Personal Finance
Budgeting: The journey out of debt
British Columbians are being pushed to their financial limits like never before. According to Sands and Associates 8th Annual BC Consumer Debt Study, the COVID-19 pandemic was a major contributing factor for over half of the survey respondents who filed insolvency since March 2020.
Jul 8, 2021
Personal Finance
The 4 main reasons why you should care about financial ratios
Financial ratios are tools used to compare figures in the financial statements of your business. They provide an objective measure on the performance of your business in the past, present, and future to help you determine growth, pay yourself & your employees, and still make a profit.
Apr 6, 2021
Personal Finance
How investing while young can lead to big returns
A common excuse many young people have as to why they haven’t begun the process of putting money into investments is that they don’t have enough to start. Somehow, we’ve become conditioned to think “it isn’t worth it” unless we have thousands and thousands of dollars to invest.
Mar 17, 2021
Personal Finance
How does COVID-19 affect your 2020 personal income tax filing?
The 2020 tax year will be very different for many Canadians who have to file their personal income taxes. That’s because many of the federal government’s emergency benefits in response to COVID-19 are taxable.
Mar 1, 2021
Personal Finance
The three common types of investments Canadians should know about
For many Canadians, terms such as GICs, mutual funds, and ETFs, can be daunting. What do they even mean, and how can you invest in them?
Feb 8, 2021
Personal Finance
RRSP and TFSA: 4 things every Canadian should know about
With the new year comes the start of a new tax season. As you begin to think about your financial goals and your personal income tax filing for the 2020 tax year, it’s important to be aware of how RRSPs and TFSAs can benefit you.
Feb 3, 2021
Personal Finance
5 tips to help you prepare your income taxes effectively
The 2020 tax season is in full swing and you have until April 30, 2021 to file your income tax return to avoid any penalties.
Jan 28, 2021
Personal Finance
What you need to know about home office tax deductions
We explain how to deduct your home office expenses, including how to claim up to $400 using the new Temporary Flat Rate Method.
Jan 20, 2021
Personal Finance
How do capital gains and losses affect your income tax?
If you wish to sell capital property and apply the gains or losses to your 2021 tax return, your captial property transcations must be complete by December 31. We explain how this works.
Dec 15, 2020
Personal Finance
Planning successfully for retirement: CPA Financial Literacy volunteers share top tips
How much of a challenge would it be for you to save $756,000? How long do you think it would take you?
Nov 23, 2020
Personal Finance
Demystifying debt: CPA FinLit volunteer helps young people understand how to leverage debt to their advantage
Canadians recently reached a dubious high point – collectively, we have amassed $100 billion in credit card debt.
Nov 18, 2020
Personal Finance
Small steps have a big impact: Volunteer helps high school students improve financial literacy
As much as parents plan financially for their children’s future and offer tips on how to manage money, the time will come when young people will need to take ownership of their finances.
Nov 5, 2020
Personal Finance
Helping kids get financially smart for life: Volunteer stokes passion for real-world skills
“I wish I’d known how to start saving for retirement when I was young… I would’ve liked to have known how to draw up and keep to a budget... I would have benefited from an explanation of how to use credit cards properly…”
Nov 2, 2020
Personal Finance
What stays the same this school year? The importance of investing in RESPs
The new school year is well underway, and it’s a year drastically different from previous years. While the way children are being educated will continue to vary depending on COVID-19 measures, the importance of investing in registered education savings plans (RESP) remains constant.
Sep 30, 2020
Personal Finance
An overview of credits and benefits for persons with disabilities
For persons with disabilities, a variety of credits and benefits are available from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), as well as for the people who support or care for them.
Sep 23, 2020
Personal Finance
Planning during COVID-19
There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges when it comes to an individual or a business owner’s financial plan. Many people have relied on various government relief programs. It’s more important now than ever before to revisit your plan so that you can make short and long-term adjustments where necessary.
Aug 10, 2020
Personal Finance
Plan ahead to pay tax on the CERB
To date, approximately 1,100,000 people in BC have applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), while over 8,245,000 people have applied for it nationally. Originally intended to last sixteen weeks, the CERB has been extended as COVID-19 continues to take a severe toll on employment and all parts of the economy.
Jul 23, 2020
Personal Finance
Family trusts: Recent changes and continued benefits
The last three years have seen significant changes in tax legislation. Private family businesses have felt the bulk of these changes, and many are still trying to digest the impact within their businesses.
