Posts by Staff
Flat-Fee Financial Planning vs. a 1% Investment Management Fee
Financial advice can be paid for in several ways. Two common approaches in Canada are a flat fee for financial planning and an investment management fee based on a percentage of your portfolio. At first glance, the comparison seems straightforward. A 1% annual fee on a $1 million portfolio is $10,000, while a financial plan…
Read MoreRetiring in Canada with American Ties
If you have worked in both Canada and the United States, retirement planning can involve many moving parts. You may eventually receive Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) benefits, Old Age Security (OAS), U.S. Social Security, employer pensions, and withdrawals from Canadian and U.S. retirement accounts. Many people are surprised to learn…
Read MoreYour Canadian Home Can Still Create a U.S. Tax Bill
For most Canadians, selling a principal residence is relatively straightforward from a tax perspective. If the property qualifies for Canada’s principal residence exemption, some or all of the capital gain may be tax-free. A U.S. citizen living in Canada has another tax system to consider. Selling a Canadian home can create U.S. tax even when…
Read MoreWhat to Do With Your U.S. Accounts Before You Move to Canada
If you are moving from the U.S. to Canada, your bank accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement plans, and other investments should be considered long before you move. Many Americans assume they should close U.S. accounts or consolidate everything in Canada. That is not always the best approach. Some planning opportunities are easier to take advantage of…
Read MoreHow Much Does a Financial Planner Cost in Canada?
The cost of working with a financial planner in Canada can range from a few hundred dollars for a specific question to several thousand dollars for a comprehensive financial plan. Some advisors charge an hourly or fixed fee, while others are compensated through investment management fees or commissions. There is no standard fee for financial…
Read MoreWhy Canadian ETFs Can Be a Problem for U.S. Citizens Living in Canada
Ask a Canadian investor what they should own in a low-cost investment portfolio and Canadian exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will often be part of the answer. And mutual funds are still one of the most common investment vehicles for savers. For most Canadians, there is nothing unusual about these products. However, a U.S. citizen living in…
Read MoreCanadian Tax-Free Does Not Always Mean U.S. Tax-Free
If you are a U.S. citizen living in Canada, one of the most useful things you can learn early is that account labels do not travel across the border. Canada generally taxes people based on where they live. The United States is unusual in that it generally taxes its citizens on worldwide income no matter…
Read MoreCan You Afford to Retire from the Farm?
For many Canadian farmers, retirement planning looks very different from what it does for most Canadians. A teacher may retire with a pension. An executive may retire with RRSPs, TFSAs, and non-registered investments. Their challenge is often figuring out how to draw income from those assets in a tax-efficient way. Farmers are often in a…
Read MoreU.S. Social Security for Canadians: What You Need to Know Before You Retire
If you are a Canadian who has worked in the United States, or you are a U.S. citizen living in Canada, one of the biggest retirement planning decisions you may face is when and how to claim U.S. Social Security benefits. For many cross-border retirees, U.S. Social Security is one of their largest guaranteed sources…
Read MoreCan I Afford to Retire? 10 Retirement Planning Questions Before Leaving Work
One of the most common questions people ask as they approach retirement is: “Can I afford to retire?” It sounds like a simple question. But in reality, it is often several questions wrapped into one. People want to make the right decisions with their pensions and investments. Most want to maintain the lifestyle they have…
Read MoreFP Canada 2026 Projection Assumption Guidelines: Inflation, Returns, and Longevity Explained
Image by dapor2560, Freepik FP Canada 2026 Projection Assumption Guidelines: Inflation, Returns, and Longevity Explained Many Canadians may not know the assumptions that go into their retirement plan. But if you have had a financial projection prepared by a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Québec Planificateur financier (Pl. Fin.), the results will be heavily influenced…
Read MoreProactive Accounting and Tax Planning for Owner-Managers: Strategies to Maximize Growth and Retirement Wealth
Image by gpointstudio, Freepik Proactive Accounting: The Key to Business and Personal Wealth For self-employed owner-managers, accounting is far more than a compliance requirement. It is a strategic advantage. Accurate, timely financial records provide a roadmap for both business growth and personal wealth creation. When combined with proactive tax planning and integrated financial strategies, accounting…
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