Peace of mind through financial confidence

AFS Insights:

How to Help Your Kids Achieve Financial Independence

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” – Chinese proverb The same principle applies with your kids and money. By teaching your kids how to manage their money, you’re preparing them to be self-sufficient when it comes to… Read more »

Improving Fairness in the Tax System by Closing Loopholes and Addressing Tax Planning Strategies

On July 18, 2017, the federal Liberal government released a consultation paper on proposed tax measures designed to close tax advantages used by certain high-income Canadians. This consultation paper follows their commitment in the March 2017 federal budget “to crack down on tax avoidance and evasion.” Specifically, the proposed measures are targeted at high-income Canadians… Read more »

Health and Wellness in the Workplace

According to the 2017 SANOFI Canada healthcare survey, only 51% of employers offer wellness programs and just 31% plan to invest more in health and wellness. However, employees in work environments that encourage health and wellness are more satisfied, more positive about their benefits and even more willing to help control costs. Wellness programs include… Read more »

Charitable Giving Series: Part 3

Michael and Linda, 61 and 57, are empty nesters approaching retirement. Michael is a successful entrepreneur who will be finalizing the sale of his business later this year for cash. Linda is a VP at a company she has worked at for 20 years, since its startup days, and she owns shares in the company… Read more »

Charitable Giving Series: Part 2

To continue our three-part series on charitable giving, this week we’re going to explore ways you can include your family in your philanthropy. Sharing and passing on the family value of generosity can be done when it’s intentional, part of the plan, and involves everyone. To begin, take the time to discuss what matters to… Read more »

Charitable Giving Series: Part 1

At Arbutus Financial, we are proud to have such generous and charitable clients. We are committed to helping you and your family determine the most effective ways to give. Taking the time to make a charitable giving plan is a proactive approach that can pay off for both you and the charities you support. Some… Read more »

Giving from the Heart, Using Your Head

Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be sharing a three-part series on charitable giving. We want to help you give to the charities that are closest to your heart and that matter most to you and your family. Being intentional and thoughtful about your philanthropic vision can amplify the effects your giving has… Read more »

Planning for Incapacity

Incapacity.  For many people, it’s not something they want to discuss, never mind prepare for.  Some people trust in their families or the government to look after them while others are simply confident it will never happen to them.  In the end though, there is only one person responsible for making your wishes known: You…. Read more »

No Tax Status Change for Employee Health and Dental Plans

The Federal Government was looking at the taxation of health and dental plans as part of their Spring 2017 budget.  In a review, it was estimated health and dental plans as a source of tax reform could raise as much as $2.9 billion.   With the proposed changes, employers or employees would pay tax on their… Read more »

The Clawback Conundrum

Most people’s retirement income includes government benefits that can be clawed back or forfeited altogether if their reported income is too high. There are several ways you can reduce your reported income to maximize benefits in retirement. To learn more about this important planning area, check out this article: The Clawback Conundrum If you’d like to… Read more »