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Your Questions Answered
Year-End Planning & An Increased Inclusion Rate With the (proposed*) increase to the capital gains inclusion rate in 2024, there have been various questions from investors about tax planning. Here are two that relate to year-end planning. 1. What is the Capital...
Market Insights by James Thorne: Money For Nothing
The Illusion of Easy Wealth in Today’s Economy “That ain’t workin’ that’s the way you do it; Money for nothing and your chicks for free.” – Dire Straits Download this PDF here. There are moments in life that leave a lasting impression. For me, two significant memories...
Critical Illness Insurance – Executive Health Plan | Smokin’ Bulls Podcast
Join us in this Smokin' Bulls episode as Lori Hartery from Desjardins Financial Insurance discusses the Executive Health Plan—a powerful strategy designed to protect corporations while offering significant tax savings for business owners. Whether you’re a small or...
My/Our Difference During Uncertain Times
Access to Alternative Investments In the current environment of higher valuations, slower growth and increased volatility, there’s been renewed attention to alternative investments. Alternatives are often given focus during more challenging times since their...
Market Insights Video by James Thorne: Money For Nothing
What does Dire Straits’ 1985 Live Aid performance of “Money For Nothing” have to do with our current economy? James Thorne highlights how the lyrics reflect the turbulence of today in his November hashtag#MarketInsights, coming soon. hashtag#Investing Click here to...
Current Events: Four Perspectives on the U.S. Election & Investing
Politics and money are never far apart. Election years frequently bring about questions surrounding changes to public policies, potential regulatory shifts and the ensuing effects on the markets and economy. This year’s U.S. election has been no exception, with...
VOLATILITY: A COMMON FEATURE OF THE MARKETS
Even the Good Years Have Down Times While many aspects of investing in the equity markets may seem unpredictable, one constant remains: volatility. Just how common are market fluctuations? Even in years when the S&P/TSX Composite Index has performed well, we...
Half Full or Half Empty?
Half Full or Half Empty? How do you view the glass — half full or half empty? This question aptly captures the dual nature of sentiment today. On one hand, our standard of living is among the highest in history, fuelled by technological advances, improved quality of...
Market Insights by James Thorne: THE GREAT DELUSION
Are We Trapped in a Cycle of Change That Never Changes? A Forecast for 2025 and Beyond The Mirage of Recovery: How We're Fooling Ourselves As we emerge from the shadow of COVID-19, a narrative of robust economic recovery has taken hold. Yet, beneath this veneer of...
Navigating the Journey: Seven Investing Pitfalls
“It’s good to learn from your mistakes. It’s better to learn from other people’s mistakes.” — Warren Buffett While we can learn much about successful investing by studying the best investors, there may be valuable lessons learned by examining our mistakes. The CFA...
Perspectives on Retirement Saving & Spending
“Chances are you will be the happiest you have beensince you were a teenager.” According to an article in the popular press, this is what many of us can anticipate in retirement.1 If you’re retired, perhaps you concur. If retirement is still on the horizon, the...
SUMMER BRINGS HOME-BUYING SEASON
FHSA or HBP: Reasons to Prioritize the FHSA As a result of the federal budget increasing the withdrawal amount for the Home Buyer’s Plan (HBP), some clients have asked which plan is better for younger family members: the First-Home Savings Account (FHSA) or the HBP,...
Market Insights by James Thorne: Trump’s Trade War
America’s Imperial Twilight or Dawn of a New Golden Age? A Non-Consensus Call for Interest Rates to be “Lower for Longer" Download this PDF here. The Rise and Fall of the American Empire Tales of empires are as old as civilization itself. From ancient...
Cultivating Financial Habits From a Young Age
“The best way to teach your kids about taxes is by eating 30 percent of their ice cream.” — Bill Murray, Comedian While repeated in jest, this witty remark highlights an important truth: teaching children about financial responsibilities early on can have lasting...
A BRIEF LOOK AT INDICES
Does the Dow Matter? What’s in an Index The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA or Dow) is one of the most widely watched stock market indices and the second oldest in the world. Created in 1896 by Charles Dow, then-editor of the Wall Street Journal, it originally...
WHAT’S BEHIND OUR INCREASING EXPENDITURES?
