Blog

August 8, 2024

Little-known Facts about the Canada Pension Plan

For Canadians at or nearing retirement, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) remains a bit of a mystery. Many people realize they’ve been contributing to it for a good portion of their lives but may not be sure when or how much they’ll receive at retirement. Our partners at Manulife Investment Management, put together a really great piece helping you better understand your options.

April 17, 2024

Federal Budget 2024 - and you thought there would be nothing?!

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled the 2024 Federal Budget on April 16, 2024. After years of speculation, this was finally the budget in which the capital gains inclusion rate was increased. The budget included some relief to higher capital gains taxes through an increased lifetime capital gains exemption (LCGE) and much more. See the full report from our friends at Manulife.

March 29, 2023

Tax Highlights from 2023 Federal Budget

The 2023 Federal Budget was tabled on March 28th. What did the Minister of Finance unveil, and how will it affect Canadians? Learn more about key measures and what they could mean for you with CI Global Asset Management’s Advisor Consulting, Tax, Retirement and Estate Planning (TREP) team’s 2023 Federal Budget commentary.

November 25, 2022

Starting Young is a Great Strategy

How much you save is important, but when you start can also have a big effect. The sooner you invest – even if it’s only a small amount – the more time your money has to reap the benefits of compounding.

September 28, 2022

Investing Strategy for Down Markets

Corrections and Bear markets of this magnitude happen on average every 6-7 years and its these moments that help provide longterm investors some incredible entry points for new capital. The thought of loosing money is a rather emotional issue for investors so it's important that when allocating new capital to markets to have a clear, defined strategy.

November 9, 2021

2021 Fidelity Retirement Report

Looking for some helpful tips about how to best plan for your retirement? Download the Fidelity 2021 Retirement Report and find out how Canadians like you are successfully navigating retirement and retirement planning to stay ahead.

October 12, 2021

How to make a debt reduction plan that works for you

Did You Know Canadians for every $1 of income, Canadians hold nearly $1.68 of debt? Here are some tips to keep in mind as you create your debt plan and inch closer to financial freedom

June 9, 2021

Jump Start Your Wealth

Download Your Free Copy of "Jump Start Your Wealth"

May 26, 2021

What U.S. Tax Proposals mean for Canadians

Are you a Canadian with U.S. Assets (i.e. real estate/stocks)?? Perhaps you have friends or family that do? U.S. President Joe Biden’s American Families Plan would increase estate, capital gains and income tax rates, as well as exposure to the gift tax. The proposals will adversely affect many Canadians with U.S. assets and U.S. citizens residing in Canada, so now’s the time to act!

May 5, 2021

Saving For Retirement? 3 Steps to Take to Get Started!

Preparing for retirement is tough regardless of your age, but it can be particularly challenging if you're in your 40s. Retirement is more expensive than you may think, and you'll likely need to stash away several hundred thousand dollars (or more) to retire comfortably. If you haven't begun saving yet, here's how to get started.

April 19, 2021

2021 Federal Budget

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled the 2021 Federal Budget on April 19, 2021 and it has been a long time coming with the hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget deficit is pegged at $354 billion. Based on what’s in the 2021 budget, we’re going to have to wait to see how we’re going to pay for all of this stimulus.

March 22, 2021

What is Estate Planning and Why is it Important?

Just what is estate planning, and why is it important? Insights from John Natale, Head of Tax, Retirement & Estate Planning Services, Manulife Investment Management.

March 16, 2021

Retire 30% Wealthier? How About Retiring Over 30% Wealthier! You Choose

I can't help but notice the aggressive and misleading tactics of companies like Questrade. In summary, its all smoke and mirrors. They advertise solely on the topic of "fees" and because of them, you are sacrificing your retirement nest egg. In reality though, you are sacrificing returns and receiving no advice for support.

March 1, 2021

Retirement Planning

Retirement 20/20 Report Available Now! For 15 years now, Fidelity has delivered a retirement survey, with a goal of helping you better understand the latest trends so that together we can successfully guide you in your retirement journey.

June 5, 2024

How Do Presidential Elections Impact the Market?

Election Day 2024 is now just 22 weeks away, so expect things to heat up on the political front as each week passes between now and November 5th. As an investor, are you wondering how the presidential election could affect your investments? Check out we answer the most commonly asked questions investors have during election years.

October 20, 2023

Attractive Savings Rates? Let's Take a Deeper Look.

Over the last year, some investors have been turning to cash investments. This is understandable considering that cash and equivalents are offering some of their best rates in over a decade. Yet while some amount of cash and equivalents can play an important role in any investor’s portfolio, don’t overlook the other investment opportunities that today’s higher rates could create.

August 23, 2023

Bonds vs GICs

As interest rates have risen sharply over the past 18+ months, we’ve seen a significant uptick in client interest for GICs and cash equivalents. Though GICs do have a place in investor portfolios (especially now given their attractive rates), there is also an opportunity cost to utilizing them long-term as a replacement for bond funds.

