A Conversation with John John*, a prospective client, was in my office and we were having a preliminary chat. “Last year I had to pay an extra $10,000 in taxes! Is there something you could do about that?” John asked. “I’m not sure. I see that you’ve brought in your tax returns. Mind if I take a look at them?” I replied. Within minutes of reviewing his returns, I … [Read more...] about Make more money; pay less tax
Arnold Machel, CFP®
Arnold Machel lives, works, and worships in the White Rock/South Surrey area. In 1995, he founded Visionvest Financial Planning & Services with the dual goals of “effecting positive financial change” and assisting clients to “Invest with Vision”. Since that time Visionvest has received numerous recognitions, including being voted in the top three in the Best Investment/Financial Advisor category by Peace Arch News readers for the past four years in a row.
Arnold has held the Certified Financial Planner® designation since 1998 and has served on many boards, currently sitting on the board of Abundance Canada (formerly the Mennonite Foundation of Canada), a national charity focused on helping Canadians give generously. He is currently a co-host with his son, Ben, on the popular monthly Retire In BC podcast.
Questions and comments can be directed to him at dr.rrsp@visionvest.ca. Please note that all comments are of a general nature and should not be relied upon as individual advice. While every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, facts and figures are not guaranteed.
Free money – I just had to share
I don’t know about you, but I like free money. I really like free money. Additionally, I get a kick out of discovering hidden gems. So, when I find a little-known secret that offers free money to people, I get really jazzed. If you have a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) or think you might be eligible for one, this article is for you. If you know … [Read more...] about Free money – I just had to share
Setting up a My Service Canada account
Last month I wrote about the CRA My Account. If you acted on that article, you now have an account set up and can look up all sorts of useful information, get status updates, and upload documents when the CRA asks for them. If you haven’t registered yet, this can serve as your reminder. Since we’re on the subject of government platforms, did you know they have another useful … [Read more...] about Setting up a My Service Canada account
CRA My Account
You know you waaaant it! It’s a good bet at this time of year that you have income taxes on your mind. Maybe you have yet to file your return and you’re stressing about that, or maybe you have already filed and are anxious for your refund. Either way, this a great time to set up your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) My Account, if you haven’t already. There are many reasons to … [Read more...] about CRA My Account
A matter of Trust
New trust reporting rules may catch some unawares Are you the holder or beneficiary of an informal ‘in trust for’ (ITF) account? Are you named on an account or property title with your parent or adult child purely for convenience and/or estate planning purposes? Do you own a home together with your spouse but only one of you is on title? Beware: newly adopted legislation … [Read more...] about A matter of Trust