May 2025 Poll

Does the Liberal promise expected soon to cut the lowest personal income tax rate by 1% to 14%,  go far enough to help Canadians impacted by high costs?

CRA issued an updated Disability Tax Credit Certificate this week, a requirement for claiming the lucrative disability tax credit for a taxpayer with "a severe and prolonged impairment in mental or physical functions." The amount is claimed as a non-refundable credit against taxes payable, and must be signed by a qualified medical practitioner, so year end is a good time to review vulnerabilities with client families and send them along to their doctor's office to have this lengthy form completed. Any fees paid for the form filling qualify as a medical expense, and it is an expense that can be quite advantageous given how much money the credit is worth. It has two components: Basic Disability Amount is a non-refundable tax credit that acknowledges the expenses incurred corresponding to the treatment of a mental or physical impairment. This amount is available to all taxpayers who qualify. A Supplementary Disability Credit is available for taxpayers who are under 18 years old. The amount of the supplement is decreased by any child care expenses claimed (in excess of the base child care amount). Form T2201 Disability Tax Credit Certificate must be signed by a medical practitioner to qualify. The Basic Disability Amount for 2011 is $7,341. For those supporting a disabled minor, this amount is enhanced by an indexed supplement of $4,282 for 2011, for a total claim of $11,623 for 2011. This amount is reduced by amounts claimed under child care expenses on Line 214 and the disability supports deduction on Line 215 in excess of a Basic Child Care Amount of $2,508 for 2011. It's not always easy to qualify for the credit, and there are often disputes when CRA refuses. Measures announced on November25, 2010 will ensure that individuals can appeal, in every case, a determination concerning their eligibility for the Disability Tax Credit. In order to object to a determination, the taxpayer must file a Notice of Objection before the later of: 90 days after the notice of determination is mailed and one year after the due date of the taxation year to which the disability claim applies. For those who missed claiming the amount may reach back and recover missed credits for a period of up to 10 years; which means that tax year 2001 will drop off on December 31. ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: EverGreen Explanatory Notes; Introduction to Personal Tax Preparation  

As investors fret about the latest market gyrations, there is much that can be done to hedge against loss. How you invest, when you invest and for how long has significant impact on wealth accumulationówhich determines whether you'll have income for life and beyond. Retirement income adequacy, according to post-crisis research by the Department of Finance "critically dependsî on three things: ∑ the tax assistance for savings (RRSP versus nonñRRSP), ∑ timing of investments and ∑ the type of investment. According to the study, by Dr. Vijay Jog (December 2009), an individual investing 18% of her saving. . . in blended portfolio at zero cost and invested in corresponding passive equity, debt and t-bills would have saved 18years worth replacement income (60% of salary). The same amount invested outside RRSP would have resulted in 14years worth replacement income. Both these numbers assume a 35% tax rate during workyears and a 20% tax rate at the retirement year.[1]î Predictable investment income returns result from a combination of efforts. Performance of your investment is important, but so is financial behavior. For example, when you manage your spending carefully (cutting back expenses by 4% is akin to an 8% return on the money before taxes at a 50% marginal tax rate), more money is available for savings. All savings plans begin with the end in mind. Through precise planning and product selection, you will be able to build the income sources to generate income for life, even though there are many hurdles to jump or avoid along the way. A series of questions to review at year end include the following, to facilitate decisions that could still impact the opportunity to create new wealth in 2011, despite current market conditions: What is your life expectancy, compared to the national average? How much money can you save? (Project this out over your lifetime) How much money can your savings generate in income for you? How long will your money last if you start withdrawing your capital to live? What investments will help you achieve your goals? ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: Distinguished Advisors Workshops: November featuring year end tax planning.       [1] Investment Performance And Costs Of Pension And Other Retirement Savings Funds In Canada: Implications On Wealth Accumulation And Retirement, Dr. Vijay Jog, December 2, 2009

