by: Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMA,FCSI, CEA Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor Introduction As I wrote in Part 1 of this 2-part paper- many things have changed over the years, but some things remain the same. We all still want to buy a home, educate our children, pay off debt, and retire comfortably. The concept of retirement is a fact of converting our cashflow from ‘man at work’ to ‘money at work’. For many this change is a change in their identity, their daily a

by Geoff Sgarbossa, CD, CFP, RIS, Financial Planner Post-secondary education is getting more expensive, and the workforce is much more competitive. Additionally, the ever-increasing cost of living is stretching existing budgets paper thin and forcing post-secondary education further out of reach for many families. To incentivize early education planning and savings, the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)  is designed specifically to assist with saving for post-secondary

by Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMA, FCSI Keill & Associate- Senior Wealth Advisor/ Portfolio Manager If your goal is to live forever, congratulations, so far so good. Of course, it goes without saying if history is any indication: the wheels are going to fall off your forever buggy and you are going to die. This is the truth and as the saying goes, you can't avoid two things: death and taxes. This Serious Money Paper will look at the essence and the benefits of having a well

by Geoff Sgarbossa, CD, CFP, RIS, Financial Planner RDSP - Special Circumstances While we originally provided a Serious Money Paper illustrating Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) basics, this Paper is designed to build off the original and provide answers to some specific questions that tend to come up quite regularly with RDSPs.  There is a lot of conflicting information surrounding the RDSP. Some of the conflict is from well intended, but ill-advised folks. However,

by: Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMA,FCSI Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor As children, we would search for answers using the Magic Eight Ball. Of course, that is a foolish method for adults to seek answers, as it arbitrarily guides the user without reason, compassion, or purpose. Trusting what President Donald Trump says is much the same, as the answer you get one day will be different from the next. You don’t really know which answer he gives will be the truth, an

By Jeffery A. Keill CFP,CIM,FMA,FCSI, Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager- Keill and Associate Advisory Team How often our Wealth Advisory Team have conversations with clients around this confusing topic. The ability to manage ones affairs with autonomy weighs heavily on many Canadians. This is sometimes at odds with the fear of incapacitation of the physical limitations on taking care of daily banking needs. Reasons to consider these tools can be many but most often

by Geoff Sgarbossa, CD,CFP,RIS, Financial Planner Going back through history, when misfortune struck a family, it was common for others in the community to collectively aid in an effort to manage through crisis. Through time, it became evident that when the degree of risk could be estimated, it was possible to share the risk of economic loss. Starting in the 1500's, experts have continued to collect and analyze data to develop more effective tables of mortality. This has allo

by Geoff Sgarbossa, CD,CFP,RIS, Financial Planner, Keill & Associates Wealth Advisory Why Seek Professional Advice?  I’m too embarrassed with the state of my finances. I don’t have any money to invest. Every time I talk to my advisor, I’m committing to another payment of some sort. I’ve heard of all sorts of scams out there and I don’t know who I can trust. I only work with a fee-for-service, or fee-only-advisor to avoid biases. I prefer to do it myself. Fees are too high. Wh

by: Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMA,FCSI, Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor With the stroke of a Sharpie- turmoil.  President Trump recently signed the Executive Order to initiate tariffs on several countries. Then within days both Canada and Mexico successfully negotiated a delay in their implementation. This has caused some panic and far reaching reactions globally. Though the opportunity is often there to do so, we seldom feel compelled to address economic short-

by Stacey Knechtel, Professional Organizer Quitter’s day. What is that you may ask? It’s a day marked on our national calendar that falls on the second Friday of January, it’s the day most people have already quit on their New Year’s Resolutions. Did you make resolutions this year? Perhaps you set out to be more organized and less overwhelmed in 2026? Well if you did you are not alone. Being disorganized makes everything harder! Your work day. Your home life. Your personal re