January 8, 2023

Don't Give Up on the 60/40 Portfolio

In 2022, the correlation between the two turned overwhelmingly positive. Many areas of the bond market faired worse than equities and naturally investors are questioning if the gold standard 60/40, 60% global equity - 40% fixed income, barbell approach to investing is dead. Read on.

December 2, 2022

The S&P 500 is Not the Economy

One of the biggest misconceptions investors have is the notion that investment markets are directly tied to the health of the economy. In other words, these two subject matters should perfectly correlate. Most of the time the stock market and the economy are moving in the same direction, but they also diverge on occasion.

December 1, 2022

How Many Years Does It Take for Investment Returns to Matter More Than Savings?

When it comes to building net worth as it pertains to your investment portfolio, have you ever wondered at what point investment returns matter more than your contributions? 

November 3, 2022

U.S Central Banks Raise Rates by 75 bps

On November 2nd, the U.S Central Bank announced another rate increase, lifting the overnight policy interest rate by 75basis points (bps) to 4%. The rate hike was consistent with market expectations. The Fed’s statement offered a limited view on the pace of the hikes going forward and acknowledged the lagged effect of monetary policy, which suggests that the Fed is perhaps becoming more patient.

October 21, 2022

With markets down, is now the time for young people to invest?

A common question investors are constantly asking me surrounds "is it safe to invest right now?" While in the short term there is always uncertainty, history has shown 'time over time' that when markets are at these discounted levels an investor with the medium to longterm time horizon will benefit immensely from putting money to work. Check out this great article from one of our partners.

October 19, 2022

Investors Should Think Twice Before Selling

Jurrien Timmer, Director of Global Macro for Fidelity Investment Management, discusses where markets could potentially go from here based on valuation and the potential of less-hawkish Fed. Read on.

September 12, 2022

Understanding Bonds

You might not think you care about bonds. But if you’re an investor, you probably care about bonds even while you’re not caring about bonds. Especially now. 

August 31, 2021

Answers to Your 5 Biggest Investment Concerns

Even with markets at all-time highs, investors have plenty on their minds. The Capital Group investment team provides perspective on the most pressing questions of the year

April 23, 2021

The Emerging Markets opportunity (part 2) — These aren’t your parents’ emerging markets

While the emerging markets asset class has been mostly overlooked by Canadian investors, we believe exposure to this asset class in an investor’s portfolio is likely to enhance diversification benefits and improve long-term returns. 

April 13, 2021

One Year Since COVID Crash: How Far We've Come

It’s been one full year since the stock market crash on March 23rd, 2020, and a few months more since the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, was first identified. Little did we know how much the world, our daily habits, and our portfolios, would be changed. Here, through our partner at Y-Charts, we reflect on the past year through data and visuals that illustrate the extent of COVID-19’s impact on the market and our lives.

April 13, 2021

Forgetting the lessons of 2020 – 1st quarter, 2021

George Droulias, investment analyst at Edgepoint, put together a great article discussing the stock market and how it displayed some unusual behaviours in 2020. Read on to see how the Edgepoint approach has benefitted longterm unit holders.

April 8, 2021

The World in 2030

The world in 2030 may seem a long way off, but helping clients invest we must always be looking into the distant future.

March 31, 2021

Roaring '20s - How Pent Up Demand Could Fuel Recovery

Could pent-up demand for travel and leisure drive a Roaring ‘20s today? There is lots of aspects at this point to be excited about in investment markets and as this year progresses, the theory of the "Grand Re-Opening" will become clearer and most likely extend through 2022.

March 8, 2021

The Emerging Markets Opportunity (part 1) — Demographics

Asian Emerging Markets are a rapidly growing area of the world that I believe will only continue to grow in terms of economic importance. While often overlooked by Canadian investors, exposure to the EM asset class in an investor’s portfolio is likely to enhance diversification benefits and shouldn’t be viewed as a “niche” investment.

March 4, 2021

Investment Planning

Unfortunately financial and investment markets don't trend up in a smooth linear path. If they did, my job would be much easier! Volatility is something we have to learn to become comfortable with as there is always benefit for those who remain focused on their long term investment goals.

February 19, 2021

Valuation? No, its not on thin ice.

Far more money has been lost by investors preparing for corrections, or trying to anticipate corrections, than has been lost in corrections themselves.– Peter Lynch There has been much discussion these days about valuations within equity markets, specifically as it pertains to the trailing price/earnings (P/E) ratio of the S&P 500. At the time of writing, the trailing P/E sits at 32 times, well above its longer-term average of closer to 18. However, does that mean an immediate reversal is warranted?

June 8, 2021

Does Getting Vaccinated Effect Your Life & Health Insurance???

In light of misinformation circulating through various social media channels claiming that individuals who receive the vaccine will not be able to get life insurance or may be denied their disability or life insurance benefits the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA) has stressed: “Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will have no effect on the ability to obtain coverage or benefits from life insurance or supplementary health insurance.”‍

February 25, 2020

Insurance Planning

Working from home might mean your spare room, your basement, maybe even your dining room has become your office space. You’ve adapted to your individual situation. The same goes for insurance – it’s not a one‑size fits all approach and often requires a custom fit based on your clients’ needs… especially permanent insurance.