It is not uncommon for an individual or organization, such as a charity or community tennis club, to consult a financial advisor regarding investment returns that can be generated on some spare cash that is not needed in the immediate future.

As a result, the issue of investment "time horizon" is brought to the forefront as a key variable in making investment recommendations. This leads to a series of questions from the advisor such: (1) as the purpose of the funds, (2) the target rate of return desired, (3) when will the monies be needed and (4) under what circumstances would the investment be cashed out in an emergency.

Consider a typical scenario in which a client has sold a home and is...

Most people have a false sense of security by believing that they will not be victims of a critical illness like cancer, heart attack or stroke; and if they are, that the healthcare system will look after them. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The reality is, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, that 1 in 4 Canadians will contract some form of heart disease in their lifetime, and one third of stroke victims are under age 65. The Canadian Cancer Society says that approximately 6,500 cancer victims this year will be between the ages of 19 and 39. On top of that, waiting times to get treatment is one of the top concerns of Canadians today.

The financial consequences of surviving a critical illness can be greater than dying. Almost 50% of home foreclosures are due to illness or injury. Some 43% of RRSP withdrawals are due to the same cause, which amounts to...

Ralph and Mary have accumulated a nice estate, a good portion of it in cash. They want to leave it all to their children when they die, but they also want to do something for them today. Being part of the Savings Generation, they are reluctant to give large sums to their kids today, as they are part of the Spending Generation. Ralph and Mary also want to treat their children as fairly as possible.

When someone dies, their estate falls into three basic categories:

Part 1 – Proceeds that can be passed on by way of a named beneficiary designation.

Part 2 – Proceeds that can be passed on by way of joint ownership.

Part 3 – Proceeds that can be passed on by way of a will or a Provincial Intestacy Act.