by: Teresa Keill, Mortgage Agent Keill & Associates- Client Care Team One thing is certain- Canadians love to own their own home. Of course they do. It provides shelter, a place to call home, a location to raise a family and build memories, while over time increasing their own net worth and financial security. All-in-all, it is a win-win-situation with not much downside, well except the cost. Most people simply do not have $400,000 in their pockets to dole out to purchase a h

by Jeffery A. Keill, CFP,CIM,FMA,FCSI, Senior Wealth Advisor Keill & Associates- Advisory Team Let’s face it- times are tough for many people. Even for the common ostrich, I am sure. Those who seem to be doing great may not be. Those that seem to have it altogether may have a house of cards that they worry will fall with the slightest breeze. As a Wealth Advisor over the years I have had the opportunity to sit across the desk, kitchen tables, living rooms, hospital beds, boar

by Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMA, FCSI, Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor Keill and Associates- Advisory Team Walking on the beach and frolicking along the waters edge is one of life’s greatest joys. Drowning in the depths of the endless ocean is not. Amazingly these two locations are often a mere stones throw away from each other. To move on the waters edge is done with freedom and ease. Treading water in unknown depths that are over your head is done with limite

by Geoffrey Sgarbossa, CFP, RIS, CD Wealth Advisor Keill & Associates- Advisory Team Murphy’s Law is a very optimistic law, stating that if anything can go wrong, it will. Risk is an unavoidable reality, apparent in all facets of life. By sheer force of luck, some folks go through life avoiding every available catastrophe, blissfully unaware of how many times, today alone, their life was 'this close' to changing forever. Others are not so lucky, and Murphy tends to crash ever

by Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMA, FCSI, Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor Keill & Associates- Advisory Team If you use credit, then most likely you have credit history that is maintained by various credit reporting agencies that track and report how you use credit. Lenders, potential employers, and landlords may use this reporting to help get a sense of your financial reliability and repayment history. What is in the Credit Report? Your credit report will include

By Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMA, FCSI, Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor Keill & Associates- Advisory Team So you just had a baby?! First of all, congratulations from all of us at Keill & Associates. Parent hood we believe is the highest calling of any human being and for many people the greatest love they will ever experience. We understand firsthand what it is like to welcome a newborn into your growing family. It is joyous, beautiful, full of wonder but also h

by Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMS, FCSI, Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor Keill & Associates- Advisory Team The “K&A Cash Wedge” is a retirement strategy that Keill and Associates will implement to manage a clients investments portfolio to mitigate risks associated with market volatility and drawdown risk. This strategy involves creating a “wedge”, or basket of short term securities that will cover one to two years of planned retirement income needs. This reduces

by Jeffery A. Keill CFP, CIM,FMA,FCSI, Portfolio Manager and Senior Wealth Advisor Keill & Associates- Advisory Team The simply complex process of the family budget is only second to weight loss planning as the resolution of choice soon after the eggnog and ivy are put away. Just like deciding on a new diet or joining a local gym on January 2nd, a budget is often approached in a way that is frequently doomed to fail. What is a Budget? A budget is a pre-meditated assault on fu

by Jeri Bitorf, Certified Money Coach Keill & Associate- Strategic Partner Budget Coaching: Many of the thousands of people I have helped over the last 13 years have expressed that they struggle creating a budget, or following one.  Some might think it’s restrictive, or difficult and others might feel like they won’t be able to make it work even if they tried. With the right support, tools, and coaching you can have a well planned budget that works for you and your family. Yo

by Jeffery A. Keill, CFP, CIM, FMA, FCSI, Portfolio Manager and Wealth Advisor Keill and Associates- Advisory Team Canada’s Income Tax Act (RSC1985-5th Supplement) Part 1 Income Tax, Division A- Liability for Tax, 2.(1) “ An income tax shall be paid, as required by this Act, on the taxable income of each taxation year of every person resident in Canada at any time in the year.” With that statement so opens a can of worms. Just look at all the questions that beg to be asked: W