Protect Yourself from Online Financial Scams
Hey there! The online world is full of opportunities—but unfortunately, it’s also full of scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting people. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)1 over $600 million was lost to fraud in 2024. The first line of defense against fraud is simply educating oneself about the facts. The good news? […]
Seniors Targeted by Scammers
Victor’s nightmare began with a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency, informing him he owed thousands in unpaid taxes. If he didn’t pay immediately, he would be arrested. Victor was too embarrassed to ask his daughter for help. Had he messed up that badly? The scammer picked up on […]
Be Prepared For Emergencies & Opportunities
Randy worked for a small business. When the owner died suddenly, the business accounts were frozen and it took several weeks before they could be accessed to meet payroll. Randy had trouble meeting his financial obligations and had to find a new job. Jane worked at a small company for many years. When the […]
How Important is it to Have a Will?
Most Canadians want to pass their life savings on to their heirs. The assets remaining once retirement needs are met will be distributed more effectively if there is a properly prepared will detailing the deceased’s wishes. Many people mistakenly believe that this issue is far in the future. Preparation of a valid will and its […]
Group Insurance Will Look After Me, Won’t It?
Sally has been working for the same company for over twenty years. About a year ago, she was given a new group benefits booklet because her employer had switched insurance companies. Like most people, she put it aside and intended to read it when she “had the time.” Sally was just diagnosed with terminal cancer […]
How to Benefit from Being Charitable
Charities play a vital role in our society. The Canadian government recognizes this role and tax breaks exist to encourage taxpayers to give to their favorite charities. Roger makes occasional donations to various charities. His donations are rather small and amount to only a few hundred dollars per year. He learned that he might […]
Can You Spot a Ponzi Scheme?
On June 29, 2009, Bernard Lawrence ‘Bernie’ Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for perpetrating what has been called ‘the largest investment fraud in Wall Street history.’ Actual losses have been estimated at $64.8 billion by prosecutors. Apparently, Madoff admitted to his sons that his company, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was […]