Matching intentions and results is the truest definition of success in estate planning, and one strategy to achieve this is what I call a "flow analysis." Where does my property go when I pass away? Where does it “flow”? I like the concept because for me it conjures the image of a creek...

In Part I of our two-part Outlook series, we concluded that inflation was likely to continue to decline, and that interest rate hikes were probably in the final innings. In Part II, we explore the impact on the economy and capital markets. Will we get a recession? While our base case continues to...

In Part I of our two-part Outlook series, we go through our current thinking about inflation and interest rates. Be sure to check out Part II to learn our outlook for the chances of an economic recession, as well as prospects for fixed income and equity markets. Let’s face it, 2022 was a...

Our private client portfolio managers have had thousands of conversations with clients over the years addressing the question, “When can I retire?” Then on the appointed day, when all that hard work and preparation finally comes to fruition, more than a few of those clients are confronted with a different, sometimes surprising question...

In the classic biblical tale, the relatively diminutive David faces off against Goliath, a giant among men. Against the odds, David triumphs, a victor y of dexterity and grit over lumbering brute strength. In US equity markets dominated by mega caps, there is a David lurking at the periphery. It’s worth a look...

It’s time again to consider tax planning opportunities for 2022. There are of course, the annual reminders but there are also some exciting new and “coming soon” tax changes that everyone should be aware of. Both are detailed below. The Annual Reminders RRSP contributionsThe deadline for RRSP contributions for 2022 is March 1...

In the mid-1990s, the federal government removed foreign content limits for Canadian pension plans and later made similar changes for individual RRSPs that altered the way Canadians invested. The result has been a continuing trend of investors reducing the Canadian equity weight in their portfolios, in favour of global equities.One reason that’s sometimes...

For the last decade, experts have been talking about the “Great Wealth Transfer” – that trillions of dollars will be changing hands, from Baby Boomers down to their children, and maybe directly to grandchildren. While the transfer has started, it has been more of a trickle than a flood so far as advances...

Private assets, also known as real assets or alternatives, have grown in popularity over the past 20 years, with assets under management ballooning from $2 trillion in 2010 to over $6 trillion globally today1 and Canadian pension plans expanding their weight in private assetsfrom 6% in 2000 to over 30%.Given all the activity...

It's an increasingly common story.A widow has several children, all of them adults. She makes a will that leaves her assets to all her children equally.The widow, however, decides to leave her registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) with just one of her children. Perhaps this one child has special financial needs or was...

In the mid-1990s, the federal government removed foreign content limits for Canadian pension plans and later made similar changes for individual RRSPs that altered the way Canadians invested. The result has been a continuing trend of investors reducing the Canadian equity weight in their portfolios, in favour of global equities.Qualitatively, the argument for...

Consensus thinking can often be wrong, but after prolonged periods of great disruption, it can be tempting to adopt: “Stocks are up a lot so they must be expensive. Inflation is a clear and present danger. Global is always best. You should dump all your bonds.”As active investors we rely on periods of...