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30
Dec
2011

Make 2012 your best year ever

By David Christianson, BA, CFP, R.F.P., TEP

Happy New Year!
I hope you hear that phrase many times over the next few days.  It is a sincere hope that good health and good fortune will visit you this year.
However, it is also a reminder to go out and make it a great year, by choice. Dream big, set specific, measurable goals, develop a [...]

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Categories: Financial Planning, Investing

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23
Dec
2011

The Gratitude Principal Revisited

By David Christianson, BA, CFP, R.F.P., TEP

With yesterday being the shortest day of the year, why have all the days this week seemed so long?  It’s a busy time of the year.  Ironically, a person would hope to be slowing down and taking time to reflect as the year draws to a close.  That seems to get harder each year, don’t [...]

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Categories: Personal Reflection

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16
Dec
2011

Too many people are retiring in debt

By David Christianson, BA, CFP, R.F.P., TEP

Once again, I am worrying about the financial future of Canadians.
I’m not referring to the European debt crises, the weakening world economies, the prospects for slow growth and the volatile stock markets. These are all very real sources of concern, but I’m thinking more of things that we can control.
Recently, study after study has shown [...]

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Categories: Financial Planning, Retirement

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9
Dec
2011

Year end tax tips for 2011

By David Christianson, BA, CFP, R.F.P., TEP

Let’s reduce your taxes for 2011
As another tumultuous year draws to a close, let’s try to save you some tax money for 2011.
December 31 is the deadline for deductible business expenses, which mostly relates to commission salespeople and to business owners.  Corporate tax rates are going down in 2012, so it makes sense to accelerate [...]

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Categories: Donations, RRSPs & TFSAs, Tax - planning

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2
Dec
2011

Good news for Americans living in Canada

By David Christianson, BA, CFP, R.F.P., TEP

Good news for Americans living in Canada
It appears that the IRS may have blinked, in the face of pressure from the Canadian government and the estimated 2 million American citizens living in Canada.
According to a Globe and Mail article published December 2, 2011, the American ambassador to Canada has said that the IRS will announce [...]

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Categories: US Citizens

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2
Dec
2011

Government acts on Financial Literacy Task Force recommendation

By David Christianson, BA, CFP, R.F.P., TEP

Two weeks after Conservative MP James Rajotte, chairman of the House of Commons Finance Committee, introduced a private member’s motion calling on the government to implement recommendations of its Financial Literacy Task Force, the government has done just that.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Jim Flaherty, introduced the Financial Literacy Leader Act, which [...]

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Categories: Financial Planning

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