Articles

Private equity funds are almost a fashion statement today, no business owner wants to be left without them as a stakeholder. But as always what’s popular on Wall Street does not play well on Main Street.

Large investment firms diligently emphasize that investing in their funds carries inherent risks. You’ve likely heard taglines in audio ads like “you could lose money.” Interestingly, automobile manufacturers don’t have to explicitly state, “your car could break down” or “your vehicle will depreciate by 25% as soon as you drive it off the lot.”

Both of these narratives are genuine, actual occurrences. One is heartwarming, while the other carries a more challenging tone. Doug was working as a bookkeeper for a small business when his father called him and told him that he was in failing health and needed Doug to take over the business as general manager.

Savvy business owners know they can’t keep going at their everyday pace forever.

Selling shares is an option but once the low offers are received, they quickly get annoyed and just keep running their operations.

So why do brokers offer such low values for shares?

“The first rule of an investment is don’t lose [money]. And the second rule of an investment is don’t forget the first rule. And that’s all the rules there are.”

This quote from legendary billionaire investor Warren Buffett has become one of his most well-known aphorisms. It highlights his fundamental investment philosophy with both wit and clarity. -Jeannine Mancini, Yahoo Finance 17-July-2023.

Clients hate losing money on their investments. The number one concern my clients have is the effects of volatility in markets which translates into losses. 

Given a little bit of time markets do rebound. However, seeing an asset value that was high but has now lost 20 or even 30% of its value is a shock.  

As a professional in the financial services industry, I specialize in assisting business clients in assessing and enhancing the value of their enterprises. I work closely with clients who operate as limited corporations or S-corps, leveraging five years of their financial data to craft comprehensive Case Studies. These documents not only illustrate the value potential buyers may offer but also compare these options with alternative strategies that encompass pension creation, life insurance for debt repayment, capital gains tax considerations, and other essential factors.

People are living longer, especially those in a relationship or a marriage.

Here is a short case study that explains the problem of running out of money before you die.

Assume you are 66 and feeling fairly good about the retirement assets you have been able to accumulate with $1 million. You decide to take an annual income of 80,000 per year, inflation adjusted.

For those who have never had the experience, ask someone to give you one. You’ll quickly understand what I mean

Creative financing can help sellers command better prices or close deals. It can also create complications among banks, sellers, and buyers

Thousands of C corporation owners get hit every year with both corporate and ordinary income taxes because they have retained earnings. What options are there to remove those earning from the company to mitigate this double tax?

All-in over 10 years, the total cash exit will be about 50% greater than the principal itself even after-tax credits for interest paid. Want to buy-back $1 million in shares?

Does a leveraged life policy have a lot in common with the infamous “knuckleball”, that bad boy of quantum flight in the game of baseball? Yes!
If you are a tax practitioner, banker, finance hand, business owner, or just awestruck by the math of physics expressed in everyday events, this article is for you.

For many business owners the first move they have considered in the past was selling the shares or assets. Most owners would rather sell shares and they rarely get them sold for a price they feel is fair price. However even after they settle the sales process, they still must face CRA’s tax gauntlet.

For self-assessment on the impact of TOSI rules.