers, and fishers. In 2021, it can exempt from tax up to $892,218 of capital gains realized on the sale of shares of a qualified small business corporation and up to $1 million of capital gains realized on the sale of shares of a family farm or fishing corporation.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have embraced an environment where employees work from home. With the opportunity to work from home, some Canadians are taking the opportunity to work from anywhere. For some that means working from the cottage or working from a foreign location. Before you switch from working from home to a location of your choice, there are a few things that you should consider.
Each June, we honour National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day. However, these observances cannot be recognized without acknowledging the atrocity of the remains of 215 children discovered in unmarked graves at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. This news has deeply saddened all of us at IG Wealth Management, and it is a sombre reminder of our country’s past and the injustice that continues today.
With an increasingly aging population, issues around providing services, including financial advice to seniors, are becoming more important. While attention is often focused on funding retirement and wealth transfer to the next generation, susceptibility to fraud often goes unnoticed.
One important lesson from the COVID-19 upheaval of the past year is just how ill-prepared many Canadians are for any disruption to their finances. That has opened up a significant opportunity for the financial advisory industry to enhance its relevance and value by adopting a more holistic approach to financial planning and ensuring investors consider all aspects of their financial well-being.
One of the most important documents you should have as part of your estate plan is an up to date power of attorney, otherwise known as a protection mandate in Quebec. This is a document that gives someone else the power to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable to. Needless to say, you need to give special consideration to whom you appoint as attorney or mandatary.
An important part of financial planning is making sure that you have an estate plan that meets your personal needs. A key component of any well constructed estate plan is to make sure that you have an up to date power of attorney for financial decisions (referred to as a “protection mandate” in Quebec).
Our sustainability strategy keeps us focused on what matters most to our business and our stakeholders, and seeks to accelerate positive change in areas where we – as wealth and asset managers – can make the greatest impact.
Financial abuse is on the rise. Criminals are finding new and innovative ways to take advantage of people, particularly through social media and the internet. Always be on the lookout for financial abuse and take precautions to protect yourself. Here are a few things to consider.