by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | Sep 5, 2011 | All About Investing, All About Tax
Every once in a while I come across an investor who was convinced to borrow money and invest the loan proceeds. This was presented to them as a smart way to build their net worth and reduce their tax bill at the same time. There are a number of financial organizations...
by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | Aug 23, 2011 | All About Investing, Risk Management
I subscribe to one daily blog, and it is the one written by Seth Godin. Seth is a wonderful thought leader on all things business. He posted a second blog on August 23 following an earthquake in Virginia that measured 5.9 on the Richter Scale. Please replace the word...
by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | Jun 12, 2011 | All About Investing, All About Tax
It is estimated that there are about 150 fee-only financial planners in Canada. That is 150 individuals, not companies. Compare that to the fact that there are over 17,500 Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) across the country. With so many CFPs offering free...
by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | May 2, 2011 | All About Investing, All About Tax
U.S.citizens continue to have obligations for U.S. tax purposes even though they may be a Canadian resident for many years. Canada and the U.S. have worked together over the years to ensure that treatment of RRSPs and RRIFs by each is consistent. This is not true for...
by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | Apr 28, 2011 | All About Investing, All About Tax
A banker, broker and financial planner walk into a bar. They are approached by a fairly inebriated customer who laments the huge tax bill they just learned about from their accountant. He asks the financial experts what he should do. (true story, except the bar...
by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | Mar 28, 2011 | All About Investing
In past blogs I have highlighted how to find an unclaimed bank balance and a missing life insurance policy. As it turns out, there are millions of matured Canada Savings Bonds (CSBs) that are sitting un-cashed somewhere. The good news is that the federal government...
