by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | Aug 16, 2011 | Cash Flow Concerns
Before your child heads off to University this fall, give them a chance to earn their first “A” by having them complete a Caring for Clients Student Cash Flow Worksheet. In fact, it’s a great project to complete together with your child, since you are likely a big...
by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | Aug 7, 2011 | Cash Flow Concerns
Investors are again wondering what they should do as stock markets decline around the world. They wouldn’t be wondering if they had a well crafted Investor Policy Statement (IPS). An IPS is developed by your investment manager/advisor with your input, participation...
by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | Jul 3, 2011 | Risk Management
This second entry seeks to further explain how Manulife can offer a package of coverage (life, disability, critical illness) for up to 30% less than if you purchased individual policies. This second entry seeks to further explain how Manulife can offer a package of...
by Rona Birenbaum BAS CFP®, CHFS | Jun 27, 2011 | Risk Management
Manulife does a great job of developing products that address gaps in the marketplace, and an equally great job of promoting them. Their latest creation is an all-in-one product that can provide life, disability and critical illness insurance. I have read comments...
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 29, 2011 | Risk Management
Although kidnap insurance is not new, the risks associated with international business and personal travel have raised both awareness and the need for this little known or understood insurance product. What does it provide? The product that that I present to clients...
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 | Apr 24, 2011 | Risk Management
If you are fully disabled for the rest of your working life, the disability benefits within your group medical insurance can easily exceed $1 million over time. In spite of the value of the coverage, and its financial importance in the event of a disability, most...
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...
