A Challenge for New Clients: How to Choose a Trusted Advisor

If you’re in business for yourself, you have a unique opportunity to build wealth in an asset class that others don’t have: equity in a business enterprise that some day may be sold for millions of dollars. In addition, that business can spin off income for family members that can provide significant tax advantages, done well. Understanding how to realize on this asset requires the help of a trusted financial advisory team. Who should be on that team and how do you find them? This is a challenge your next new business clients may wrestle with. Here are some tips on how you can open discussions to help them:

Reputation matters, as the recent nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court has experienced just this week. It matters to your business, too. According to a report by Deloitte*, it accounts for 25 percent of any business’ market value. With such significant value placed on reputation, it’s not surprising that this is the number one strategic concern of business executives.

"When it comes to education, we are all looking for something different. Knowledge Bureau offers that variety”, states Connie Zhu, of Richmond, BC.

Traditionally, 85 percent of Canada’s workforce has consisted of the employed. But that’s about to change: 45 percent of Canada’s workforce will be “on demand” or “freelancing” by 2020 *. This is a continuation of an upward trend that started with the financial crisis of 2008. This also means an increasing number of Canadians need to revisit what kind of tax and financial planning they should be doing.

Tax specialists add tremendous value over and above the role of a traditional tax preparer. Rather than just calculating and filing the annual return, they offer holistic tax planning advice to reduce a family’s overall tax liability over the long run. They certainly use their knowledge, experience and skills to maximize refundable and non-refundable tax credits in the short term; but their long-term role is deeper and broader.

The September 15 instalment deadline is looming. Many dread yet another payment to the CRA; after all, it seems like only yesterday that personal and business taxes due over the spring and summer were paid! Now is the time for tax and financial professionals to contact clients, estimate taxes owing for 2018, and navigate through taxing times if there is a cash flow crunch.

The Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC), new in 2017, is still poorly understood and a complicated tax break to explain. For these reasons, many Canadians have missed claiming it. Tax and financial advisors who really want to help families under medical stress can make a big financial difference will add it to their year-end review and adjust 2017 tax returns for missed claims.