How can you be more innovative and then let the world know about it? It's an interesting question, in the context of last week's blog, in which we discussed Canada's drop to 12th place overall, in the World Competitiveness Report. The Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty, spoke to the matter in a September 16 news release, too. In it he "urged the private sector to increasingly make innovation a central component of business strategies to ensure that Canada can compete with the world's best and transform promising ideas into pioneering results.î While the government has earmarked funds for research and innovation, upgraded universities and even the government's intent to market Canadian business outputs to a global economy, for most businesses in the trenches today, bringing new and promising ideas to market is expensive: they require capital in a difficult lending environment. To get the financial backing, requires well-researched and astute business planning, often assisted by a great presentation to a lender. This can be burdensome in a more naturally reserved Canadian culture. The key question, however, is this: why should a lender help you innovate so that your business could be more competitive? You'll need to let your passion show. For many businesses, that passion is driven by the seductive power of positive reinforcement: how well their innovative value propositions are meeting their customers' needs. A good starting point, in being more competitive, might be to do some research with your clients. If you are working in the financial services, for example, you are aware that Canadians are being bombarded with disheartening financial news every day. It's quite possible that you may be the leader they are looking for to help them make decisions. Have you asked, recently, how well you are meeting those needs? Do you have the new knowledge and skillsets that are required to do so? At the Knowledge Bureau, we have been passionate about our innovation: teaching Real Wealth Management as a framework for building sustainable, intergenerational wealth. It has been a delight to know about the positive results our graduates are experiencing both in new personal insights and in collaborating with their teams. In a fragile financial world, we can get better results, and that's why it's worthwhile trying new ways to do so. Doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results, after all, is the definition of insanity, according to Albert Einstein, who, incidentally, was also responsible for one of my favourite tax quotes: the hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax. (Hard to disagree!) It's Your Money. Your Life. What are you passionate about in your work? Are you sharing that with your clients? Let them know. . .you might be surprised at how well you are doing when you listen to your value proposition from your clients' point of view. Evelyn Jacks is President of Knowledge Bureau and is currently co-writing a new book with Robert Ironside and Al Emid entitled "Financial Recovery in a Fragile Worldî.  

Statistics Canada reported on September 16 that tuition fees have increased across the nation. The data was taken from the Survey of Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs for Full-time Students at Canadian Degree-granting Institutions which was administered May to June 2010 to cover the 2010/2011 academic year. However, statistically an investment in post-secondary education will still prove to be one of the best investment decisions young people can choose to make. On average, full undergraduates paid 4.3% more on average for the 2011/2012 academic year, compared to a 4% increase in 2010/2011. This may seem like a hefty increase when compared with inflation, which was 2.7% between July 2010 and July 2011 as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Fees also increased for graduate students across the nation; with increases ranging from 0.1% in Alberta to 5.5% in Ontario. The only provinces which did not see an increase were Newfoundland and Labrador. The data taken from the Programs with the highest costs were excluded from the survey to avoid skewing the overall tuition fee average. The cost/benefit of attaining higher education truly pays off over time. Higher education is strongly correlated with a higher income as well as job security. The rewards can thus pay off immensely; a 2008 report from HRSDC showed that while not only do earnings increase over time, but also contributes to higher income during retirement. The growth in average earnings between the ages of 25 and 54 jumped from 49% to nearly 100% for those with a high school diploma and those with a university diploma, respectively. On average, a university graduate will earn double that of a high school graduate. Income growth can also be attributed to other factors, such as training and learning opportunities over time, but most can be attributed to higher education. Just as the time-value of money increases over time, so does the time-value of education. By educating yourself and pursuing continuous professional development over the course of your career, you can achieve greater financial stability and wealth.  