Three Perspectives on Our Higher Cost of Living With higher inflation, the increasing cost of living has been top of mind for many Canadians. While there has been good news on the inflation front given continuing signs of easing, here are three perspectives on our...
Market Insights by James Thorne: Trump’s Fiscal Frenzy
Godfather of Modern Monetary Theory Warns of “Drunken Sailor” Spending “Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.” – William Shakespeare, Hamlet Download this PDF here. At this very...
Live Long & Prosper: Better Health, Better Wealth
Many of us remember the classic Star Trek mantra ‘live long and prosper,’ which may be worth reflection as we enter the leisurely summer months. The keys to a longer and more prosperous life are often rooted in fundamentals that include both health and wealth. Better...
Dow at One Million?
When the Dow Jones Industrial Average (Dow) crossed a new high of 40,000 in May, it achieved a milestone that appeared implausible given recent popular sentiment. Just two years earlier, central banks were still on the path of aggressively hiking rates to curb...
Increasing Capital Gains Inclusion Rate: Planning for the Cottage or Cabin
Welcome to the summer — and the return of cottage and cabin season! While many of us are eager for some rest and relaxation, cottage and cabin owners may face new concerns due to increases to the capital gains inclusion rate. Looking ahead to when the property is...
Market Insights by James Thorne: NAVIGATING THE DUAL REVOLUTIONS
AI’s Underestimated Truth and the Coming Fiscal Storm Mark Twain once delivered a sobering reminder of humanity’s tendency to disregard transformative ideas while allowing misconceptions to persist. As we stand on the precipice of two seismic shifts—the AI revolution...
INCREASES TO THE CAPITAL GAINS INCLUSION RATE
To Defer or Not to Defer: Realizing Capital Gains The proposed* increases to the capital gains inclusion rate have prompted some investors to ask the tax-planning question: To defer, or not to defer? Tax deferral is commonly viewed as a way for investors to create...
The Power of Economic Sentiment
“Have we all just become economic snowflakes?”1 This question emerged from a recent study analyzing the text of 200 million newspapers spanning almost two centuries. It concluded that both economic and non-economic sentiment have substantially declined over the past...
FACTORS IMPACTING THE CPP TIMING DECISION: More Perspectives on When To Start CPP Benefits
When it comes to the decision of when to start Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits, actuarial studies show that many are better off delaying benefits since the break-even age* commonly falls below our average life expectancy. Living beyond the break-even age means that...
Your Digital Footprint: Don’t Overlook Its Value
In estate planning, many of us tend to focus on assets with tangible value, such as investments and real estate. Yet, frequently disregarded are many digital assets due to their perceived lack of monetary value. However, a Wall Street Journal article reminds us that...
Market Insights by James Thorne: THE GRAND CHESSBOARD
Navigating Geopolitical Investments In the grand geopolitical game, it’s not always the most powerful states that hold sway, but often those positioned in critical locations. Their vulnerability can significantly impact the strategies of the world’s power players. –...
Unlocking High Net-Worth Financial Solutions with National Bank’s Private Banking 1859
https://youtu.be/sTnE3gmF2E4 Discover the exclusive world of National Bank's Private Banking 1859. In this episode of Small Convos, we dive into the services and benefits of private banking, tailored for high net-worth individuals. Learn from Senior Private Banker...
BE AWARE OF NEW REPORTING RULES: Are You Associated With a “Bare Trust” Arrangement?
Are you a legal owner of an asset where someone else is a beneficial owner and has a beneficial interest and oversight of the asset? I f so, you may be holding a “bare trust” and have a filing requirement where you previously did not. Here are some examples where a...
Thinking Beyond Retirement: A Higher Purpose
It has been said that “if you are what you do, when you don’t … you aren’t.” As you think ahead, have you contemplated a plan for what you will do in retirement? Many of us plan by working hard, saving consistently and investing for the future to ensure a financially...
Have U.S. Equities Become Overvalued?
With the rapid rise in the “Magnificent 7” stocks to start the year, there has been renewed discussion over whether U.S. stocks are becoming overvalued. What has been driving these returns? Stock prices are driven by a variety of factors. In a perfectly efficient...
