Tax

The first piece of the puzzle

Planning for the day a client passes away is one of an advisor’s more difficult tasks. It’s not just an emotional experience, it’s complex too. Although the practical tasks that accompany a death range from assisting with the will to finding an executor and working with powers of attorney, end of life issues often involve […]

By Bryan Borzykowski |November 15, 2010

4 min read

The crucial conversation

“It was a strange situation,” says Michael Berton, recalling one of his more unusual estate planning cases. “But it’s what the family wanted to happen.” The story goes like this: Husband and wife, Chet and Marie (not their real names), had a joint account. It was assumed that since Chet, who had been in the […]

By Bryan Borzykowski |November 15, 2010

4 min read

Maturing an RRSP – and saving on taxes

If you have clients who are turning 71 this year and are in good health, by all means congratulate them. Even in an era of growing life expectancy, 71 is a notable age. It is also an important marker in a person’s financial lifetime because this is the age at which individuals are required by […]

November 2, 2010

5 min read

Tax savings for the retiree

Your client just finished his or her last day of work and tomorrow begins the new adventure of planning out the retirement years. He or she is now thinking about winter vacations, golf-course memberships, summer trips with grandchildren and possibly even a winter home down south.

By Mike George |November 1, 2010

8 min read