Life Phases

Young Professionals

For professionals embarking on the early stages of their career, some of the financial planning issues that may arise include:

  • Budgeting/Debt management
  • Saving for a first home (First Time Home Buyers Plan)
  • Investment education/establishing an investment program
  • Protecting an income stream with living benefits
  • In some cases, a decision on whether incorporating a business makes sense

Working Families

Parents raising children face many unique challenges, not the least of which is juggling many different roles and responsibilities. Financial planning issues of concern to this group might include:

  • Debt consolidation/debt allocation
  • Saving for childrens post-secondary education
  • Establishing an investment program
  • Ensuring sufficient insurance is in place to provide for their loved ones & locking up life insurance at the best available premiums
  • Basic estate planning: wills/powers of attorney

Pre-Retirees

While government and private pension plans still provide the cornerstone of most Canadians retirement, more and more retirees are going to have to ensure they have established adequate savings to bridge the gap. Some of the financial planning issues affecting this group are:

  • Eliminating debt
  • Strategies to minimize tax while working
  • Retirement income planning
  • More complex financial planning (estate freezes etc)
  • Protecting an income stream: long-term care insurance
  • In some cases, looking after one or even two other generations of their family (children and aging parents)

Retirees

Retiring today doesnt necessarily mean retiring from working as many retirees continue on in a new career or on a part-time basis. Others are more than happy to engage in other pursuits, be it gardening, golf, spending time with family, travel or just relaxing. In any case, retirees today have a strong desire to lead active and fulfilled lives. If proper planning has been done, youll be working in retirement only because you want to, not because you have to, and you will have sufficient resources to achieve your wants as well as cover your needs. Some of the financial planning issues affecting this group are:

  • Converting RRSPs and other assets into stable retirement income
  • Strategies to achieve the most favorable after-tax investment returns
  • Tax minimization in retirement (income splitting, deferring taxes)
  • Protecting an asset base
  • Strategies to maximize the transfer of wealth between generations

Business Owners

Small business is the backbone of the Canadian economy and as business owners ourselves we share many of the same challenges and opportunities you do. Business owners generally have more complex needs and a greater need for financial advice as they dont have the safety net of an employer or government pension. Whether its at the early stage of business development or towards the later stage of your career, there are many ways a financial planner or investment representative can provide valuable assistance. Financial planning issues of concern to this group might include:

  • Business structure/advantages of incorporation
  • Insurance solutions for business protection & business transition
  • Establishing an investment program in the most effective way, leveraging your business structure
  • Protecting an income stream with living benefits
  • Ensuring sufficient insurance is in place to provide for their loved ones & locking up life insurance at the best available premiums
  • Basic estate planning: wills/powers of attorney