Tag Archives: Financial Independence

An advisor’s six top tips for personal finances

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AdrianBy Adrian Mastracci, KCM Wealth

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Investors know that not all parts of personal finances are created equal. Some areas definitely have more impact on the money strategies.

Questions always arise as to which ones to best consider closely. I’ve identified a half dozen key money moves for practically everyone.

A smart step for individuals and families is to prioritize my six core financial matters. Place them at the front of the line and attend to them in detail.

Try not to start the discussions within the comforts of your home. Instead, plan a few walks with your spouse and, perhaps, Fido.

It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors and have a relaxed chat about the finances.
Make it a fun outing by indulging in that favourite treat.

My suggestions touch on the core of investing, estate planning and retirement.
Your mission is to ensure that each area delivers.

Explore whether a few tweaks would fortify your foundations.
You want each area to fit like a glove into your total game plan.

I summarize six core areas that benefit from your focus: Continue Reading…

Upgrading technology in the Victory Lap

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Depositphotos_107159416_s-2015One of the key elements of the post-corporate Victory Lap Retirement lifestyle is self-employment. If this begins in your late 50s or early 60s, you’ll be living on multiple streams of income. Some of it may be passive, such as pension income (I draw from two modest corporate pensions, for example) or non-registered investment income, but a big component is continued earned income.

If you are no longer a salaried employee, it’s probably best to set up a sole proprietorship or even incorporate. I’ve always run a corporation alongside salaried employment and have found that once you’re fulltime in business for yourself, It’s hard to generate as much pre-tax income as a salaried corporate job does. However, there are significant compensations in time and flexibility, plus the net after-tax proceeds of self-employment are relatively more attractive than being a fully-taxed-at-source salaried employee.

One reason is the allowable deductions or “write-offs” for legitimate business expenses, which may include certain computer equipment, software and some services. Obviously you should consult with a tax professional and engage an accountant because you don’t want to trigger an audit from the Canada Revenue Agency. After all, it’s clear the new Liberal government regards self-employment with suspicion: my guideline is to “assume an audit” and act accordingly.

Time to upgrade equipment

I am writing this article on brand new equipment that replaces products that were as old as six years. My fiscal year-end is the end of May and it’s been a decent year revenue-wise, so it seemed like a good time to book some legitimate expenses. Those whose calendar year-end correspond with their fiscal year (i.e. Dec. 31st) would go through this process at the end the calendar year.

241362-apple-macbook-air-13-inchIn my case, apart from the tax considerations of booking valid deductions, it really was time to upgrade the single most important business tool I use, which was an Apple MacBook Air.

After six years the machine had just about used up its storage and processing capacity and I had begun to lose significant chunks of time rebooting and closing applications. Continue Reading…

How buying a Home makes you Financially Independent

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Home insurance concept and family security symbol as a bird nest shaped as a house with a group of fragile eggs inside as a metaphor for protection of residence or parenting.

By Jam Michael McDonald,  Zoocasa

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Buying a home takes a lot of planning and can be an expensive endeavour. You have to think about your down payment, your mortgage and mortgage payments, your expectations on your space, your timeframe, your closing costs—the list is endless.

So if you’re spending a bunch of money, how can buying a home make you more financially independent?

First, change your perspective

Some investments are a lot clearer: put your money into this GIC and you’ll receive this return in this many days. It’s easy to see, easy to calculate, and easy to do.

Investing in real estate is an entirely different game, so you have to think of it differently. You’ll have initial costs, you’ll be forking out money, and you’ll feel kind of broke. And that’s okay. These “expenses” when buying a home should be looked at as part of the overall investment. There are some that are pure cost—home inspection, lawyer fees, other closing costs—but they all allow the transaction to occur, and they’re not extravagant compared to the cost of the home.

Think of a real estate investment as long-term, not short-term; complex, not simple; hands-on, not passive.

You can make real decisions about your home to save you money

As a renter, have you ever received your hydro bill and become really agitated? It’s a common experience: you can’t control your heat (or you only can to a certain extent), so why should you pay for something you can’t control?

As a homeowner, you can make changes that could save you money, with some even boosting the value of your home. You can put in energy-efficient appliances, or replace the windows, saving you on your heating bill while improving the look and value of your house.

The flexibility to cut costs that you possess as a homeowner is far greater than as a renter.

With the right home, you can rent to tenants

Continue Reading…

Withdrawing from your Retirement Nest Egg

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MarieEngen
Marie Engen, Boomer & Echo

By Marie Engen, Boomer & Echo

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

You’ve been saving all your working life and now that you have entered your retirement phase, it’s time to start drawing from your savings. In some circumstances there will be people who will be able to live off their dividends and interest alone. Most retirees, however, will have to start spending the money they have saved.

Once you have decided on the amount of income you need annually for your retirement lifestyle and determined how much of it will come from your guaranteed pensions, the remainder must be withdrawn from your nest egg.

You may have multiple accounts and both registered and unregistered savings. Your investments could be stocks and bonds, ETFs and/or mutual funds. You might be in a position where you must withdraw a minimum amount from your RRIFs.

This example will show you how you can manage your retirement withdrawals, taking the total of all your accounts as a whole. It assumes dividends and interest will be reinvested, but you can use them as part of your yearly cash allotment if you so choose. You just have to adjust as necessary.

A model for retirement withdrawals

Meet newly retired Rodney and Pamela O’Brien. They have a retirement nest egg totalling $500,000. Continue Reading…

Mother’s Day and your future role as Mom’s money manager

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Depositphotos_6869353_s-2015By Josh Miszk, Invisor.ca

Special to the Financial Independence Hub

Most of us will care for our aging moms at some point in our lives, but helping our parents maintain their independence as they grow older can be a juggling act, particularly when it comes to their finances.

Before we are thrown into the overwhelming responsibility of managing Mom’s investments, it’s important to do some advance planning. For many, starting the conversation with Mom is the biggest hurdle, and what better time than on Mother’s Day?

Whether it’s day-to-day or long-term investments, here are a few things to consider when helping Mom with her finances:

Get a holistic view

Start by getting a complete picture of Mom’s current and expected cash flow needs. Look at her sources of income (like pension and CPP) and her living expenses to get a better idea of any cash shortfall her investments will need to cover.

Next, get a holistic view of her investment portfolio, including what investments she holds and where. Continue Reading…