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:

A good argument can be made for a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) deposit before year end to maximize government support for the disabled in the family.

An effective year-end tax strategy is to donate to charity. Investors can do so by transferring qualifying shares to their favorite charity and avoid capital gains taxes by doing so. 

The Tax Court of Canada recently allowed aspects of an appeal of one prominent real estate agent in Winnipeg from reassessments made by the Minister of National Revenue (MNR).

If you have a client who has a Registered Disability Saving Plan and is receiving disability assistance payments from the plan, a portion of these payments will be shown in Box 131 of a T4A slip and added to income on the 2013 return.

Gifts made by you or your spouse in the current year or in any of the immediately preceding five years can be claimed on this year’s return so long as those donations have not already been claimed.

You are going to be busy. Now is the time to update your skills and train your staff before tax season begins. Start earning valuable CE/CPD credits today!