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:

Statistics show that the more education Canadians have, the better their chances of employment. This is especially true for newcomers to Canada. In that regard, the tax and financial services industries offer great opportunities for those ready to start their new lives and careers in Canada.

As Knowledge Bureau unveils our new Executive Business Builder Program, increasing our focus on leadership education and development in 2018, it’s important to explore what makes a great leader. Today we’ll focus on confidence vs humility. . .when it comes to leadership, what matters more?  Join us in discussing this topic on our Executive Business Builders Network.

Caring for a loved one with a disability?  CRA may contact you to verify your claim for the new Canada Caregiver Amount or the Disability Amount. For these reasons, it’s important to draw the distinction between “infirm” and “disabled,” for different provisions on the tax return.

A recent study by the Fraser Institute reveals that the Liberal government’s changes to the personal income tax system have already raised taxes for the vast majority of middle-income Canadian families (81 percent) by an average of $840 annually. But there’s more to come. . .

It’s a sign of the times: Knowledge Bureau Report readers were most interested in recent tax news, based on our top five posts revisited here. The proposals to change the tax system for private corporations are of most concern; small wonder, too. Not yet law, Tax on Split Income (TOSI) rules begin January 1, 2018. Principle residence reporting changes are important too. Here’s what mattered most to our readers in 2017:

Small businesses in Canada are responsible for employing 8.2 million Canadians, which is 70.5 percent (1) of the total labour force. Recent tax changes are impacting small-business owners, their families, and the middle-class population in general, significantly.  It’s time to take control with broader, deeper tax knowledge.