Why You Don’t Want a Tax Refund

Canadians often see a tax refund (the balance owed or owing after the process of submitting your tax return) as a small victory at the end of the year—a “bonus” cheque from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) that feels like a reward for another successful filing of taxable income. In reality, a large refund is […]
A Guide to Charitable Giving in Canada

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank Canada’s charitable landscape is shifting. Fewer philanthropic Canadians claim charitable donations on their tax returns each year, yet total giving and the average donation have reached record highs—signalling a quiet concentration of generosity among a smaller group of committed households. For families with the […]
Understand What You’ll Need to Retire Comfortably

How Far Will $500,000 Last in Retirement? A step-by-step guide to create your retirement plan was created by Family Wealth Advisor Christopher Jardine, CFP®, to help pre-retirees in Canada answer the age-old question, “How much will I need for retirement?” At first glance, $500,000 seems like a reasonable nest egg—half a million dollars is a […]
Understanding Income Splitting in Canada: Tax Saving Strategies
Absolute Return vs. Relative Return: Key Differences

“The wise man is he who knows the relative value of things.“ – William J. Bernstein
Third Chapter: An Update on Settling My Mom’s Estate

Today’s article is a guest submission from Janine Guenther CFA, CMT, a Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Family Advisor with over 30 years of industry experience. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Bellwether Investment Management.
Investor Guide: What is tax-efficient investing?

“This is a question too difficult for a mathematician. It takes a philosopher.” – Albert A. Einstein
10 Things to Know About Dividend Tax Efficiency

“A stock dividend is something tangible—it’s not an earnings projection; it’s something solid, in hand. A stock dividend is a true return on the investment. Everything else is hope and speculation.” —Richard Russell — Richard Russell
Employee Ownership Trusts: Tax Benefits, Owners, & Succession Planning

“You don’t build a business. You bild people, and people build the business.” – Zig Ziglar
Canadian Tax Filing Checklist

Few of us test our powers of deduction, except when filling out an income tax form.