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The time to rebalance and refocus for our short, mid and long-term goals is now. Every year we should take a critical look at our portfolios and see what area in our asset mix has grown, been stable or declined. For many of our clients the Canadian portion has been very good over the past few years. The concern is the build up has been on the back of a few sectors, namely, resources, financials, & materials. These few sectors now represent approximately 90% of the value in the TSX. Somehow our balanced portfolio is no longer balanced and the price to buy is now high in relative terms to other global markets. So, as with Spring cleaning, we need to dust, repair, and spruce up the portfolio house to ensure it is on a strong footing now and going forward. The focus needs to be on buying sectors, geography, and businesses that would make sense to buy today...not 3 years ago. Buying high and selling low doesn't work well for building or preserving wealth. We encourage you to review your annual and quarterly statements or go on line via our website. Contact Kerri Berke at 604.731-1100 to book a portfolio review with your advisor. The statements and statistics contained herein are based on material believed to be reliable but we cannot guarantee they are accurate or complete. This newsletter is solely the work of Arbutus Financial for the private information of our clients. Although we are registered Mutual Fund Representatives with Dundee Private Investors Inc. (“Dundee Private Investors”), this is not an official publication of Dundee Private Investors. The views (including any recommendations) expressed in this newsletter are those of the author alone, and they have not been approved by, and are not necessarily those of, Dundee Private Investors.
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| Long
Term Care – Should You be Concerned? Written by Bart Aldrich and Gardy Frost |
According to the acclaimed New England Journal of Medicine, those of age 65 + face a 43% risk of entering a nursing home – 21% for 5 years or more. Many couples will face a forced separation to deal with their differing care needs. Looking to the past again, families were larger and lived much closer than today. If you consider your situation, do your parents have children living nearby, available to provide care and assistance, perhaps for several hours each day? What about yourself? Where will your children or siblings be when you reach an age where you may need assistance? Newspapers have headlines daily that highlight the pressure our medical system is under. We are all familiar with the impact the “baby-boom” of the 50’s and early 60’s has had on everyday aspects of life, ranging from housing costs to the growth in the stock market. This same group of “babies” will continue to pressure our health care system. Did you know, for the first time of recorded population statistics, adults in B.C. have more parents than children? At a time when we want to be able to live our lives with dignity, enjoying the companionship of our spouse, family and friends in the community of our choice, relying on provincial health care initiatives may jeopardize those plans. Have you examined your retirement plans to determine what impact the potential cost of health care will have on those plans? For more information, and the options available to you, please click here. Insurance products provided through multiple insurance carriers. The statements and statistics contained herein are based on material believed to be reliable but we cannot guarantee they are accurate or complete. This newsletter is solely the work of Arbutus Financial for the private information of our clients. Although we are registered Mutual Fund Representatives with Dundee Private Investors Inc. (“Dundee Private Investors”), this is not an official publication of Dundee Private Investors. The views (including any recommendations) expressed in this newsletter are those of the author alone, and they have not been approved by, and are not necessarily those of, Dundee Private Investors.
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| Is
your business ready for the GST/HST Rate Reduction? Written by Canadian Federation of Independent Business |
| On July 1st, 2006, the goods and services tax (GST) rate will be lowered from 7% to 6%. This also means that the harmonized sales tax (HST) rate will be reduced from 15% to 14% in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador. A majority of CFIB members responding to recent polling have responded that the GST/HST rate reduction is a positive move by the federal government to help lessen the high level of taxes placed on small- and medium-sized businesses and consumers. If you are a business owner who collects and remits GST/HST, there are some steps that will need to be taken prior to the new lower rates taking effect on July 1st, 2006. For detailed information on the GST/HST rate reduction you should consult your accountant or the Canada Revenue Agency. For a checklist of various areas you may need to address, as well as highlights of the general transitional rules, please click on the following link. Given that the GST/HST tax affects businesses differently, this checklist should be used as a general guide for your business. http://www.cfib.ca/pdfs/DIN0613_0605.pdf The statements and statistics contained herein are based on material believed to be reliable but we cannot guarantee they are accurate or complete. This newsletter is solely the work of Arbutus Financial for the private information of our clients. Although we are registered Mutual Fund Representatives with Dundee Private Investors Inc. (“Dundee Private Investors”), this is not an official publication of Dundee Private Investors. The views (including any recommendations) expressed in this newsletter are those of the author alone, and they have not been approved by, and are not necessarily those of, Dundee Private Investors.
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