GREENSPAN’S GAME OF THRONES: Navigating the Monsters and Bubbles of Today’s Transformative Economy
Now is the Time of Monsters We are at a pivotal moment in history, one that former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan might liken to a historical juncture, where the intertwined narratives obscure the uniqueness of our era. As we contend with a world that...
FEBRUARY MARKET INSIGHTS: Trump’s Shadow
Echoes of History and Financial Markets in a Post-Pandemic World As we enter a presidential election year in the U.S., financial markets are resonating with historical echoes. One can particularly recognize the rise of populism after the Civil War, which parallels...
Final Thoughts For 2023: Unveiling The Path To A 1.75% Federal Funds Rate
Balancing Churchill’s Caution, Truman’s Expectations, And Gandhi’s Wisdom In The Age Of Chaos “I always avoid prophesying beforehand, because it is much better policy to prophesy after the event has already taken place.” – Winston Churchill In the realm of economic...
2024 Forecast: The U.S.’s Tech-Driven Reinvention
“Never bet against America.”– Warren Buffett Ray Kurzweil, computer scientist and futurist, once said, “The past is over; the present is fleeting; we live in the future.” This sentiment echoes through our current moment as we stand on the threshold of an era defined...
November Market Insights: Riding The Bull In The Midst Of Chaos
Investing Strategies For A New Era Of Growth And Innovation “I never seen you looking so bad, my funky one.” – Steely Dan In the investment world, volatility and uncertainty often reign, evoking a sense of unease. Remembering the call for 3000 on the S&P 500 Index...
October Market Insights: Is There Something Rotten In The State Of Canada?
The Inconvenient Truth: An Alternative Narrative “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” – William Shakespeare, Hamlet Download this PDF here. In the grand theatre of Canadian economic governance, a clandestine struggle is waging, echoing the dramatic narratives...
September Market Insights: The Fed’s High-Wire Act
Discretion is the Better Part of Valour “We are navigating by the stars under cloudy skies.” – Chairman Jerome H. Powell, August 25, 2023 Download this PDF here. The adage, “Discretion is the better part of valour,” has never been more pertinent as the U.S. Federal...
August Market Insights: Unveiling The Crystal Ball
A Glimpse Into The Future Of Financial Markets From 2024 To 2030 Download this PDF here. In early 2021, I presented a thesis regarding the latest inflation episode and its potential economic implications. At that time, I shared a perspective that differed from the...
Wall Street Is About To Embrace Crypto, And It’s Not What You Think!
A New Era Is Upon UsDownload this PDF here.“Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” – Victor HugoThere is an old saying, “never let a good crisis go to waste.” And true to form, Wall Street is capitalizing on the current chaos within...
June Market Insights: Is AI The Next Goldrush?
Terminator vs. R2-D2Download this PDF here.Hollywood and Artificial Intelligence (AI): The Emotional Scars Are With Us TodayIn the movie Terminator, a dystopian society is under attack by artificially intelligent robots that are hell bent on the...
May Market Insights: The FTX Fiasco Has Nothing To Do With Blockchain Adoption.
Huckleberry Finn Is Not Tom Sawyer. Download this PDF here. “Corruption, embezzlement, fraud, these are all characteristics which exist everywhere.” — Alan Greenspan When one thinks of blockchain, one quickly thinks of Bitcoin, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies. Just as so...
Market Insight: April 2023 – Dr. James Thorne, Ph.D., Chief Market Strategist
This year’s federal budget proposed a new tool intended to help support new home buyers. Expected to begin in 2023, the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is a registered plan that combines the tax benefits of the RRSP and TFSA. The FHSA will allow Canadian...
Investing Resolutions
Resolve to Review Your Will If you are looking for a financial resolution to start the year, why not make estate planning a priority? Every so often we hear stories about the consequences of not having a valid will. To die without one, known as dying “intestate,” can...
Buffettology
To a Trillion & Beyond... Warren Buffett, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” is one of the most iconic investors of our time, and, arguably, the most successful investor alive today. At 94 years old, he ranks as the sixth richest person in the world on Forbes’ 2024...
