Tax Shock Adds to Family Heartbreak

Last month the sad story of an Ontario family who suddenly lost both parents in 2024 was shared in Burlington Today.  The tax outcomes were just as shocking as the two deaths from unrelated causes.  There was a cottage, a large RRSP and a big tax bill.   Some of the outcomes could have been mitigated with some planning.   I sat down with CTV’s Pat Foran to discuss the outcomes – with a message important to family planning.  

Only July 29, the Finance Minister/Minister of Revenue met with Canada’s leading chief economists to exchange views on Canada’s economic outlook and discuss ways to build the strongest economy in the G7. The Minister wants to hear from individuals about what should be in the Fall 2025 Federal Budget, expected to be released after Parliament resumes on September 15. (The session will end on December 12). Provide your opinion by August 28 on the queries below:

The government has mandated that by 2026, 20% of the new vehicles sold in Canada must be ZEV’s and that number will rise to 100% by 2035.  This is going to be costly for government, as they invest Billions of dollars in change management. But for Canadian households, this could be devastating in two ways: first late payments on auto loans have hit a new high across North America in early 2025. Second, each Canadian is now responsible for between $40,949 and $68,861 in provincial and federal debt; which is deferred taxation.

In today’s competitive financial services industry, technical expertise alone is not enough. Clients expect professionals who can deliver comprehensive, practical solutions across multiple areas of tax and business accountancy. The Professional Practitioner Diploma from Knowledge Bureau is designed to meet that challenge head-on. Right now, you can get started for just $595 per course if you register by August 31.

On September 25 at 11 a.m. CST, financial professionals and thought leaders will gather for an insightful panel discussion focused on a transformative concept in wealth management: moving from ROI (Return on Investment) to ROL (Return on Life). This Meeting of the Minds session, titled Redefining What Real Wealth Means to You, aims to shift the conversation beyond numbers and portfolios toward what truly matters - aligning financial strategies with clients’ life purpose and peace of mind.

The wealth management industry is facing a trust and service gap. A 2023 study reveals that only 6% of Canadian investors are receiving truly comprehensive advice from their wealth management professionals. Even among full-service clients, just 57% report having a financial plan and alarmingly, 43% of those don’t believe their advisor’s recommendations align with their best interests. These numbers tell a clear story: clients expect more, and advisors who fail to adapt risk losing both trust and business. At the Acuity Conference, Michael van Lierop, FDFS™, RWM™, of New Outlook Wealth, will present Practice Management – Time for Change, a session dedicated to closing these gaps.

Did you know that Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will be undergoing a digital migration on the September long weekend, starting Friday August 29 at 8:00 p.m. and ending Tuesday at 6:00 am September 2, with the proviso that this possibly could last til September 3? What could go wrong? Plenty.