Jun 3, 2020
Personal Finance
Tips to manage through a volatile market
There’s no doubt this is a worrisome time for investors and that it’s more important than ever to remain calm so that you can make clear and informed decisions about your portfolio.
Apr 5, 2020
Personal Finance
Time is running out to put money in your RRSP for 2019
Are you satisfied with how much you’ve contributed to your registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) in 2019? If you still want to contribute more, you can – but not for long.
Feb 14, 2020
Personal Finance
Could you benefit from a readvanceable mortgage? Here’s what you should know
Canadian homeowners often have two critical financial goals: pay off the mortgage and save for retirement. It is conventional practice in Canada to approach these two goals sequentially as most Canadians have a fixed amount of income each month and there is a contractual obligation to make monthly mortgage payments.
Feb 3, 2020
Personal Finance
RESP 101: What’s the difference between the 3 types of RESPs?
If you’re looking for a holiday gift that will benefit one of your loved ones far beyond the holiday season, a registered education savings plan (RESP) contribution may be the answer. But as the year draws to a close, time is running out to make an RESP contribution for this calendar year.
Dec 20, 2019
Personal Finance
Capital gains 101: How to calculate transactions in foreign currency
When you sell capital property, you must report the transaction in your personal income tax return – and there are benefits to doing so. Capital gains are taxed at half the standard rate, and capital losses can be used to offset capital gains.
Dec 19, 2019
Personal Finance
Savings strategies for baby boomers
Baby boomers are the generation that “had it all,” with unprecedented opportunities for upward mobility.
Nov 12, 2019
Personal Finance
What would I tell my younger self? CPAs share their personal finance tips
Being a young professional is an exciting time in life. When someone graduates from their post-secondary studies, they begin a new chapter that may include embarking on a career, relocating to a new city, and enjoying new relationships.
Nov 7, 2019
Personal Finance
6 apps that’ll help keep track of your personal finances
Whether you’re managing debt, saving to buy a home or planning for retirement, figuring out your finances can make your head spin. Luckily, these apps (available for iOS and Android) can help you get a handle on things.
Oct 7, 2019
Personal Finance
Saving strategies for millennials: The earlier the better
As an investment advisor, when I meet with my millennial and boomer clients I am often reminded of how much they can learn from each other: millennials, with their dynamic optimism to enjoy life in the now, and boomers, who can model the lessons and benefits of saving over time. But millennials (aged 22 to 37) do face some unique generational challenges.
Mar 31, 2019
Personal Finance
From candy to Bugattis - How to help kids embrace money matters
When is the right time to begin teaching kids about money? As an investment advisor, and as a father of two, I believe the earlier the better as it can help set young people up for financial success.
Nov 19, 2018
Personal Finance
Plan in advance: Leave a lasting legacy
Most of us would like to leave a lasting legacy; however, we may not know what steps to take to fulfil that goal. An advisor can help you assess the options and determine which ones are suitable to your situation.
Sep 12, 2018
Personal Finance
Assess and address - How to transition your business before retiring
As business owners near retirement, they may have questions about transitioning the business. For example, who is going to take over the company?
Jul 30, 2018
Personal Finance
Finding YOUR retirement investing strategy
The most pressing question that potential retirees ask me is: Will I have enough money to fund my retirement lifestyle? That’s why, it’s not surprising that in a recent survey, baby boomers expressed that they are more afraid of running out of money than they are of dying.
May 7, 2018
Personal Finance
Six things to remember when filing small business tax returns
If you’re a small business owner, there are a few key dates to keep in mind when it comes to taxes. If you’re a non-incorporated small business owner, April 30 is the deadline for you to pay any income tax that your business owes and June 15 is the deadline to submit your T1 return.
Apr 30, 2018
Personal Finance
Cryptocurrencies: Are they taxable?
With the price of bitcoin spiking in 2017, cryptocurrencies are gaining traction and moving into the spotlight of currency trading. If you jumped on the bandwagon and sold cryptocurrency (such as bitcoin or ether) in 2017, or made a purchase using cryptocurrency, you’ll need to report those capital gains on your tax return.
Mar 19, 2018
Personal Finance
Retiring? Evaluate these five investment risks first
Will I have enough money to retire comfortably? More and more, people nearing retirement have to confront this question.
Feb 21, 2018
Personal Finance
Maximize your TFSA savings
Believe it or not, the tax-free savings account (TFSA) has been around in Canada for nine years now. If you haven’t given much thought to it in the past or you’re just thinking about investing into a TFSA account, here are some things you’ll want to know.
Feb 14, 2018