News

A little update on the story that went live in local papers recently came with the announcement of the most recent of tragic and too-soon passings. Revealed last month was the will of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who shocked the world with his sudden death in February.

In it, he left his fortune to his ex-partner and mother of all three of his children along with explicit instructions on the caretaking of his eldest son.  Though detailed, even down to the cities he’d like his son raised in, he made no mention of his two younger children. 

While is can be surmised simply that M...

Most people plan for their financial health in retirement, but neglect to address the non-financial aspects of no longer working: What will they do with to make the most of their time?

Have You Considered the Non-Financials?

A Consumer Reports survey conducted in 2010 showed that only 19 percent of those surveyed were highly satisfied with their retirement planning. Presumably, retirees would like to enjoy retirement, which of course means ensuring their finances are in order. Beyond that, though, how does one go about planning this phase...

After a divorce or during a separation in Canada, parties may wonder whether changes to agreements are possible, and if so, how to go about them.

According to David Greig, author of The Separation Guide: Know Your Options, Take Control, and Get Your Life Back, this question comes up surprisingly frequently in divorce and separation cases because circumstances change: Kids grow up; parents get raises, lose jobs, or acquire assets; new spouses become part of the picture; or perhaps one person wishes to move away and this will affect child custody arrangements...

A number of Canadians have problems with their income taxes, or corporate or other business returns, whether they haven’t paid them; haven’t filed; unknowingly (or knowingly) filed incorrect information; or have been notified of an audit.

These problems are common, and most can be avoided; if it’s too late for avoidance, they can usually be fixed or at least handled a bit easier with a bit of knowledge.

Note: If unsure of any aspect of your taxes, it is wise to consult professionals such as accountants and tax lawyers.

Unfiled or Unpaid Taxes...

A few years ago, baker and entrepreneur Mimi Fix was in the middle of major life changes and in need of a new source of income. She turned to something she was good at that she could do from home: Baking.

Ms. Fix isn’t the only one who has discovered that baking can be a boon when you want to start a business but have barely any start-up capital. It is, and perhaps always has been a business with low barriers to entry including low start-up costs, minimal education requirements, and low overhead if done from home. While many people have sold jams and pies out o...

Unless they’re rich and famous, and people are telling them to protect their cash and assets, the majority of people who are married or living common-law don’t have prenuptial agreements (“prenups”), cohabitation agreements, or marriage agreements in place. But with so many marriages ending in divorce, and so many relationships ending, period, is it smart to have some kind of contract?

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Social media is an essential tool for many small businesses, according to San Diego-area authors and marketers Holly Berkley and Amanda Walter. It can be underused, overused, or misused in the wrong hands, and learning what to do and how to do it is essential as it can make or break a business.

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If you haven’t heard of divorce parties yet, you likely will soon as the trend of celebrating a breakup grows. Divorce or breakup parties are a way to mark moving on, toast a new chapter in life, and say goodbye to the past in a positive way.

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Like so many others, I’ve wanted to write for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I told my mother I wanted to be a writer. Her answer?

“You’ll starve.”

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