Significant gains in transfer payments combined with good market income growth translated into an increase in median income for Canadian households, to $57,000 in the period 2000 to 2016. There is a message in the numbers for pre-retirees, and in particular women: be proactive about tax-efficient investing now or risk poverty in retirement. According to Statistics Canada’s Canadian Income Survey 2016, an increase of 8.7 percent in income from market sources—which includes employment, investment and retirement income—added more to retirement income […]

Canadian personal debt levels are now at such an alarming level, that most Canadians can’t even comprehend the size of the rising figure: $2 Trillion, as of last week. As part of their best interest duties to clients, financial advisors need to broach this uncomfortable subject, as things could get worse, soon. According to the Bank of Canada, increasing interest rates, anticipated in the second half of 2018, could impact the financial security of many Canadians. On May 1, Bank […]

A nationwide initiative that would provide Canadians with a base guaranteed income is under consideration. It’s a move with polarizing opinions, with many citing an increased burden upon taxpayers to fund the program. With a pilot project already underway in Ontario, the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) released a report outlining the financial impact of introducing a nationwide program. The program proposes Canadians are never forced to live on an income that isn’t sustainable, regardless of their employment status. The estimated cost to taxpayers is […]

The federal government has pledged to put $7 Billion in funding into childcare support, and some provinces intend to add more. Do you think this is a good idea? Statistics Canada released data in October 2014 focusing on who uses childcare in Canada, which may impact your opinion. Weigh in and share your thoughts before this month’s poll closes. The General Social Survey reported the following statistics for 2011: Almost half of parents (46 percent) used childcare of some variety for […]

Have you explored all of the tax-efficient income options available to generate consistent income that will provide for your retirement needs and wants? If you’re a Boomer challenged to find tax-efficient options, discuss these four alternative sources with your tax advisor today. Many tax advisors will have these resources available in their retirement toolkit, in addition to the government benefits and private savings options that are more commonly used by Canadian investors. Taking advantage of these alternatives is especially important […]

For many Canadians filing a tax return is the most important financial transaction of the year. Getting the best tax refund is important: not only will it put more or the money you previously earned back in your own pocket, your refund can make at least some of your cash flow and retirement worries go away. Here’s how: The average tax refund last year was $1,735 or about $145 a month. If that money was going into an RRSP, over […]

March 1, 2018 is an important date for savvy taxpayers: don’t miss topping up your RRSP contribution by this deadline. It’s a great investment for your retirement, of course, but it’s so much more powerful: there are, in fact, three additional tax secrets most people don’t know about that can help you improve your finances. First, your RRSP accumulations will provide valuable options for lifelong learning and for homebuyers, too, as you can withdraw funds for those purposes on a […]

Filing a tax return is the first, and often most important, financial transaction of the year for millions of Canadians. What’s different in 2018? For starters, the government is hanging on to early filers’ refunds longer than ever. With last year’s average tax refund clocking in at just over $1,735, that’s a big deposit that cash-strapped Canadians don’t have for their RRSP or TFSA deposit. The taxman won’t start accepting tax returns for electronic filing until February 26—two weeks later […]

Canada has 1,673,785 aboriginal people, representing 4.9 percent of the population. According to our census, this population has grown 42.5 percent in the period 2006-16 and the average age of the aboriginal people, at 32.1 years, is close to a decade younger than the rest of Canada. There are unique tax filing concerns for these Canadians, requiring specialized knowledge. Approximately 75 percent of aboriginal people have registered Indian status and 44 percent of these people live on reserves. That’s notable […]

Last week we discussed a new Canada Caregiver’s Credit (CCC) for spouses and eligible dependants who can be claimed as “equivalent to spouse.” But did you know that you can now make a new claim if you are a caregiver of a dependent minor or adult child who is infirm? It’s possible under the revamped Canada Caregiver Credit. Quick recall: the Canada Caregiver Credit comes with two parts: A “Mini” CCC of $2,150, which must be claimed for an infirm […]