Services

Portfolio Analysis

When it comes to portfolio analysis being careful is necessary to ensure that you have the correct asset allocation according to your objectives and risk tolerance.

In times past long term investment returns were always directly determined by the types of assets held in an investor’s portfolio, the same is true today. An ideal portfolio mix can only be determined by first assessing a variety of critical factors such as: risk tolerance, personal income level, age range and investing time horizon. Depending on these various factors, a portfolio mix (equities vs fixed income vs cash) can be determined to provide the highest possible probability of achieving a desired long-term rate of return while at the same time minimizing short-term financial risks.

The standard definition of portfolio Analysis is the process by which an existing portfolio asset allocation is reviewed to determine whether the current allocation achieves the investor’s short and long term financial goals without taking unnecessary capital risks. For accomplishing and to achieve an optimal portfolio asset allocation, the individual investor must balance their portfolio goals with their risk tolerance. Owning growth-oriented assets is essential to help offset the long-term risk of inflation, but the rewards of growth also involve the short-term risks of enduring market volatility and uncertainty.

The analysis of an individual portfolio is best conducted by a professional who has the required knowledge and expertise to properly evaluate all the different variables that affect the long-term performance of different asset classes. Proper portfolio analysis is important to long-term financial success because each asset class within a portfolio comes with a different type of short and long term risk.

By measuring an investor’s short and long term investment goals against various investment possibilities and return probabilities, a professional advisor can assist an investor in determining the portfolio mix best suited to their unique situation.
Call our office today if you have questions about your own portfolio asset allocation.

RETIREMENT PLANNING

Many people will offer you advice on which investments to buy. But there’s more to your financial life than your RRSP. Estate taxes, income taxes and education funds for your children are just some of the other complex aspects of your total financial picture.

You need a Certified Financial Planner to help you develop an effective financial plan.

Personal financial planning focuses on you as an individual – bringing together all the financial and psychological factors that have an impact on your life.

A well-designed financial plan will help you reach your personal financial goals and objectives, and give you a greater sense of security.

Many people call themselves financial planners, but the true professional financial planning practitioner uses the Total Financial Planning Process, which is made up of six distinct steps.

  1. Helps you clarify your present situation by collecting and assessing all relevant financial data – assets and liabilities, tax returns, records of securities transactions, insurance policies, wills and pension plans.
  2. Helps you to identify financial and personal goals and objectives, and also to clarify your financial and personal values and attitudes.
  3. Helps you to identify financial problems that can create barriers to your financial independence.
  4. Provides you with written recommendations and alternative solutions. These should be structured to meet your needs without undue emphasis on purchasing specific products.
  5. Assists you to implement the right strategy to ensure that you reach your goals and objectives.
  6. Provides a review and revision of your plan to ensure that you achieve your goals.

How do you know if you need a Financial Planner?

People hire financial planners for many reasons. These questions may help you decide if you need professional financial advice.

  • Do you have the time to attend to your personal financial affairs?
  • Are you confused about conflicting financial advice from several sources?
  • Do you feel you are paying too much tax?
  • Are you confused about where to invest your money?
  • Do you feel that you can’t make ends meet?
  • Do you feel that you can’t save any money?
  • Has there been a recent change in your life that could affect your financial future, such as retirement, job loss, an inheritance, an addition to your family, or loss of your spouse?

Contact our office if you are looking for information about your long term financial strategy.

Tax Planning

Taxes are a fact of life. They affect every Canadian in most aspects of their lives. Whether it’s earning an income, making a purchase, owning real property, investing, running a business, or transferring your estate, life is full of taxable consequences that, if left unchecked, could consume an ever increasing amount of one’s livelihood. While the Income Tax Act was created specifically to ensure that everyone pays their fair share it also affords all taxpayers the right to organize their financial affairs in such a way so as to minimize their taxes whenever and however possible within the legal confines of the Act. And that is the objective of tax planning.

Investment Tax Advisor in Trail

The biggest mistake many people make is to wait until April to concern themselves with their taxes. Throughout the year there are many financial decisions that can be made that could significantly impact the amount of taxes owed. The Act is full of income exclusion rules, key tax credits, retirement plan contribution options, and investment rules that are easy to miss or miscalculate without the organization and foresight that tax planning provides.

And, if there is any certainty beyond taxes, it is that the tax rules will change as they seem to do nearly every year. Because these changes usually affect such important things as exclusion amounts, credit eligibility, retirement plan contribution limits, and the tax rates themselves, they will almost certainly affect spending, saving, investment and borrowing decisions made throughout the year.

At its core, tax planning is the process of organizing your finances in such a way to take advantage of the many rules that allow you to maximize the amount of income you keep each year or defer into the future. While the process is essentially the same for any taxpayer, it may entail different types of tax strategies depending on your particular financial situation. Strategies for deferring or splitting income, deferring or maximizing retirement contributions, capital gains or losses, property ownership, charitable giving are applied differently in each situation, so they must be developed specific to your needs.

Tax planning and tax strategies involve the application of the rules and provisions of the Income Tax Act, which is voluminous and in a constant state of change. Because their effective application can result in hundreds or even thousands of dollars of tax savings each year, it is strongly recommended that you seek the guidance of a financial professional with experience in income and investment planning strategies for minimizing personal income taxes.

Call our office today in Trail if you have questions about your own tax strategy.

Tax Planning Resources

Mutual Funds

Mutual Funds and /or Exempt Market Products
Mutual funds and/or approved exempt market products are offered through Investia Financial Services Inc. (“Investia”). Mutual funds and exempt market products are sold exclusively by Representatives who are licensed by provincial regulators and registered with Investia.
Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and other expenses may be associated with mutual fund/exempt market product investments. Please read the Fund Fact or prospectus carefully before investing. Mutual fund and exempt market product investments are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and their past performance may not be repeated.