Insights
Featured
As Canada's Baby Boomer generation approaches retirement, a critical issue emerges: how to ensure the smooth ownership transition in privately-held enterprises. Traditional succession paths—whether through family inheritance, management buyouts, or third-party sales—are increasingly untenable in today's evolving business environment. Enter Employee Ownership Trusts (“EOTs”), a sophisticated structure gaining traction in Europe, is now beginning to carve out a foothold in Canada.
Individual Pension Plans (IPP) have been described as corporate RRSPs or 'Super-Charged' RRSPs. They are essentially defined benefit plans for private corporations and incorporated professionals. IPPs are not very popular, but recent tax changes are giving these retirement savings vehicles more attention. Mehul interviews Navaz Cassam, President of the Alberta-based actuarial firm, GBL Inc. on all things IPPs
Women globally earn just 84 cents for every dollar a man makes, a disparity that severely impacts financial well-being, particularly in retirement. In Canada, ranked 52nd for wage equality, women in British Columbia face an even wider 17% pay gap. These inequalities accumulate over time, resulting in women retiring with approximately 80% of what men do, all while living longer.
In this episode of our Podcast, Westmount Wealth’s Mehul Gandhi is joined by Keaton Bessey, Managing Broker at Greater Vancouver Tenant & Property Management. They discuss the reality of investing in Canadian real estate today.
Westmount Wealth's Portfolio Manager Lorenzo Pederzani interviews KKR’s Derek Craig, a Director at KKR and discusses the growing appeal of infrastructure as an investment.
The only constant in life is change. The percentage of a capital gain that is included as income in the year the gain is realized is currently 50%. As of June 25, 2024, that inclusion rate will increase to 66.67%. Mehul interviews tax lawyer and partner, Rebecca Cynader from Scion Law about the changes to the capital gains inclusions rate, who it affects, what Canadian individuals, companies, and trusts need to be aware of.
Large donations have increased over the years in Canada. Mehul interviews Ian Currie, Regional Development Manager for of Western Canada for Canada Gives, a registered charity that centralizes the process of giving through donor advised funds (DAF). Mehul and Ian discuss the details and benefits of DAFs and how they can simplify the donation process for wealthy Canadian donors.
What is a Testamentary Spousal Trust?
A testamentary spousal trust is a legal arrangement established through a will to benefit the settlor’s surviving spouse. It provides an alternative to the outright distribution of estate assets, offering certain tax benefits and flexibility for managing complex family dynamics.
Investing is as much an art as it is a science, and the quest for sustained alpha—the ability to consistently outperform the market—remains one of the most elusive goals for active fund managers. The S&P Canada Persistence Scorecard for the year-end 2023 highlights some crucial insights into the performance persistence of active equity funds. Let's delve into the findings and understand what they mean for investors.
Lorenzo Pederzani and Matthew Evans, co-portfolio managers at Westmount Wealth, discuss how equity markets responded positively to the unexpected prospect of fewer rate cuts, with significant returns in Canadian and U.S. markets. Inflation is slowly returning to target levels, though housing inflation remains a concern, especially in Canada, where household debt is notably higher than in the U.S. This financial landscape has led to a revised expectation of fewer and delayed rate cuts.
In this episode of the Mind Your Money Podcast, Mehul Gandhi sits down with Joey Basque, to delve into the essentials of financial planning for retirement. Their discussion focuses on establishing a solid foundation for retirement income planning and highlights vital components that both pre-retirees and retirees must contemplate. Tune in to gain valuable insights and strategies to ensure your financial stability in retirement. Enjoy the episode!
The proposed changes to the capital gains inclusion rates in the 2024 Canadian Federal Budget may have tax implications for incorporated physicians when they sell corporately owned assets.
Let’s explore how the proposed changes may affect Canadian physicians who invest within their holding companies, examining the current inclusion rates, the proposed alterations, and the potential impact.
While life insurance may not be the most glamorous aspect of financial planning, its use in estate planning is pivotal in ensuring the financial security and legacy of individuals, families and businesses.
Music is an integral part of our lives. It can lift our spirits and provide an escape from the daily grind. The growth in music consumption has made music publishing catalogues an attractive investment.
Have you ever wondered how to invest in music?
Is there a certain level of wealth that confidently removes financial concerns in retirement?
Not quite.
More wealth often means more complexity, more taxes, more maintenance, more advisors, more fees, and overall, more hassle.
Westmount Wealth's Portfolio Manager Lorenzo Pederzani interviews ICM’s David Vannka. David is the Portfolio Manager at the ICM Crescendo Music Royalty Fund.
Just like a skilled rider managing the unpredictable movements of a bucking horse, successful investors needed a combination of skill, patience, and focus during the ups and downs of 2023. The events served as a reminder of the difficulty in accurately predicting economic or market events. Learn more in our 2023 Year-End Commentary.
The first home savings account is a type of registered account that was designed to help individuals save for their first home purchase. If you are a resident of Canada with a valid SIN, are the age of majority in your province, and are considered a first-time home buyer, you may be eligible to open a FHSA.
Tennis and wealth management share striking similarities in their stamina, patience, and strategic thinking requirements. In tennis, players need physical stamina to endure long matches, mental patience to wait for the right moment to strike, and tactical acumen to outmaneuver their opponents.
The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) has gone through some changes in the last two years. Mehul interviews tax accountant, Yvonne Chu of Journey Tax Solutions to find out how the changes to AMT affect Canadians.
In this episode, we cover what AMT is, why it was originally introduced, and how it has changed from a calculation that rarely applied to one that must be seriously considered by tax payers.