Financial Planning

An important topic for our clients nearing the age of 65 is how to best structure potential income sources during the retirement years. Timing of Old Age Security (OAS) benefits will be considered in the context of such discussions.

In Benjamin's last blog he examined the framework for determining whether one should use cash to pay down their debt, or to build their investments. While the framework necessarily includes analysis of current interest rates, one factor that was not considered was how interest rates will change over the lifespan of your debt. This article will examine these considerations.

An eternal question in the world of personal finance is “should I use available cash to invest, or should I use it to pay down debt”? Particularly in the time of COVID, when those lucky enough to continue working are often spending less and accumulating cash, it’s an important question. It’s also one that can be answered in a straightforward manner with a framework of questions to answer.

Major market corrections are scary. If you are close to retirement – or already retired – seismic shifts in the market can feel like the world is ending and your ability to meet your financial objectives is evaporating. If you have a financial plan, now is the time to review it, consider the impacts it has had on your portfolio, and assess in a non-emotional way whether your goals have been affected.

Ben outlines the benefits of a new measure introduced by the Federal government in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to ease the economic burden on retirees by reducing minimum annual RRIF withdrawals.

Benjamin explains how to maximize the long-term benefit from your RESP through the timing of your contributions.

Pension splitting is one of the most powerful tools available to Canadian couples to reduce their tax burden in retirement and leave them with more money with which to accomplish their retirement goals.

In the last of his 4 part series on planning for retirement, Benjamin Klein examines what kind of returns a person can expect on their investments, and concludes with an example based on the process discussed.