Updated January 2024
Gaeten and Mirielle are a middle aged couple who met through friends. They have been together for almost 5 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 should either one predecease the other. They both wish to have at least some of their own investments pass on to their respective children.
Updated January 2024
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
Updated January 2024
A disturbing number of aging Canadians today aren’t saving or aren’t saving enough for retirement.1 They are seeking financial freedom. That’s not freedom from money. It’s the kind of freedom they feel when they can do what they want to do and when they want to do it. Yet we all know that how we manage, invest and spend our money can have a huge impact on our life and our lifestyle.
Doug Cooper, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager, shares what can make a dividend growth investing strategy an attractive choice for investors, including:
Market Implications of the Conflict in the Middle East
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following the attack on Israel on October 7th by Hamas militants from the neighbouring Gaza Strip. The incursion sparked international backlash, and Israel announced a complete siege of Gaza on October 9th. This conflict has led to a considerable death toll on both sides, a hostage crisis involving over 200 Israeli and international citizens and a growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Understanding the differences and similarities
Markets move in different directions at different times, generally called cycles. Different market cycles tend to favour one investment style over another. Understanding how growth and value investment styles differ and where they can work together will help demonstrate how they can both play an integral role in your equity portfolio construction.
Recently, we sat down with SVP and CIO, Paul Holba to get his thoughts on the events that have impacted markets year to date, and where the investment team sees opportunity going forward. In this video, Paul shares:
In early June, the S&P 500 rose by more than 20% from its October low, reaching its highest level since April of last year. Often observed as a barometer for the overall health of the U.S. economy, the index’s strong performance generated some optimism with respect to the trajectory of the U.S. economy. However, when considering the market breadth, which refers to the number of stocks that are moving the index, a less optimistic picture emerges.
Insurance companies in Canada paid out 75 per cent more in mental health claims in 2021 compared to 2019 (CLHIA), but disability claims with a mental health component have been on the rise for many years. In this blog, Michelle Cortes, our product manager for long-term disability, interviews Ian Bridgman, Executive Director of The Claim Lab, and Steve Higgins, who oversees the management of disability claims at Empire Life, to discuss how The Claim Lab is helping us manage mental health claims through enhanced predictive analytics. Empire Life was the first insurance company in Canada to work with The Claim Lab.
In this Off the Cuff video, Ashley Misquitta, CFA, Senior Portfolio Manager and Investment Strategist, shares what it will take for the economy to transition from fossil fuel to more renewable energy-based resources, and where the team see potential investment opportunities.
