Canada plans to tax share buybacks by two per cent starting January 1, 2024. U.S. already taxes buybacks by one per cent. This could persuade companies to raise their dividends   Read More

The run-up in interest rates make interest income more appealing, of course. But only if you can shelter this income from income taxes. After all, unsheltered interest income is taxed   Read More

Property transfers often create significant income tax issues and can be either errors of commission or errors of omission. Over my 25 years as an accountant, I have been referred   Read More

Discover a silver lining that comes from moving for school or work from The Tax Letter.

Find out if you qualify for this tax benefit
My eldest daughter is moving into her   Read More

Property transfers often create significant income tax issues and can be either errors of commission or errors of omission. Over my 25 years as an accountant, I have been referred   Read More

Consider using part of your wealth to buy a life annuity from an insurer. It will provide you with monthly payments for the rest of your life—just like a defined   Read More

Emphasizing safety in your portfolio goes beyond trying merely to preserve your capital. You should also try to preserve your purchasing power against inflation. High inflation can steadily erode your   Read More

Shrewd investors use compounding to make sure all their money works for them. Combine that with a sound plan, and you’re well on the way to success.

Nothing is certain in   Read More

Relatively-low interest rates make it cheap to borrow these days. If you can’t maximize contributions to your RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan), consider borrowing to do so. In Hamlet, Polonius   Read More

Income trusts have creative ways of sustaining their cash distributions through returns of capital.
Many investors question how any organization can continue to distribute cash to its owners in excess of   Read More

Income trusts have creative ways of sustaining their cash distributions through returns of capital.
Many investors question how any organization can continue to distribute cash to its owners in excess of   Read More

Asking a friend or relative to execute your estate may be a recipe for unpleasantness or worse after you’re gone.
As baby boomers husband their assets and approach the inevitable, many   Read More

When you invest in mutual funds outside a registered plan, you face some income tax considerations foreign to those who invest directly in stocks.
Once again, it’s that time of year   Read More

Financial planner Mark Halpern says your generosity can make a real difference in the lives and causes you are passionate about . . . and inspire your own future generations.

We   Read More

Asking a friend or relative to execute your estate may be a recipe for unpleasantness or worse after you’re gone.
As baby boomers husband their assets and approach the inevitable, many   Read More

Accountant Mark Goodfield (aka The Blunt Bean Counter) reviews six common investment errors he has observed over the years.
I am involved in wealth advisory for some of my clients as   Read More

Asking a friend or relative to execute your estate may be a recipe for unpleasantness or worse after you’re gone.
As baby boomers husband their assets and approach the inevitable, many   Read More

Oh yeah? Mark Goodfield (aka The Blunt Bean Counter) encourages discussing your will with your family and explaining your intentions to avoid or minimize sibling estate issues.

In December 2019, I   Read More

Discretionary family trusts have a tax life span of 21 years. Without proper planning, the family trust may be subject to a deemed capital gain, says tax lawyer Samantha Prasad.
The   Read More

Oh yeah? Mark Goodfield (aka The Blunt Bean Counter) encourages discussing your will with your family and explaining your intentions to avoid or minimize sibling estate issues.

In December 2019, I   Read More

“There are no limits to the majestic future which lies before the mighty expanse of Canada with its virile, aspiring, cultured, and generous-hearted people.” Winston Churchill

Mark Halpern, a regular TaxLetter   Read More

Earning one per cent on your money seems like a measly return. But earning one per cent on funds you loaned to family members—forever—that’s good news.
This article considers an income   Read More

To avoid anger, bickering and distrust during transition of a family business, WEALTHinsurance.com’s Mark Halpern advises a documented succession plan.
Planning for high-net worth family businesses is so important. If only   Read More

Mark Goodfield (aka The Blunt Bean Counter) takes a look at the popular rule-of-thumb “four per cent rule”.

The pandemic has brought retirement savings front and centre for far too many   Read More

If you have a family and assets, you need an estate plan and a will. And, says WealthInsurance.com CEO Mark Halpern, you need to review it at least every five   Read More

The kicker with preferred split shares is that you can get double the dividend you would normally get holding the same shares directly, or even more.
Among our recommended preferred shares,   Read More

Financial planner Mark Halpern says now is the time to prepare for the tax increases that will help Ottawa pay for all its COVID relief efforts.

