Why Invest in the Stock Market?
With the current stock market gyrations, people may wonder why they should invest in the stock market at all since stocks are not guaranteed and their values can go up and down. To help frame it better, it may be useful to replace the words “stock market” with the word “companies.” If you own a […]
Can we give money to our children to help with a home purchase?
In meeting with clients a common question we hear is, “Can we give money to our children to help with a home purchase?” With real estate prices today, the only way many young adults can afford to purchase a home is with help from the bank of Mom and Dad. People often ask if there […]
Preserving Wealth The Next Generation
The Definitive Guide to Protecting, Investing, and Transferring Wealth. This book is based on my experiences working with many families developing and implementing plans to build, preserve and transfer wealth. I hope you enjoy the first chapter! CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION—MEET THE CAST It was the usual opening day for our father’s summer cottage, the May […]
When do you need the money?
In a meeting with a potential client, they asked, “How should I invest the money I just received?” The key issues to review are: What is the money for? When do they need it? Situation: They had just received $400,000 income from a company they were associated with. Due to the structure of the business, […]
Trusts for Retirees – Probate Planning
When estate planning, most retirees wish to review strategies to avoid probate fees, which in Ontario are 1.5% of the value of the asset that is distributed via a will. A potential client asked, “Can trusts be used to avoid probate costs when we transfer assets to the next generation?” The answer is yes. For retirees, […]
The Three Estate Buckets
Annually with clients, we review how their estate will be distributed to their beneficiaries. We determine if there are any changes in their desires, or opportunities to save taxes and/or fees. In a recent webinar by Michael Kitces, Mathew Jarvis, a US Financial Advisor, shared a concept he uses with clients called the Estate Buckets. I […]
What do I do if I don’t want to be an executor?
The question that arises occasionally from clients is: Can you turn down the role of an executor if you are named one? Why turn it down? You may not want to be the executor due to family conflict, or the job may be too much for you. So, can you turn the role down? The simple […]
Should I transfer the ownership of my house or investment account into joint ownership with my children to avoid probate fees?
Excerpts from the Book – Preserving Wealth – written by Jack Lumsden, MBA, CFP® A common question we receive is, “Should I transfer the ownership of my house or investment account into joint ownership with my children to avoid probate fees?” This type of ownership is called joint tenancy with survivorship. This means both parties […]