The 2024 federal budget tabled by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on April 16 contained several proposals that will impact the financial, tax and estate plans of Canadians. The following is a summary of the most relevant budget proposals that may impact Canadians.
Those Canadians (45%) who say that they have a retirement plan feel less stressed about their future because retirement feels more attainable. However, many of those are unaware of what a real retirement plan looks like. Regularly saving in a company pension plan, an RRSP or a TFSA is not a retirement plan.
Getting your retirement plan right is crucial; you need to be confident that your money will last throughout your retirement, while giving you the standard of living you need. That’s why it’s important to have a solid financial plan and also dependable advice. There have been a number of myths about retirement planning circulating for years that can have a negative impact on your retirement plans. Let’s take a look at some of the more common ones and the reality that lies behind them.
As the March 1 RRSP deadline nears, many Canadians will, as they do every year, stash a last-minute lump-sum of cash into their retirement accounts. While it’s better to contribute before the deadline than not contribute at all, investing under pressure isn’t the best way to maximize your savings. “For a lot of a people, it’s a bit of a scramble at this time of year to make an RRSP contribution,” says Todd Sigurdson, IG Wealth Management’s Director of Tax and Estate Planning.
If you are heading toward retirement with a well-balanced portfolio of assets and/or guaranteed income sources such as an employer pension, you may already have enough anticipated resources to create a life-long income stream.
With an increasingly aging population, issues around providing services, including financial advice to seniors, are becoming more important. While attention is often focused on funding retirement and wealth transfer to the next generation, susceptibility to fraud often goes unnoticed.
One of the most important documents you should have as part of your estate plan is an up to date power of attorney, otherwise known as a protection mandate in Quebec. This is a document that gives someone else the power to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable to. Needless to say, you need to give special consideration to whom you appoint as attorney or mandatary.