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Capital Gains Tax and your Business

The 2024 Federal Budget has introduced an increase in the capital gains inclusion rate from 50% to 66.67%.  This change can have a significant impact on the taxation of your corporate investment gains and the disposition of shares in your business.

 
Understanding the tax implications for your business will help you plan accordingly.  There are planning opportunities that can help mitigate some of the tax payable.

My team specializes in the use of corporate-owned life insurance as a strategic financial tool for business owners.  We will work with you and your advisors to review how the tax changes may impact your business and help you explore suitable options, such as incorporating life insurance into your financial plan.

Some of the benefits of corporate-owned life insurance include: 

• Providing liquidity at death
• Opportunity to create cash value that grows on a tax-deferred basis
• Death benefit proceeds are received by the corporation tax-free
• Insurance proceeds paid into a corporation, create a credit to the corporation's Capital Dividend Account (CDA)
• Insurance proceeds can be paid to your estate tax-free using capital dividends

Please reach out to me if you are interested in learning more.

Life Insurance can give you peace of mind

What is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is a contract, with an insurer, that promises a set amount of money will be given to your beneficiary and/or estate upon your death. Your benefit amount depends upon many factors including the policy you choose, your age, gender and health, and the amount of premium you pay. Your Advisor will discuss these details with you to make sure that you get the policy that is right for you, whether with fixed coverage and specific terms, or with greater flexibility. If your financial situation changes, you can adjust your policy accordingly with the help of your Advisor.

Why Do You Need It?

Life insurance can give you the peace of mind to know that, if something should happen to you, your loved ones won't be left with a legacy of debt, final taxes, or other financial worries. Over time, events in your life might cause you to re-evaluate your financial goals and consider the protection life insurance can provide. Perhaps you're getting married, buying a home, having children, or planning for your retirement. With an appropriate plan, life insurance can help you meet your goals in life and protect your family when you no longer can.

Certain business situations call for life insurance. If you're an entrepreneur or just starting a business, you'll need to protect your enterprise and your partners. A uniquely tailored insurance solution can also provide the money necessary to enable your fellow shareholders or partners to buy you out when you're ready to retire.

Do you have questions?

Critical Illness Insurance

Critical Illness insurance is a relatively new form of protection that provides money while you are still alive. It has tremendous flexibility if you become critically ill because there are no requirements for how you spend the money that you receive. You don't have to get approval for expenditures, you don't have to provide any receipts, you don't even have to spend the money on medical expenses.

Critical Illness insurance provides you with a lump-sum payment to be used however you see fit. You can try alternative therapies, be treated outside of the country, hire someone to take care of you, hire a nanny to take care of your children, you choose how to spend your money.

Critical Illness insurance covers specific illnesses and provides a way of protecting yourself against the high cost of rebuilding your lifestyle following a critical illness. You are eligible for your cash payment usually just 30 days after diagnosis and with no requirement on how you spend the money.

Most policies cover the following illnesses:

• Heart Attack
• Loss of Limbs
• Major Organ Transplant
• Stroke
• Blindness
• Coma
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Deafness
• Severe Burns
• Parkinson's Disease
• Cancer
• Paralysis
• Loss of Speech
• Kidney Failure
• Heart Bypass Surgery
• Motor Neuron Disease (ALS)
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Occupational HIV
    

You can also customize your Critical Illness Insurance policy. We can help you determine which options are best for you.

What's the chance I'll ever need Critical Illness Insurance?

Did you know that you have a greater chance of getting a critical illness, than dying before you're 75? That probably seems scary. The good news is that most people who are diagnosed with a critical illness before age 75 recover and get on with life. In fact, statistics* show that:

• More than 90% of people who have their first heart attack recover
• 75% of people who have a stroke survive the initial incident
• While women have a 1 in 9.5 chance of developing breast cancer, they only have a 1 in 26 chance of dying from it and men have a 1 in 9 chance of developing prostate cancer, and only a 1 in 27.5 chance of dying from it.
    

If you are diagnosed with a critical illness, you, just like all of us, want to focus on your recovery. Treating an illness often includes unexpected costs, from medicine the government does not cover to taking a break from your treatment. All these extras cost money, money that a Critical Illness Insurance policy can provide.

Do you have questions?

Financial Services

A financial advisor can help you understand and choose from among a variety of products that put you on a sound financial footing now and offer you and your family financial security for the future, even after you are gone.

You might consider life insurance, which allows you to create an instant estate plan. You might be interested in a plan that covers your mortgage, takes care of your family, or gives you other coverage should you suffer a critical illness or disability. You might be looking for the best possible plan for your retirement.

Consider the advice of a financial advisor to help you identify your financial goals and give you the tools to plan and ensure you have a secure future. 

Do you have questions?

Health and Dental Benefits

What is Health Insurance?

Simply put, health insurance is protection against medical costs. A health insurance policy is a contract between an insurer and an individual or group, in which the insurer agrees to provide specified health insurance at an agreed-upon price (the premium). Depending on your policy, your premium may be payable either in a lump sum or in installments. Health insurance usually provides either direct payment or reimbursement for expenses associated with illnesses and injuries. The cost and range of protection provided by your health insurance will depend on your insurance provider and the policy you purchase. If your employer does not offer a health insurance plan, you may wish to purchase health insurance on your own.

