Q4 Portfolio Commentary
‘2014 was another great year for stocks – almost’ – By the end of the summer, North American markets had set a brisk pace and, for the first time in many quarters, the TSX was making up for lost ground against its American counterpart.
Click here to read more – DM-Portfolio-Commentary-Q4-14
January Monthly Insight
“Calendar Effects”- The history of the Canadian stock market is riddled with seasonal patterns or phenomenon such as the January effect, the September effect, the December effect, the “sell in May and go away” theory, the Santa Claus rally and even the elusive Halloween effect.
Click here to read more – Monthly Insight – January 2015 – Calendar Effects
Estate Planning for Blended Families
Avoid Disinheriting Your Children
In today’s family it is not unusual for spouses to enter the marriage with children from previous relationships. Parents work hard at getting these children to functionally blend together to create a happy family environment. Often overlooked is what happens on the death of one of the parents. In most cases special consideration for estate planning is needed to avoid relationship loss and possibly legal action.
Typically spouses leave everything to each other and when the surviving spouse dies, the remainder is divided amongst the children. The problem? Even with the best of intentions, there is no guarantee that the surviving spouse will not remarry and inadvertently disinherit the deceased’s children.
Read more 
What dual citizenship can mean for your taxes
It comes with perks such as job mobility and voting rights, but dual Canadian-American citizenship is double the work when tax time rolls around.
There are approximately one million U.S. citizens living in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. They face extra financial planning considerations — especially during tax season in both countries. The United States imposes taxes on its citizens based on worldwide income, not just income earned in the U.S. With a few exceptions, a Canadian tax bill is generally higher than a U.S. one — which typically means no additional tax is owed south of the border, thanks to a tax treaty between Canada and the U.S. Read more
