How would your family fare without you?
THUNDER BAY, ON ---- May 11, 2010 --- When was the last time you took a few moments to think about how your family’s lifestyle would be affected by losing you? Not only does your family depend on you for love and emotional support, but the fact of the matter is, they also rely on your continued earnings to provide for their daily living needs.
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Sorting out the tax slips
A Calculated Look at Capital Gains Distributions from Mutual Fund Trusts
THUNDER BAY, ON ---- March 11, 2010 --- When winter winds finally give way to warmer breezes, you know that a new season is once again upon you – tax season. And with this new season, you may find the arrival of a tax slip for capital gains distributions from your mutual fund company.
Many people are uncertain about capital gains distributions and how they should be reported for tax purposes. Simply put, mutual funds buy and sell securities. Mutual fund investments may generate investment income in addition to gains if securities within the fund are sold for more than their purchase price.
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Lower Your Taxes Through Pension Income-Splitting
THUNDER BAY, ON --- February 18, 2010 ------ In 2007, the federal government announced one of the biggest changes to tax law since the introduction of the RRSP. If you or your partner receives qualified pension income, the federal government’s pension income-splitting provisions could mean extra money in your pocket when you file your income tax returns.
In a nutshell, pension income-splitting allows couples to potentially reduce their overall tax bill by shifting income from one partner (the higher income earner) to the other (the lower income earner) who is taxed at a lower rate. This is just an allocation for tax reporting purposes and the actual income does not have to be paid to the partner.
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What does it mean to be living common-law in Ontario?
THUNDER BAY, ON - October 19, 2009 - Are you living in a common-law relationship? Do you know what that means from a tax and legal perspective? Many people involved in these types of relationships do not understand what their rights may or may not be. The following is a brief synopsis of some of the more important personal planning issues you should consider. However, it is always important in these situations to confer with a lawyer in your jurisdiction to ensure that you receive advice that is relevant to your personal situation.
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Fast forward your retirement plan - They say you can’t make up for lost time...
THUNDER BAY, ON - September 14, 2009 - That’s not necessarily the case with contributions to your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). Canadians are allowed to carry forward unused RRSP contribution room, and to make contributions to personal RRSPs until the end of the year they reach age 71. So, if you
didn’t maximize your RRSP contributions in the past, you have the opportunity to fast forward your retirement plan by investing the full amount of your contribution limit, which includes all of your unused contribution room. Not only will you be saving for your retirement, but you may also receive a large tax deduction, all at the same time.
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Top 10 TFSA Tips
THUNDER BAY, ON - December 10, 2009 - With the introduction of the Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Canadians now have more options than ever before to help them save money and reduce taxes.
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