Retirement & Estate Planning
I can show you a offer a variety of savings vehicles to help you plan and prepare for retirement. Together, we can evaluate whether you are saving enough to meet your retirement goals.

As your Investment Funds Advisor, I have access to a variety of integrated wealth-management solutions to help you achieve the financial peace of mind you deserve.

RRSPs provide a way to easily save money for your retirement and benefit from tax savings. You can deduct the amount of money you put into your RRSP from your annual income at tax time, within specified limits. Your RRSP investment grows on a tax sheltered basis. You can use the money in your RRSP account to buy investments - and, the money earned on your investments is not taxed until you take it out of the plan.

You can also spend the money in your RRSP before you retire, but you will have to pay the tax owed on the amount of your withdrawals, unless you borrow the money to: (1) Buy a first home: You can use up to $20,000 from your RRSP for a down payment on your first home; or (2) Pay for education: You can use some of the money in your RRSP to help you or your spouse go back to school. There are rules about how much you can take out each year. If you borrow money from your RRSP for a home or education, you will have to pay it back, but you will have a number of years to do so.

RESPs provide a way to save for your children's education. Money you deposit to your RESP grows on a tax sheltered basis. When funds are withdrawn for educational fees, they are taxed as the income of the child. The federal government also provides a tax incentive by matching a percentage of your deposits up to specified limit for each child per year.

Mutual Funds
A mutual fund allows you to invest in a group of stocks or other investments chosen by a professional investor. Funds can offer a broader range of investments than you could buy on your own. When you put money in a mutual fund along with many other people, it creates a large pool of money that can be invested. The company that runs the mutual fund puts a professional in charge of investing the money. This person is the fund manager. The fund manager decides how to invest the money and decides when to buy and sell investments for the mutual fund.

Mutual funds vary a lot in terms of earnings potential and the amount of risk (read Disclaimer). Seven common types of funds are: Money market funds, Fixed income funds, Balanced funds, Stock or equity funds, Index funds, Specialty funds, Mortgage funds, and Real estate funds.


Segregated Funds
Segregated funds are similar to mutual funds, but are provided only by life insurance companies. You have many of the same choices, including: Money Market Funds, Bond funds, Equity funds, and Balanced funds. Segregated funds can be good for some long-term investors who want to invest in equity mutual funds but don’t like the risk of other types of funds. Unlike a mutual fund, a segregated fund has a maturity date, such as 10 years. If you hold the fund to the specified maturity date, you are guaranteed to receive a specified amount of your money back. Segregated funds also pay a guaranteed amount to your beneficiary if you die, even if the value of the investments in your segregated fund is less than the guaranteed amount.

Life Insurance
I have access to Canada's top insurance companies, offering you the best solutions for your insurance needs. Security, savings, tax-sheltering, protection for loved ones: life insurance isn't just about a death benefit anymore. Learn what life insurance can do for you, your family, and your financial future.

Universal life insurance is the most flexible life insurance available today. You can customize your plan when you buy it, or easily make changes later. Universal life offers you the opportunity for tax-advantaged investing. This gives you the chance to increase your wealth by investing within your policy.

Permanent life insurance provides lifetime protection for a fixed cost. Depending on the plan you buy, permanent life insurance spreads the cost of your coverage over the lifetime of the policy or over a specified period of time.

Term insurance is a lower-cost option and still gives you assurance that your beneficiaries will be protected.

Long Term Care Insurance
Long term care costs can be high, and can threaten your financial security. Long term care insurance can protect you if you require extended nursing home care, or home care. Long term care insurance may also provide tax-free benefits, depending on your plan.

Critical Illness Insurance
Did you know that 30% of Canadians will develop some form of life-threatening cancer? If you have never considered critical illness insurance, you may want to review these flexible plans. Critical illness insurance provides a lump-sum benefit in the event you are diagnosed with a serious illness, or in some cases require surgery.

Disability Insurance
Disability insurance plans are designed to help meet your income requirements and pay bills, should you become disabled and unable to work.

Mortgage Insurance
Ask us about our practical and affordable alternative to your bank's mortgage insurance plans.

Group Benefits
We can show you some employer-sponsored packages that can include dental and medical benefits and/or group RRSP investment plans. Contact me for a competitive quote on a new or existing group plan.