Entries by Alto, Chang and Associates Financial Management

The Six Steps to Financial Planning

July 6, 2022 in , /by

A certified financial planner is trained to focus on all aspects of your finances – everything from your taxes to retirement savings.

The six steps to financial planning are:
• Meeting your financial planner
• Determining your goals and expectation
• Reviewing your current financial state
• Developing a financial plan
• Implementing a financial plan
• Monitoring the plan

A certified financial planner will develop a plan that works for you both today and in the future.

Don’t lose all your hard-earned money to taxes

June 3, 2022 in , /by

It’s essential to manage your tax planning properly – both while you are living and for after your death. You want as much of your money as possible to go to your beneficiaries, not the government. Our article contains three tips to help you do that:
1. Learn how to make the most of the lifetime capital gains exemption.
2. Figure out ways to decrease your end-of-life tax bill.
3. Look into Immediate Financing Arrangements.

2021 Income Tax Year Tips

April 1, 2022 in , /by

It’ll be time to file your 2021 taxes soon, and you must take advantage of every tax credit and deduction that you can. Our article includes information on a variety of subjects you need to know about, including what to do if you’ve had to repay COVID-19 benefits, how to plan ahead if you’re self-employed or retiring soon, and what you need to know if you have a home office or employer-provided benefits.

Permanent versus Term Life Insurance – What are the Differences?

April 1, 2022 in , /by

You know you need life insurance – but you’re not sure which kind is best for you. There are two main kinds of life insurance:
• Permanent, which lasts for your entire life. Premiums can be more expensive, but you can also use the policy to build up cash value.
• Term, which is only good for a set amount of time. Premiums are less expensive, and you cannot build up cash value – but coverage is easy to get and understand.
We can help you determine which type of insurance is best for you and how much it will cost you.

Estate Planning for Blended Families

March 4, 2022 in , , /by

Blended families – where two people get married but have children from previous relationships – are becoming more common. On top of the day-to-day challenges of blending a family, new spouses also have to figure out how to plan their estates, so everyone is properly taken care of.

We cover all of the following a blended family must consider while estate planning:
• Sharing the Family Home
• Make the Most of a Registered Retirement Savings Plan
• How to Share Non-Registered Investments and Other Assets
• Why It’s Important to Select a Good Trustee
• The Advantages of Life Insurance for Blended Family Planning

2022 British Columbia Budget Highlights

February 23, 2022 in , /by

On February 22, 2022, the B.C. Minister of Finance announced the 2022 budget. We have highlighted the most important financial measures you need to know, with an emphasis on:
• Supporting sustainable economic development
• Offering stronger healthcare
• Expanding child care options and lowering fees
• Supporting capital infrastructure
• Providing funding for affordable housing
• Promoting clean transportation
Budget 2022 includes no changes to personal or corporate tax rates.

2022 Financial Calendar

January 4, 2022 in , , /by

Looking for an “at a glance” document covering all the important dates you need to know to stay on track with your financial planning in 2022?

Our 2022 financial calendar (which you can easily bookmark or print out) makes sure you’re always in the loop! It lists important dates, including:

• Payments dates for the Canada Child Benefit, CPP, OAS, and the GST/HST credit.
• When TFSA contribution room starts again.
• Tax filing deadlines.
• Charitable contribution deadlines and the last day to contribute to registered investment accounts.
• When the Bank of Canada interest rate announcements are.