Safeguard Your Finances Against Fraud
As we enter a new year, why not resolve to better protect your financial security? Financial fraud continues to be on the rise and scams have become increasingly sophisticated. Scammers continue to seek financial gain by stealing identities, accessing login details,...
PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Portfolio Rebalancing: Four Additional Benefits Rebalancing a portfolio involves adjusting the allocation of assets to bring it back in line with your original investment strategy, ensuring it remains consistent with your risk and return profile. Why is this...
Federal Government Defers Capital Gains Inclusion Rate Increase to 2026
Download this PDF here. The Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, announced that the federal government will postpone the implementation of the proposed increase to the capital gains inclusion rate—from one-half to two-thirds. Originally...
DEBUNKING THE MYTHS
Investing After Periods of Strong Market Returns “The strongest of all warriors are these two: Time and Patience.”— Leo Tolstoy Following the notable gains in both Canadian and U.S. equity markets in 2024, some investors may feel hesitant about the prospect of...
Back to the Future?
As an investor, wouldn’t it be great to travel back in time 30 years to alter the course of the future? Knowing what you know now, would you choose to do things differently?1 It may be surprising to recall how the world has changed in three decades. Back in 1995, the...
Biggest Economic Shift in 50 Years Dr. James Thorne’s Bold Predictions for 2025 | Smoking Bulls Podcast
🌎 The Biggest Economic Shift in 50 Years! 📈 In this compelling episode of Smoking Bulls, we dive deep into the unprecedented economic and political pivots reshaping the global landscape with Dr. Jim Thorne, Chief Market Strategist at Wellington Altus. From U.S. energy...
A New Year Check-In
Has Your (Or Your Family’s) Health Status Changed? As we enter a new year, if your or a family member’s health status has recently changed, it may be an opportune time to explore whether this could unlock access to valuable financial support. Many people are unaware...
SEEKING INCOME-SPLITTING OPPORTUNITIES?
RRSP Season: Don’t Overlook the Spousal RRSP It’s RRSP season once again! Over the decades, the federal government has eliminated many income-splitting opportunities available to taxpayers. However, if you have a spouse/common-law partner, don’t overlook the spousal...
Prorogation Purgatory: What Parliament’s Shutdown Means for Proposed Tax Changes
Download this PDF here. On January 6, 2025, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned, effective upon selection of a new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and requested that Parliament be prorogued. The Governor General consented to the request, terminating all...
NEED IDEAS ON WHERE TO START?
Your New Year’s Financial Checklist The beginning of a new year is an opportune time to revisit certain aspects of your wealth management. If you don’t know where to start, here are a handful of ideas. For more information, please call the office. Contribute to the...
Investing in the Metaverse Webinar with Mike Stinton and Meghan Chen of Fidelity Investments
Are we truly stepping into the future with the introduction of the Metaverse? Catch Dave and Tyler as they discuss the Metaverse with special guests Mike Stinton and Meghan Chen of Fidelity Investments and its role in our lives, including our working...
Full Episode: It Pays to Stay Invested!
In this episode, Dave and Tyler provide insights on the big picture of Investment in 2022, Volatilities in the Financial Market, as well as strategies for smoothing out your investment journey.
Navigating the Fixed Income Landscape Webinar
With increasing interest rates in 2022, how will fixed-income investments manage to have a positive return? Join us in the Tower Wealth Advisory Webinar: "Navigating the Fixed Income Landscape" with guest speaker Jeff Sujitno, Portfolio Manager at Wellington...
Video Podcast: Market Insights – 2022: The Year of the Fed with Dr. James “Jim” E. Thorne
For more content on Financial Insights, Investment, Estate Planning and Wealth Management, please visit the Tower Wealth Advisory Youtube Channel: Click here for the Tower Wealth Youtube Channel
Trez Capital Webinar – Outlook for US Real Estate
Trez Capital provides short-term loans to large developers throughout North America with a large focus on residential development. The focus areas for Trez are states with low to no state taxes that are growth-friendly and business-friendly. These states continue to...
Canoe Financial Webinar
The Tower Wealth Advisory Podcast presents: The Canoe Financial 2021 WebinarIn this episode of The Tower Wealth Advisory Podcast, Canoe Financial shares the importance of the Canadian Energy Market. With the growth in popularity and awareness of alternative and...
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