What keeps you up at night? The Late Show, the party next door, crying babies, waiting for the kids to get home, that spicy meal and/or the weather? All of us have had trouble getting to sleep and many of us can relate to the list of things I just covered. Most of these things pass with time. Some other things stick with us. Consider the following concerns echoed by a survey of adults ages 35+.
I’ve written earlier about guaranteed lifetime income, its value and what Canadians want in terms of a plan or product that provides this in addition to what they may be receiving from government benefits. This is especially appropriate for those aging individuals that do not have a defined benefit pension plan through work, a plan that tells them how much they are “guaranteed to receive” for the rest of their lives.
The interest in guaranteed lifetime income and its importance to aging Canadians is growing rapidly. This value held by Canadians for guaranteed lifetime income is in addition to government sponsored plans.
Do you think that retirement for you and future generations will be significantly different than it is for current retirees? If you say, “yes”, you’re not alone. Most consumers anticipate meaningful differences. Thoughts, expectations, confidence and planning do differ when considering age and gender. Here are some recent findings shared with permission from the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute. If the Shoe Fits: Generational Names and Retirement Attitudes, 2017.
My last article shared the story of a divorced gentleman, Gaeten, who named his common law partner Mirielle, joint beneficiary of his Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) along with his daughter, Marie. I covered off the problem Mirielle would have trying to maintain the tax sheltered status of her share of Gaeten’s account which would pass to her on Gaeten’s death. What if Gaeten named her as a successor holder (subrogated policyholder in Quebec)?1
Who speaks for you when you can’t speak for yourself? Who handles your stuff when you can’t? What do they need to know? What are they supposed to do with them? How can you make it easier for the people who act for you under a power of attorney or will? Let’s focus on a growing area, digital assets and access.
Gaeten and Mirielle are a middle aged couple who met through friends. They have been together for almost five years. Gaeten is divorced with one adult child. Mirielle, a widow, has two children of her own. The couple do want to take care of each other should either one predecease the other. They both wish to have at least some of their own investments pass on to their respective children.
I’ve written a number of articles on cash flow management: the issues with it, the domino effects of debt and savings, and ideas on how you can get a better grip on your finances. I’ve created a list of resources you can use to work through your own particular circumstances or offer to your clients as an aid to working through their financial cash flow management situations.
Summer is upon us, which means spending longer days in the sun and enjoying your cottage with your family and friends. This is also the time that you may start thinking about the future of your cottage and your plans to pass it down your family. If you have decided to bequeath your vacation property to your children in your will, you may know that there could be substantial capital gains taxes due. Where does the money come from? Let’s consider some alternatives.
In my last article, I wrote about the benefits of a buy and hold strategy where an investor stayed in the market through the ups and downs of a particular investment.
