What We Do

It’s said that only two things are certain in life: Death…and Taxes! And while there’s not much you can do to avoid the former, with prudent planning and foresight, there’s a lot you can do to minimize the later. However, similar to planning that goes into living a happy and fruitful life, a well-planned tax strategy can yield great benefits – but only if it’s done professionally, and earlier on during your wealth accumulation cycle.  

Our Tax Planning philosophy is not centred around tax avoidance, but rather on helping you structure your finances so you and your family aren’t overburdened by an undue tax liability.  

We help our clients through long-term Tax Planning strategies – and that’s exactly how we’ll help you. 

Tax planning does not commence on the date of filing your tax returns. Prudent tax planning often starts long before – sometimes even before you make investment decisions that trigger a tax liability. We can help devise tax planning strategies that minimize taxes, maximize tax refunds and guide you to optimize your tax-friendly investment returns.

Here's how we do it:

• Our Tax Planning advice will include considerations on whether you should invest with pre-tax dollars, or post-tax income. How you invest, and in what types of vehicles, can make a significant difference to the taxes you pay. We can help you navigate through the various advantages and disadvantages of choosing one strategy over another
• When planning for tax impact on your income, we’ll also plan for the types of income that you might receive: Dividends, Interest, Annuity payments, Capital Gains, Inheritances, Employer or Government benefits. While all of these are potential income streams in retirement and before, each has different tax planning implications  
• We will help you foresee impacts to your future net wealth. If left unplanned, your net wealth could be diminished due to likely claw-backs to benefits, and the possibility of erosion to your estate through substantial taxes
• We’ll help you mitigate possible tax impacts when it comes to your estate. A good tax plan will ensure that future generations do not bear the burden of taxes as a result of the legacy you leave them. But to ensure a tax-advantage inheritance to your beneficiaries, you need to put appropriate plans in place NOW – and that’s where we can help

While we do not prepare tax returns, we do prefer to work closely with CPA’s and tax preparers to ensure the best possible outcome for our clients. If you are not currently working with a qualified tax preparer, we are happy to introduce you to one!

How your money grows, what you pay for that growth, and the ease and comfort with which you “journey” towards reaping the rewards of your investments, are all important aspects of a good investment plan. In the absence of such a plan, your financial future could be in jeopardy!

Our Investment Planning service is based on these simple facts: Market timing doesn’t work! Creating and preserving wealth needs diversification! Focus on the long-term, and don’t let short-term diversions distract you! Investing is about more than just making money – it’s also about helping you achieve your financial goals!

We work diligently with our clients to educate them on the distinct differences between RISK and VOLATILITY. We believe an understanding of this fundamental difference is key to a fulfilling and successful investing experience.

Here’s a preview of what our Investment Planning looks like:

• Understanding Financial Goals and Needs
• Analysis of a Point-In-Time Snapshot
• Developing An Investment Strategy
• Implementing, Monitoring, and Tweaking

In our experience, this is the single most common area that needs some amount of work for new clients to our firm. Often, clients are under the impression they have all their estate planning covered, when in fact there is at least “some” work to be done. We have found that many clients rely too heavily on estate documents that are out-dated, or sometimes they have consciously chosen to delay having the conversation entirely, because it makes them uncomfortable.

We work hard to make the conversation as pleasant and informative as possible. Because, increasingly, clients are realizing the need to ensure their estate delivers benefits beyond their own retirement, and produces a lasting legacy even after they have passed.

If you wish to leave behind a lasting legacy, whether it’s for family and loved ones or a charitable institution, then you need to put a well-thought-out Estate Plan in place, so your legacy is established in accordance with your wishes.

And if you wish to ensure that you are in control of what happens to your estate, and if you want to guarantee that your estate is handled in accordance with your directives, then having an Estate Plan is paramount.

Like tax planning, we do not personally draft the estate planning documents. Instead, we work closely with trusted, qualified estate planning attorneys to craft the right documents for your situation, in accordance with the overall plan.

Here are just a few of the areas we explore in estate planning:

• Helping you understand the important of a will or trust
• Creating Powers of Attorney
• Choosing Executors or Trustees
• Designating Beneficiaries
• Considerations for dependents’ needs
• Protecting Your Estate
• Health and Welfare Considerations
• Final Distributions of Your Assets and Legacy

Even though you may think you’ve covered all the bases, life sometimes has a funny way of throwing you a curveball when you least expect it. Luckily, while you can strive your best to plan wisely and thoroughly, you can also hedge your bets against the unintended through prudent Insurance Planning.

Why Insurance Planning is Important

Good planning helps you identify and plan for all the risks involved in every aspect of your financial life. Thoughtful Insurance Planning helps mitigate the risks you can’t foresee or those that you are unable to plan around!

Good planning should include:

• Life insurance coverage review: WHAT IS THE NEED?
• Health insurance analysis: Group, COBRA, Marketplace or alternatives, Medicare, & more
• Income Protection: disability
• Long Term Care considerations
• Property & Casualty: While we are not in the business of home or auto coverage, we like to review it as part of our clients’ analyses