Why do you need it?

Let's face it, health insurance is a necessity in today's world. The costs of medical care and treatment have soared to new heights in recent years and are expected to rise even further in the years to come. Think for a moment about the enormous medical costs you would incur if you suffered a major injury tomorrow or were suddenly stricken with a life-threatening illness. Uninsured people live with such risk every day of their lives; health insurance can shield you from that risk. Even if you're healthy today and have never had any major problems in the past, you simply can't predict the future. In addition to medical emergencies, routine conditions requiring visits to a physician or dentist happen all the time (e.g., pregnancy, viruses that seem to hang on forever, moles that don't look quite right, preventative dental care and surgery). This is especially true if you have children. Ear infections, rashes, and high fevers are commonplace with infants and children. While numerous trips to the doctor are covered by Provincial Insurance the resulting medications or treatments can be expensive without health insurance.

Do you have questions?

Segregated Funds & Financial Services

Segregated Funds & Financial Services

A financial advisor can help you understand and choose from among a variety of products that put you on a sound financial footing now and offer you and your family financial security for the future, even after you are gone.

What is a Segregated Fund?

Segregated funds are large sums of money invested in stocks, bonds, or other securities. They offer guarantees and some of the additional benefits of a life insurance contract. A segregated fund policy includes both a maturity guarantee and a death benefit guarantee. These guarantees range from 75% to 100% of your principal investment. Segregated funds can include reset options. This allows you to increase your guarantee values to a percentage of the market value, thus locking in your guarantees.

What is a Segregated Fund?

• Long-term savers looking to mitigate risk 
• Business owners and self-employed professionals 
• Retirees
• People planning for their estate
• Those looking for guaranteed income
   

Consider the advice of a financial advisor to help you identify your financial goals and give you the tools to plan and ensure you have a secure future.

Do you have questions?

Long-Term Care 

What is a Long-Term Care?

Long-term care insurance (LTCI) is a specialized insurance product designed to help individuals manage the costs associated with long-term care services, such as nursing home care, assisted living facilities, and in-home care. Policyholders can receive benefits that cover a portion of these expenses when they need assistance with activities of daily living due to illness, injury, or aging. 

Why do you need it?

LTCI provides financial security and peace of mind, ensuring that individuals can access the care they need without depleting their savings or burdening their loved ones. As your advisor, I can help you understand your options and tailor a long-term care insurance policy to meet your specific needs and budget.

Do you have questions?

Disability Insurance

What is a Disability insurance?

Disability insurance is a crucial component of financial planning, providing protection in the event that you are unable to work due to illness or injury. This type of insurance offers income replacement, typically paying out a percentage of your regular income if you become disabled and are unable to work. 

Why do you need it?

Disability insurance ensures that you can continue to meet your financial obligations, such as mortgage payments, bills, and other living expenses, even if you are unable to earn an income. As your advisor, I can help you understand the importance of disability insurance and tailor a policy to fit your occupation, income level, and specific needs, providing you with valuable financial security and peace of mind.

Do you have questions?

<grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" class="dnXmp" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;"></grammarly-extension> Diversifying your portfolio to manage risk is a key strategy for weathering market fluctuations. The rationale behind this approach is simple: not all investments react in the same way at the same time.

Use the chart below to see how being diversified can help reduce risk. Pick an asset class from the boxes below and follow it across as it reacts to market and economic conditions. The asset class may be a top performer one year and the worst the next now compare it to a hypothetical diversified portfolio*, which invest in a number of asset classes, and you will see the returns are less volatile and more consistent overtime .

<grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" class="dnXmp" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;"></grammarly-extension><grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" class="dnXmp" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;"></grammarly-extension> The stock market has constant ups and downs, but typically returns to its previous high with time, even after bear markets.

<grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" class="dnXmp" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;"></grammarly-extension><grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" class="dnXmp" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;"></grammarly-extension> Trying to time the market can be tempting, but history shows that staying invested over the long term leads to better outcomes. This chart illustrates how missing just a few of the market’s best days can significantly reduce overall returns.

<grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" class="dnXmp" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;"></grammarly-extension><grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" class="dnXmp" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;"></grammarly-extension> Let's talk about your goals and how a diversified portfolio can help you plan for today and tomorrow.

<grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" class="dnXmp" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;"></grammarly-extension><grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" class="dnXmp" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none;"></grammarly-extension> Sources: SLGI. Staying Diversified: https://www.sunlifeglobalinvestments.com/en/insights/investor-education/understanding-market-volatility/diversification-can-help-smooth-out-returns-over-the-long-term/ Why is it important to stay invested during a recession?: https://www.sunlifeglobalinvestments.com/en/insights/investor-education/getting-started/why-is-it-important-to-stay-invested-during-a-recession/ Does it pay to stay invested when markets fall?: https://www.sunlifeglobalinvestments.com/en/insights/investor-education/understanding-market-volatility/does-it-pay-to-stay-invested-when-marketsfall/ How important is timing entry into the market when investing your money?: https://www.sunlifeglobalinvestments.com/en/insights/investor-education/getting-started/how-important-is-timing-entry-into-the-market-when-investing-your-money/

Do you have questions?