Have You Been Appointed Estate Executor? Five Mistakes to Avoid

March 24, 2023 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in Estate Planning

Administering an estate can be a time consuming and complex task, often occurring during an emotionally difficult time. It isn’t uncommon for mistakes to be made, which can lead to increased tax liabilities, conflict with beneficiaries or, worse yet, litigation. Equally concerning, the executor may be held personally liable for any errors. If you have been appointed as executor, being aware of these potential pitfalls may help as you contemplate the role.

RRSP

RRSP Checkup: How Well Are You Managing Your RRSP?

February 22, 2023 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in RRSP

Reminder that the deadline to contribute to your RRSP for the 2022 tax year is March 1st, 2023!

Personal Finance

Beyond Estate Planning: The Importance of a Financial Inventory

January 9, 2023 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in Personal Finance

If an unexpected event were to happen, would you, or others, be able to find important documents to handle your finances?

General Economy

Helping Younger Generations Cope with Higher Rates

December 8, 2022 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in General Economy

For the younger generations, this may be the first time they are experiencing rising rates and high inflation. As such, here are a few thoughts on helping them prepare for this changed landscape.

Investment Types

Is the 60-40 Strategy Dead and Buried?

November 24, 2022 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in Investment Types

The 60-40 portfolio strategy is a touchstone for the industry, and shorthand for the tried and trusted method of protecting capital from wild market swings. There are endless variations on this theme, largely dependant on client risk tolerance and time horizon, but the navigational starting point of a “balanced” 60% stocks and 40% bonds mix has endured.

General Economy

How Does a Recession Impact My Portfolio?

November 7, 2022 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in General Economy

Over the summer, the U.S. reported its second successive quarter of declining GDP, which commonly defines a recession. Yet, the U.S. government pointed to economic data that suggested otherwise: strong jobs growth, robust corporate earnings and continued consumer spending. However, it prompted considerable debate about whether the U.S. had entered a recession, and if Canada would follow. Semantics aside, there is little doubt that we have entered a slowing economic period, largely due to continuing efforts by the central banks to aggressively raise rates to curb inflation.

General Economy

Inflation & Interest Rates: Has Inflation Peaked?

October 12, 2022 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in General Economy

We are in one of the most aggressive tightening cycles in more than 40 years. Are higher rates helping to curb inflation? At the time of writing, there have been positive disinflationary signals as commodities prices, notably energy, have moderated and certain pricing pressures appear to be easing.

Current Events

Federal Budget 2022 Recap: Few Significant Changes for Investors

September 21, 2022 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in Current Events

This past spring, the federal government delivered its budget with few significant changes for investors: no changes to the capital gains inclusion rate or federal income tax rates. Many initiatives address the hot housing market. Here are some highlights.

Investing

During Volatile Times: The Case for Goals-Based Investing

August 23, 2022 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in Investing

Goals-based investing differs from traditional investing programs that generally allocate assets and measure progress based on market benchmarks. Instead, it focuses on the investor by mapping savings and investments to unique goals, which may involve specific time horizons and risk profiles, while measuring progress towards achieving these goals.

General Economy

The Worry of Recession? Reasons to Keep Perspective

August 8, 2022 by Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM® in General Economy

With slowing global growth, persistently high inflation rates and as the central banks have taken a more aggressive position to combat inflation by raising interest rates faster than anticipated, the media has been preoccupied with evoking fear that a recession is imminent. While this is a legitimate worry, we suggest that maintaining perspective may be worthwhile.

Author Archives: Christopher Briggs, RRC®, CIM®

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