Fuel Excise Tax on Hold But Inflation is Not

The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has thrown global oil prices into turmoil and there is plenty of fallout for consumers. Travelling to Europe this summer? That’s in jeopardy, as jet fuel may run out.  Looking for relief at the pumps instead? The recently announced suspended federal excise tax on gasoline, unleaded aviation gasoline, diesel fuel and aviation fuel here in Canada will soften the blow, but only temporarily: it will be zero from April 20 to September 7, 2026. Here’s what you need to know:

Demanding careers and workplace stress can lead to premature death in men with existing health issues, according to a new study, although women seem to fair better. It speaks to the need for financial advisors to sit down with their boomer clients and have a frank talk about how long to work if the couple is serious about living their dream retirement.

Marijuana use may soon become a factor in the workplace but the issues aren’t all so black and white for employers who will have to address them. Here’s more from Philippe Richer about a complex leadership issue that will challenge you as marijuana legalization is looming.

A new report demonstrates that many advisors are unprepared to meet the changing demands of their clients, particularly with regards to holistic goal planning in wealth management. This will be among the top things that 50 percent of investors will look for when selecting an advisor by 2022.

It’s time to register for the 2018 Distinguished Advisor Conference in Quebec City and make it your conference this year! Aaron Robertson from Alitis Investment Counsel was already thinking about making it his after last year’s event. Hear what he had to say and join us.

The IMF predicts that if Canada and the U.S. fail to reach agreement on NAFTA, Canada’s competitiveness could take a serious hit, resulting in a drop of 0.4 percentage points or more in GDP. Donald Trump’s tweets about Justin Trudeau could further dampen the outlook. But, astute financial advisors can help clients meet their goals in these difficult times by staying on course.

Tread lightly into new, uncharted territory: it’s good advice as marijuana legalization is set to occur on July 1, 2018. But many Canadian employers and their staff are still unclear about the legal implications. Now, we have some more answers from Manitoba lawyer Philippe Richer.