Tax

Structural advantage

Not long ago, a mutual fund wholesaler was in my office touting the benefits of his product offering to my business partner. While the two agreed on the value of the product, they agreed to disagree about its tax efficiency in non-registered portfolios. My partner observed the product wouldn’t be as tax-efficient as some of […]

By Jason M. Pereira |August 1, 2008

7 min read

Feds urged to reconsider RRIF withdrawal rules

Currently, after Canadians reaches age 71, they must transfer their RRSP assets into a RRIF or annuity. The Income Tax Act requires RRIF holders to withdraw a minimum of 4% of the beginning-of-year balance at age 65, then an escalating minimum until, from 94 onward, they must withdraw 20% of their balance each year. Of […]

By Mark Noble |July 11, 2008

4 min read

Do you take this prenuptial?

(June 2008) Second marriages, an inheritance from your grandmother, or sizeable retirement assets are a few of the many reasons why more and more Canadians are signing on the prenuptial dotted line. Prenuptial arrangements, while not yet the rage, are becoming more and more commonplace, explains Jim Stoffman, a Winnipeg-based lawyer with 34 years of […]

By Romana King |June 3, 2008

6 min read

Making a couple’s investments work together

(June 2008) A wedding takes a lot of preparation — flowers, food, venue — but one type of planning that soon-to-be newlyweds often overlook is their finances. Many couples, especially if they’re getting hitched for the second time, come into the marriage with separate investment accounts and their own homes, so figuring out what to […]

By Bryan Borzykowski |June 3, 2008

5 min read