If only we could see   Read More

If you have a family and assets, you need an estate plan and a will. And, says WealthInsurance.com CEO Mark Halpern, you need to review it at least every five   Read More

Your cottage is a special place for the family. Mark Halpern of WEALTHinsurance.com explains the financial implications of dealing with a cottage for future generations.
Many Canadians who own a family   Read More

Limited partnerships and trusts offer tax advantages and return of capital is one of those advantages.
The return of capital portion of a partnership or income trust distribution can be made   Read More

Gift-giving season prompts Mark Goodfield (aka The Blunt Bean Counter) to look at some tax and other considerations regarding gifts to grandchildren.

Many grandparents ask me about the tax and practical   Read More

Gift-giving season is nigh. But the tax department’s attribution rules complicate the matter of giving securities to your children and grandchildren.

Always keep things in perspective when you tax plan. Once   Read More

Your cottage is a special place for the family. Mark Halpern of WEALTHinsurance.com explains the financial implications of dealing with a cottage for future generations.
Many Canadians who own a family   Read More

CPA Mark Goodfield (aka The Blunt Bean Counter), says COVID-19 made many owners aware of the impact a ‘black swan’ event can have on the value of their businesses.

Not to   Read More

How do split shares work? It’s not exactly like having your cake and eating it too. You do give up something to double your dividends or double your capital gain.
Split   Read More

Long lives demand a financial ‘defence’ plan. Trust and Estate Practitioner Mark Halpern looks at the costs of living long and shepherding money you’ll never spend.

People who are very successful   Read More

The tax department’s attribution rules complicate the matter of giving securities to your children and grandchildren.
Keep things in perspective when you tax plan. Once you start agonizing over every dollar   Read More

Long lives demand a financial ‘defence’ plan. Trust and Estate Practitioner Mark Halpern looks at the costs of living long and shepherding money you’ll never spend.

People who are very successful   Read More

If you have a family and assets, you need an estate plan and a will. And, says WealthInsurance.com CEO Mark Halpern, you need to review it at least every five   Read More

DRIPs (Dividend Re-Investment Plans) and cash option plans let individual investors build their wealth. That’s thanks to the dozen advantages that we outline below.

Studies show that dividend reinvestment is crucial   Read More

Goodwill—positive thoughts and acts of generosity—may be the genesis of the accounting term for paying too much. But comes year-end and the debate about ‘writing off’ goodwill.
The validity of some   Read More

5iResearch analyst Moez Mahraz stresses any benefit from tax-loss selling is of secondary importance to the long-term benefit of investing in quality stocks in the first place.
As we approach the   Read More

Toronto-based tax lawyer Samantha Prasad LL.B. suggests ways that both employees and business owners can ensure their 2019 taxes are kept to a minimum.

The end of the year is in   Read More

We advise you to use some contributions to a TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) to build an emergency fund. Then use the remaining TFSA money to invest in potentially very lucrative   Read More

Registered Education Savings Plans were first introduced in 1974. The program encourages Canadians to save more towards the post-secondary education of their children.
By Mark Halpern, CFP, TEP

It’s that time of   Read More

Toronto tax lawyer Samantha Prasad warns that all is not fair in love and taxes. The CRA may not have the same misty-eyed view of sharing as you and your   Read More

Will the tranquility of your family cottage dissipate when planning for, and financing, succession of ownership? Trust and estate planner Mark Halpern offers some solutions.
Many Investor’s Digest readers are fortunate   Read More

In the market for a cottage as a second home? Then now is the time for proper tax planning, muses Toronto tax lawyer Samantha Prasad from her vacation home on   Read More

Mark Halpern, CEO of WEALTHinsurance.com®, offers several ways to reduce your taxes and accumulate much more for your retirement.
Paying attention to your RRSPs and TFSAs all year-round pays off. The   Read More

Will the tranquility of your family cottage dissipate when planning for, and financing, succession of ownership? Trust and estate planner Mark Halpern offers some solutions.
Many Investor’s Digest readers are fortunate   Read More

Mark Halpern, CEO of WEALTHinsurance.com®, offers several ways to reduce your taxes and accumulate much more for your retirement.
Paying attention to your RRSPs and TFSAs all year-round pays off. The   Read More

Toronto tax lawyer Samantha Prasad warns that all is not fair in love and taxes. The CRA may not have the same misty-eyed view of sharing as you and your   Read More