Posts by shelby@shelbyart.com

Gordon Pape calls them the “ultimate wealth builder.”   I agree.  The RRSP accomplishes 3 primary goals.  Immediate tax deferral, tax-sheltered growth and control over how that income is received in the future.  They are flexible, largely creditor proof and the last decade has opened up liberal rules on international investment opportunities. Should you take a…

The Canadian dollar vis-a-vis the US dollar has lost some ground of recent.  Well, quite a bit actually. The first sentiment of a high dollar is national pride.   We are better than them.  A falling dollar, signs of weakness.  Not good.  But, how much impact does it have on you? Holidays and shopping trips south…

The Doctor looked at the chart and then glanced at the patient up and down.  “Good news,” he said.  “I want you to continue to eat exactly what you’ve been eating.  Fill your plate exactly the same way.  Then,” he paused, “I want you to eat exactly half the food on the plate.” It’s a…

I’m a traditionalist.  I still say Merry Christmas and send out cards saying the same.  Yes, I know not everyone celebrates December 25 in the same way. Western society has many holidays and Christmas is but one of them.  Still, it would be difficult to disregard the outpouring of support to the least fortunate in…

We put the youngest of our children on a plane week before last.  Destination, Grande Prairie.  Campbell River is the only home he has ever known and he was fully-employed. Still, the allure of bigger money to work in the oil and gas industry was too much to ignore for an 18 year old. On…

In case you hadn’t noticed, Black Friday hit Canadian shores in earnest last Friday.  No, not an infamous stock market correction but rather the retail event of the year.  The one preceding Boxing Day, January’s Clearance, February’s End of Season, March’s Markdowns etc.. It’s been building for a few years in Canada.  Part of an…

Written in 1996 by David K. Foot, the book provides a look at the future through demographics.  It’s been sitting on a shelf collecting dust since first reading it around the same time. Demography is the study of human populations.  The author claims it affects two thirds of everything.  For example, those same active individuals…

Hold onto your hat.  That whirlwind of activity known as the 5 th annual Financial Planning Week (November 17-23) is here.  Well, maybe not here and in checking, not much there either.   Who knows, with a little effort, like-minded professionals might be able to come up with some ideas for creating more awareness HERE in…

Old Age Security (OAS) is the single, largest program of the Government of Canada.  The program provides benefits to most Canadians 65 years of age and over based upon a residency test.  The program consists of the basic pension, Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and monthly allowances for eligible low-income people 60 to 64 years of…

That is the question.  Not if, but rather when.  The exception being incorporated business owners that have chosen not to contribute for a variety of reasons. As it sits, both employees and employers pay 4.95% each towards CPP.  The self-employed are responsible for both portions.  The YMPE (yearly maximum pensionable earnings) for 2013 is $51,100…