‘Melt and cascade’ describes what happens to a solid ice jam on a hot summer’s day: a fixed form becomes a fluid, more dynamic element. Mark Halpern, a Markham, Ont.-based   Read More

We used to communicate with the Canada Revenue Agency via paper or online forms. Now you can get social with the CRA via Twitter, e-mail, RSS feeds, YouTube and mobile   Read More

Sending someone away from home to university for four years can cost more than $100,000. That’s taking into account tuition, books, transportation, room and board, and incidentals. Government cutbacks, inflation,   Read More

It’s a common question at tax-filing time: What employment expenses are tax-deductible by a salaried employee? Peter Still, a Markham, Ont.-based Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Certified General Accountant (CGA)   Read More

April 30 is almost here. But before those April showers bring May flowers, the Canada Revenue Agency is going to want to rain on your parade too. Here are some   Read More

Many mutual-fund management companies offer services that can help investors organize their affairs. Some of these services may be of great assistance to the investor, while others tend to benefit the fund company more.   Read More

Putting money into your Registered Retirement Savings Plan, or RRSP, is a great way to start planning for your retirement. And there’s no better time to start thinking about your   Read More

Dividend Re-Investment Plans, or “DRIPs,” can assist you in building your wealth. You can instruct companies with DRIPs to reinvest your dividends into new shares. You can build your wealth   Read More

The federal government introduced a new “first-time donor’s super credit” last year, but many Canadians are still either unaware of what it is or not quite sure of what the   Read More

As we begin to approach the end of the calendar year, a common tax tip is to think about “tax-loss selling”. This refers to the strategy of triggering losses before   Read More

Watch the mutual funds you buy outside your registered accounts between now and the end of the year. Otherwise, you may find yourself on the hook for taxes if you   Read More

Once upon a time, a family was eligible for a double principal residence exemption. However, in the early 1980s, the tax rules were changed. Now there is essentially a one-principal-residence-per-family   Read More

There is nothing more joyful than the birth of a child. It is a very emotional time for parents and grandparents as they make lofty plans for the baby’s future   Read More

Registered Retirement Savings Plans, or RRSPs, help you to save for a more comfortable retirement while deferring taxes – hopefully on more favorable terms – into the future.

But the investment   Read More

Thinking about what to include in your will? If you are like most people, your thoughts are probably focused on who gets what, and who will take care of the   Read More

Samantha Prasad, a tax partner with the law firm Minden Gross LLP, recalls that a few years ago, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) was actively engaged in a special audit   Read More

Mark Halpern, a Certified Financial Planner and Trust and Estate Practitioner, says that in his business he encounters many people who are well established and working hard with good jobs.   Read More

In the search for yield, investors have turned to such things as monthly income funds and income trusts, structured notes, and capital class units. But again, cash in your hand   Read More

For conservative investors, the urge to keep money in cash or the equivalent is hard to overcome, despite today’s low interest rates.

And yet, seeking safety in income-producing investments and cash   Read More

Save enough to pay your taxes, and a little more. If you’re self-employed or running a business, it’s important to stay in the black with the Canada Revenue Agency. But   Read More

Rental Income

If you own a second home in the U.S., chances are that you may be renting it out during the off-season to help offset costs (especially if the home   Read More

This year’s cold and lengthy winter had me constantly daydreaming of beaches and warmer weather. I certainly envy those lucky ones who head south at the first sign of snow.

The   Read More

Dave and Sandra are in their 50s and have just inherited $150,000. They rent their home. Both are working and making ends meet, but they have very little saved for   Read More

Peace of mind is a hard thing to come by these days.

People’s lives are so busy with their businesses or jobs, their family, friends and squeezing time in for   Read More

Treaty Shopping

Following recent consultations, the Government is proposing a domestic law that would impact benefits derived from treaty shopping, which would be denied if it is reasonable to conclude that   Read More

Maximize your TFSA contribution in 2014

When the Government of Canada introduced Tax Free Savings Accounts effectively beginning in 2009, it set the contribution limit at $5,000 per year.

The plan was   Read More

Amateur Athlete Trusts

The budget proposes to allow income contributed to an amateur athlete trust after 2013 to qualify as earned income for purposes of determining the registered retirement savings plan   Read More

Another year, another budget. Sometimes I feel like I should not be surprised by what the Canadian government has in mind. Other years, I feel like a truck has side-swiped   Read More

A 70-year-old, unmarried client came to see me last month, worried about an issue that’s common to many affluent Canadians.

He has accumulated $2.8-million in a RRIF and is now concerned   Read More

Using life insurance to provide a financial security blanket is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can leave your family.

But just remember that “thoughtful” should never be confused with   Read More

– Mark Halpern, CFP, TEP

Review your existing life insurance

Do you have adequate life insurance protection? Ensuring you have the right life insurance can be an important component of your overall   Read More

– Mark Halpern, CFP, TEP

Are you an investor who owns shares of a private holding company or investment corporation? Are you nearing retirement, or already retired?

Proper financial planning helped get   Read More

When it comes to tax planning, is obtaining a loan to purchase an RRSP a good idea?

“An RRSP loan can be advantageous if you have accumulated a significant amount of   Read More

 – Samantha Prasad LL.B.

We all know the cardinal rule relating to RRSP withdrawals before maturity: DON’T DO IT!

The tax hit on withdrawals from your RRSP has always been a huge   Read More

Registered Retirement Savings Plans, or RRSPs, help you to save for a more comfortable retirement while deferring taxes – hopefully on more favorable terms – into the future.

But the investment   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

The government developed the attribution rules to prevent blatant income splitting.

Income splitting, of course, diverts income from a   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

– Samantha Prasad, LLB

In my last TaxLetter article, I wrote about winding up a family trust and how to   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

Some investment advisors think that you should never again contribute to an RRSP. In fact, some go further and   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

Every profession has a unique way of developing new business relationships, but it’s usually a variation of “show and   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

The new year is here, so we’ve prepared some quick and easy deductions to help cut your tax bill.   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

During the recession some years back, the unemployment rate in Canada was hovering in the 8.5 per cent range.

  Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

In our article on Discretionary Family Trusts in September’s TaxLetter, we noted that family trusts only have a tax   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846
With U.S. real estate prices remaining near historic low levels, many Canadians feel this is continues to be an   Read More

The Investment Reporter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

A few years ago, those struggling for social justice used to say “Think globally, act locally.” Investors struggling   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846
 

Mr. C asked us “Do you have guidelines for what percentage of RRSP assets should be fixed-income, such as   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

Last month we wrote about the demise of the one per cent prescribed rate for income splitting strategies. We   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

Creating a charitable legacy can be one of the most personal and enduring decisions you will ever make.

And   Read More

The TaxLetter, MPL Communications Inc.
133 Richmond St.W., Toronto, ON, M5H 3M8. 1-800-804-8846

Split pension income, save taxes

All’s fair in love… and taxes. At least, that’s the way the Canada Revenue Agency   Read More

Paying capital-gains taxes may be an inevitable result of successful investing. But the longer you can delay the inevitable, the greater will be your ultimate success.

Sector funds offer aggressive investors   Read More