November 2025 Poll

Do you believe the November 4 Federal Budget addressed the key financial issues your clients need to see from their Finance Department and the CRA?

Business owners are facing unprecedented uncertainty as they approach retirement. Whether it’s fluctuating business valuations, changing tax policy, or succession challenges, today’s entrepreneurs need specialized, forward-thinking advice to navigate their financial future. That’s why the “Retirement Income Planning for Small Business Owners” session—delivered by Doug Nelson as part of the CE Savvy Summit on May 21, 2025—remains a critical learning opportunity for tax and financial advisors working with entrepreneurial clients. Missed the live event? Now it’s available on-demand! This session provides full access to the recordings, materials, and CE assessments — making it easier than ever to earn credits and sharpen your advisory edge at your own pace.

As Canada’s head office economy continues to contract, the responsibility for economic growth, innovation, and leadership is increasingly falling to small- and mid-sized businesses. This shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. And, it’s exactly why the DMA – Small Business Services Specialist Program should be a critical part of your professional development library. Designed to equip professionals with the tools to support sustainable business growth and succession, this online designation program prepares you to develop leadership skills from the ground up as Corporate Canada is experiencing a disturbing trend.  Here’s more: 

Advisors often promote holding corporately owned insurance policies because it provides clients with the ability to fund their policies using lower corporate tax dollars. Proceeds are also received tax free on death.  But there are important pitfalls, says Leanne Rodrigo, CPA, CA, a special guest Faculty Member at the Acuity Conference for Distinguished Advisors (DAC), November 23-26, 2025 in beautiful Puerto Vallarta. Early bird registration ends June 30 . There are many things to think about:

Know Your Client!   It’s a daily commitment and requirement, especially in the work that financial advisors do with their clients.   It’s imperative that you ask about any significant changes in their lives. Has there been a significant new event:   a move to take a new job or go to university, a marriage or divorce, a new birth, a disability or a death? And, in the case of income tested benefits such as the Canadian Dental Care Plan, (CDCP) do they qualify?  Did they file their tax return on time to get it?  Do you know the deadlines for doing so?  Do you know when coverage ends if your client now longer qualifies?

It’s time to scale up in the tax preparation and accounting industry. The industry currently engages close to 65,000 independent professionals who participates in helping over 60% of total tax filers.  CRA itself engaged close to 60,000 employees to interact with taxpayers.  But with the retirement of experienced accounting professionals on the horizon, increasing burnout from high demand work in short timeframes, the writing is on the wall:  an acute shortage of qualified people is unfolding in the tax and accountancy services, and this has implications for our economy and financial stability. Consider the following statistics, and then, make a great investment in the DMA - Tax Services Specialist designation program to scale up your practice to meet a growing demand.

Stress. We all feel it. In fact, we need a certain measure of it in order to perform well. But, what happens when that stress becomes unhealthy?  It can manifest itself in the workplace from distracted or lacklustre work to some employees taking stress leave. The costs to an employer can add up rapidly. For tax and financial advisors, understanding the root causes and financial implications of client stress is critical. It’s not just a personal issue; it’s a business issue—and one where your expertise can make a measurable difference.