ARTICLES
The Financial Advisor Evaluation (FAE): 10 Questions—Yes or No?
Based on a past HSBC survey, nearly two-thirds of Canadians don’t have a financial plan. It didn’t make sense to me because another report showed that the majority of advisors in Canada do offer financial plans to their customers. Why, then, do so few people have it when there is such a high number of…
The Canada Pension Plan—When Is the Right Time for You?
When it comes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), it really is a matter of deciding when to take it. While there is no rule of thumb, there is a specific answer for each person. In today’s blog post, I will give a quick overview of what the Canada Pension Plan is, and show you…
The Secrets of Benefits Planning
In small and mid-sized businesses, there are many common issues that may arise and a number of these problems are related to employee benefits. Recently, I spoke with Roger Thorpe, President of Thorpe Benefits and a specialist in benefits and wellness planning, to discuss his line of work. In today’s blog post, I will highlight…
How to Respond to Market Crashes
Oftentimes, we hear on the news that the markets have crashed, but bear in mind that the media frequently dramatize events and make it seem as if things are really crazy. While things may become a little hectic, the real question is how you respond to such events. In today’s blog post, I will talk…
Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSA)—Myths and Tips
Today, I want to talk about a relatively new investment tool—the Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). The Tax-Free Savings Account was launched in 2009 and many people are becoming aware of it today. But how much do you really know about them? What are the rules you need to follow? What is the right time to…
Long-Term Care Insurance 101–Part 2: The Dos and Don’ts
In my last blog post, I introduced you to Jennifer Jacobs, the top living benefits specialist in Canada, and sat down with her to discuss the essentials of long-term care insurance. To quickly recap, a long-term care insurance policy is essentially a security tool used in the event that you encounter a serious injury or…
Long-Term Care Insurance 101—Part 1: The Basics
As a company, IRONSHIELD has embraced the need to include long-term care insurance as part of an overall comprehensive benefit plan. This has brought us in touch with Canada’s most talented experts in the field. I had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Jacobs, a top long-term care insurance specialist, who had provided us with…
Four Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Retirement Income Plan
Today, I want to talk about the four common mistakes that retirees should avoid making when creating a retirement income plan. These are: Not factoring in inflation Not factoring in income taxes Poor structure of investment management fees Believing in the myth that your fixed income exposure needs to match your age First, let’s begin…