Make your discovery process more effective with open-ended questioning

March 26, 2025

4 min read

Earn client confidence: an eight-point checklist

(February 2007) “If you have confidence in your lure, you will catch fish,” says one of the millionaires interviewed by Thomas J. Stanley in his book The Millionaire Mind. There’s wisdom for advisors in those words. When it comes right down to it, confidence is the key to success in this business. Everything you do […]

February 5, 2007

4 min read

It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it

(January 2007) How much of each day do you spend in front of people? If you’re like most advisors, I’ll bet it’s upwards of 50%. Whether you’re in a meeting with clients, top prospects, centres of influence, or simply chatting with your assistant, your success will depend on what you say. Or does it? While […]

January 5, 2007

5 min read

Rebecca Cicco

Tax & Estate

An expedient alternative to the post-mortem pipeline

A strategy for business-owner clients to mitigate double taxation at death

May 9, 2019

6 min read

Proceed with caution when aging seniors request account changes

What advisors should know

November 12, 2018

3 min read

Holding private company shares at death could cost your client

An expert explains the tax consequences—and how to avoid them

May 28, 2018

6 min read

Margaret O’Sullivan

Tax & Estate

New trust reporting and disclosure rules are coming

The idea of a “private” trust will slip from the vernacular in 2021, as the government gains new information

March 27, 2020

3 min read

How the global privacy debate is playing out in Canada

Legislation affects disclosures on trusts, real estate and corporations

September 16, 2019

3 min read

Multiple taxation on death: the taxpayer’s nightmare

Steps to limit tax in other jurisdictions

February 25, 2019

3 min read

Nathalie Boutet

Tax & Estate

Divorce negotiation strategies to protect your clients’ wealth

Advisors can help separating clients by maintaining emotional distance

December 4, 2018

3 min read

Why couples need a financial plan for a trial separation

Tips for managing expenses, mortgages and shared accounts

August 3, 2018

4 min read

Helping clients when addiction leads to divorce

Tips for working with experts when family issues interfere with finances

May 3, 2018

5 min read

Keith Masterman

Tax & Estate

A cautionary tale about executors and clearance certificates

Court decision serves as a warning about property distribution, executor renunciation

December 9, 2022

4 min read

Help clients claim tax credits for charitable donations

A sample scenario illustrates the savings

September 14, 2022

3 min read

All about eligible medical expenses

Help your client claim these non-refundable tax credits

March 23, 2022

4 min read

David Truong

Tax & Estate

How to make good use of Monte Carlo projections

Projections are essential for planning but they rely on the quality of the variables used

August 4, 2021

3 min read

How DTC eligibility loss affects RDSPs

This example highlights tax and planning considerations

January 30, 2018

3 min read

Registered plans and lifetime benefit trusts

What to consider regarding the use of LBTs

January 9, 2018

3 min read

Al and Mark Rosen

Investments

Do corporate spinoffs reward shareholders?

Creating value by shrinking

May 9, 2022

3 min read

When stock frauds go beyond gaming the numbers

Claims of novel technology are at the centre of many collapses

March 14, 2022

3 min read

Finding the tipping point of stock collapses

When does accounting become important?

February 4, 2022

4 min read

Tony Maiorino

How to tackle 3 wealth-transfer challenges

Approximately $400 billion of wealth and assets will be passed down

March 10, 2017

4 min read

Vacation property succession planning: Part 2

If your client’s vacation property forms part of her estate on death, it may be subject to probate fees as part of her will.

November 30, 2016

4 min read

Vacation property succession planning: Part 1

Without proper planning, vacation homes can quickly go from enjoyable escape to a source of financial and emotional stress.

November 23, 2016

3 min read

Michelle Connolly

Tax & Estate

Problems with Finance’s passive investing proposals

Finance says Canadians who hold passive investments in private corporations get an unfair tax advantage. That view is problematic

September 29, 2017

10 min read

Urgent: Talk to business clients ahead of income sprinkling measures

Consequences of Finance's proposed tax measures

August 29, 2017

12 min read

How proposed tax changes target income sprinkling

Case study shows how your client might pay more tax

August 8, 2017

7 min read

Florence Marino

Insurance

Capital Dividend Account changes proceeding

On October 21, 2016, final draft legislation was released and now forms the final measures contained in Bill C-29.

November 15, 2016

6 min read

Tax Court ruling a cautionary tale for small biz owners

What happens when a shareholder does not pay enough for the benefit he received.

October 14, 2016

6 min read

Collateral damage: The impact of new life insurance transfer rules

The federal budget proposed measures that impact certain transfers of life insurance policies

June 15, 2016

6 min read

John Natale

Insurance

Primer on professional corporations, Part 2

In this article, we’ll look at two key disadvantages of incorporating and address a series of other considerations that come into play when deciding whether or not to incorporate.

November 23, 2015

4 min read

Primer on professional corporations, Part 1

In this first part of a two-part series, we’ll let’s look at the advantages of incorporating.

November 16, 2015

4 min read

10 ways to protect business owners from creditors

Whether they’re established entrepreneurs or just starting out, it’s important that your business-owner clients regularly review their creditor protection strategies.

October 15, 2015

3 min read