The U.S. Estate Tax May Affect You

The U.S. Estate Tax May Affect You

As a Canadian citizen, you may not think that the U.S. estate tax applies to you. However, Canadians who hold what is termed as “U.S. situs property” may be subject to this tax. This includes U.S. real estate, such as the condos that many snowbirds escape to during the winter season, and shares of U.S. companies, even if they are held in a Canadian brokerage account, including securities held in registered plans. Canada does not have an estate tax;...

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Common Estate Planning Errors

Common Estate Planning Errors

Every so often we are reminded of the importance of proper estate planning by the consequences of improper planning. Sometimes assets are left to beneficiaries that were not intended because documents were not properly updated. Othertimes, estates experience liquidity issues due to taxes that must be paid by the estate. Have you updated your estate plan lately? If you are in the process of reviewing or updating your estate plan, here are some common errors to avoid: Forgetting what...

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Defending Your Portfolio Against Black Swan Events

Defending Your Portfolio Against Black Swan Events

The 2011 tragedy of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami once again highlighted an occurrence where a seemingly unpredictable, disruptive event, often referred to as a Black Swan event, affects the global economy. The origin of the term “Black Swan” dates back to a time in history when swans were believed to be only white in colour. A black-coloured swan was seen as an impossibility. More recently, former Wall Street trader Nassim Nicholas Taleb redefined a Black Swan event to...

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