Blog | Crawford • Ashwood Financial

In my previous blog post I discussed the oldest form of pension plan—the Defined Benefit Plan (DBP). The vast majority of employers today have moved to a Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCP). The reason for this is that unlike a DBP, once they have made their contribution, the employer is no longer on the hook for a specific monthly retirement benefit for the employee. There is no liability to the employer to keep funding the pension plan over and above what they have agreed to contribute on your behalf. In a Defined Contribution Plan the employer agrees to contribute to…

As your advisor, it is important that I am aware of all the pieces of your financial life. If you are one of the fortunate people who have a pension or Group RRSP through your employer, we must examine just how much this plan will contribute to your retirement income—and whether you can rely on your work pension plan. First, let’s explore the Defined Benefit Plan. If you have one of the old pension plans that have been in existence for decades, it may well be a Defined Benefit Plan. These are often fully funded by the employer, and they…

Given the headlines of the past few days I thought I would share some comments below from a small collection of experienced money managers; and add a couple of my own. Fidelity Investments: Long-term bull markets never move in a straight line and it is normal to see short-term corrections along the way. Staying fully invested can give investors an opportunity to fully participate in the markets long-term upward trend. Waiting until the backdrop feels “safe” to make an investment in stocks, has historically not been a good method of achieving future returns. Many of the best periods to invest…

Not many people like to think about death, and certainly not our own disability or demise. As unappealing as it might be to start planning for this inevitability, it has to be done. The Legal Stuff First, get the legal stuff done. There are many documents you may need to consider, and the good news is that it is likely not as complicated or expensive as you might imagine. A Will Everybody needs a will; however studies show less than half of Canadians actually have a will. A will is there to explain what you want done with your assets…

I am sharing this article with you (written by one of our favourite investment managers) because it echoes some of my Basic Financial Principles. I have always coached my clients down the emotional road to financial success, and we can’t overstate the emotional part of that statement. Read on to see how successful investing is and is not accomplished. Written by EdgePoint Wealth Apr 14, 2015 Time and again, do-it-yourself investors pile into the wrong stuff. They want to build their wealth yet end up in investments that separate them from their hard-earned savings. Following are some classic bad moves…

Most people have a limited income with unlimited ways to spend that income. There are so many current and possible expenditures that pull at us; it is often hard to know which should be our priorities. Let’s take a look at what your options are and which could and possibly should be the most important. Current living expenses include necessities such as food, shelter, warmth, and transportation. It is really important that you live within your means. I can’t stress this enough. If you have more money going out than coming in, then you need to take a hard look…

Earlier this week, the 2015 Federal Budget announced that the Tax Free Savings Account annual contribution limit will be increased from $5,500 to $10,000 per year. The government has said that this change will be effective immediately (and be retroactive to January 1st). What This Means for You If you have not already made a 2015 deposit into your TFSA, you can do so now up to the new maximum of $10,000 (if you have not maximized previous years contributions you may actually have more room). If you have already made a contribution of $5,500 this year, you can add…

As taxpayers we are all well aware that our government and Canada Revenue Agency are always looking for ways to collect more tax dollars from us. This year, 2015, will be the last year that tax sheltering using Universal Life insurance will be possible. For years, wealthy clients have used these policies to combine their needs for life insurance to pay the inevitable estate taxes that will be due at death, and shelter additional investments from ongoing taxation at the same time. These structures are not just for the wealthy however – they may (or may not) be appropriate for…

Part of our commitment to your financial well-being, is to look at all the aspects of your financial life (and more), and develop a single, comprehensive and strategic plan. If it has been a while since we reviewed your complete purpose, intentions, values, and goals; it’s time to set up a meeting to get on track. Many of our clients have been surprised to learn of all of the different things we can do. Along with managing your investments, we can assist in ensuring you have adequate protection in the event of your death, or if you fall ill or…

I recently attended HollisWealth’s 9th annual Year Ahead Investment Conference in Toronto, featuring some of North America’s top investment minds. The focus of the conference was to hear first-hand from experts on the economic and investment outlook for 2015. A number of speakers presented throughout the day including Scotiabank’s Chief Economist, Warren Jestin, Scotiabank’s Commodity Market expert, Ms. Patricia Mohr, Dynamic’s Chief Investment Strategist, Myles Zyblock, three sector analysts from Scotia Capital as well as panel discussions with Portfolio Managers and ETF experts. The speakers discussed a range of topics and some of the common themes that emerged are highlighted…

What Kind Of Pension Plan Do I Have? – Part Two

What Kind Of Pension Plan Do I Have? – Part One

Market Shock

Estate Planning

How not to pick a mutual fund

Financial Priorities

Save More for Later

Estate Tax & Tax Sheltered Savings

Not Just Investments

2015