Evelyn Jacks, Founder & President of the Knowledge Bureau, has been named as one of Canada's Top 25 Women of Influence. "We are excited to award Evelyn's successful achievements and contribution to Canadian and global economies and highlight her as a Woman of Influence,î says Carolyn Lawrence, President and CEO of Women of Influence. Evelyn Jacks is responsible for Canada's leading financial publisher and educator in the tax and financial services, the Knowledge Bureau. She is a member of the Federal Task Force on Financial Literacy, and has received numerous business leadership awards including the Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She is a best-selling author of 48 personal tax and wealth management books. A respected financial commentator, Evelyn makes regular media appearances including  national programs like CBC Newsworld and BNN, writes for the Toronto Star and the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Top 25 ranking is organized into five categories. Women from the realms of Business, Health Services, Professional Services, Public Sector and Non-Governmental Organizations were nominated to represent a variety of talent and success in fields that don't often gain mainstream recognition. Each member of the Top 25 was chosen based on quantitative and measurable criteria such as industry recognition, awards, board positions, deals and title; overall measuring each candidate's influence in Canada and beyond. The Top 25 were ranked from a pool of hundreds of accomplished Canadian women and represent a diverse list of women who are leading the pack. Lawrence believes that all of the women chosen represent the core values of Women of Influence. They are authentic leaders, extraordinary achievers and exceptional role models for other aspiring Canadian women. Evelyn, among the other Top 25 women, will be profiled in the winter issue of Women of Influence magazine and have an opportunity to be featured on the cover. The cover selection process will involve an online voting period which encourages participation from readers to select the woman they want to see on the cover. The online campaign will launch Monday September 19th and allow users to vote until Friday, September 30th at which point the cover will be selected. Women of Influence Inc. produces inspiring, progressive, and celebratory events across the country. Their programs serve to fill the gap for women looking for mentors, looking to connect with likeminded individuals on their path to success. Women of Influence magazine reaches over 100 000 readers each quarter and offers inspiring career advice, high quality fashion editorial content and profiles the achievements of Canadian women in business. For more information visit http://www.womenofinfluence.ca/ To book an interview with one of the Top 25, or for more information on the program, contact: Alicia DeBoer, Media Assistant O: (416) 923-1688 E: media@womenofinfluenceinc.ca    

From a blog by Evelyn Jacks (www.evelynjacks.com)   The Global Competitiveness Report was released by the World Economic Forum last week, having reviewed the economic performance of 142 countries in the context of several difficult years. It recommends that countries around the world establish fundamentals for spurring "qualityî economic growth, in order to sustain competitiveness in economic, social and environmental terms. The report confirms that an injured world is indeed recovering from economic crisisóalbeit tentatively and with unequal distribution. That is, while the developing world is seeing strong growth, advanced economies are experiencing what it calls "sluggish recoveriesî, and "serious financial vulnerabilities with no clear horizon in sight for improvementî. Canada recently dropped off the "Top 10 Listî of global economic competitors to position #12. On the good news side, we benefit from highly efficient markets, particularly as it relates to labor, and well-functioning institutions and excellent infrastructure. We rank #6 for health and primary education and #12 for higher education and training. But our competitiveness would be enhanced with greater R & D spending so that we could achieve greater innovation and produce more goods ranked higher on the value chain. So what stops us from being innovative? Innovation and R & D requires significant investment by businesses, challenged to make profits in a volatile economic climate. They may need more help from lenders, and it is possible Canadian banks are in a good position to do so. In leafing through chart after chart of current data, it is good to see the soundness of Canadian banks is ranked #1 in the world. Yet, Canada ranks #19 in terms of venture capital availability, and #22 for ease of access to loans. And despite the fact that we consider ourselves to be quite tech-savvy, we rank #13 in the world in terms of individuals using the internet, behind Iceland (#1) and Korea (#10). Given the current global malaise, it appears we won't be able to export our way out of financial vulnerability anytime soon. Growth will need to come from our domestic market, which size ranks only #14 in the world. It's Your Money. Your Life. There is much work to do. Together, business and lenders have greater bench strength to spur on our domestic economy, so that incomes and taxes can maintain the lifestyles we cherish. Is more investment in our own business back yard required to enable us to innovate our way back into the top of the global competitiveness rankings? Your thoughts are most welcome. Evelyn Jacks, is President of The Knowledge Bureau, blogs at http://www.evelynjacks.com/.  For more information call toll free 1-866-953-4769 or visit http://www.knowledgebureau.com/.