Wellington-Altus Founder and Chair Charlie Spiring named to the Manitoba Business Hall of Fame
Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus)—parent company to Canada’s top-rated* investment dealer—is proud to learn that Charlie Spiring, Founder and Chair of the company, will be inducted into the prestigious Manitoba Business Hall of Fame in the spring of 2026.
Independent Advisor Solutions Expands Partnership with Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Launching Global Equity Market Neutral
Independent Advisor Solutions (“iAS”) is excited to announce the launch of Global Equity Market Neutral (“GEMN”, pronounced “Gem”), the latest addition to its acclaimed MiBLOX suite. This launch marks a significant expansion of iAS’s strategic partnership with Goldman Sachs Asset Management (“GSAM”), offering Canadian investors exclusive access to a sophisticated, globally diversified, market-neutral investment strategy.
Highlights from the Federal Budget 2025
On November 4, 2025, Finance Minister and National Revenue Minister François-Philippe Champagne tabled the much-anticipated 2025 Federal Budget (Budget 2025). With no spring budget earlier this year, Canadians have been eager for insights into the government’s fiscal priorities and economic direction. Our Advanced Wealth Planning Group has summarized the key highlights and implications from this release.
The Ins and Outs of RDSPs
A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a tax-sheltered savings vehicle designed to help families ensure the long-term financial security of a loved one affected by disability.
November Market Insights: Wealth In A Capex Supercycle
Fuller’s energy-intelligence fusion, McLuhan’s tool-building refrain, and in search of the Holy Grail “Wealth is the product of energy times intelligence: energy turned into artifacts that advantage human life.” – attributed to Buckminster Fuller Download this PDF here. Wealth is the product of energy times intelligence: energy channeled into artifacts that enhance human life. American […]
Start the Conversation: Wealth and Estate Planning for Digital Assets
When people think about their wealth, they often picture traditional asset classes such as cash, stocks, bonds, real estate, or perhaps more unique holdings like art or coin collections. Historically, these assets have formed the foundation of most families’ wealth, however, in today’s digital world, another category of assets has quickly been growing in importance: digital assets.
Wellington-Altus announces nearly $400M strategic minority investment from leading private equity firm Kelso & Company, confirming $1.5B+ valuation
Wellington-Altus today announced a nearly $400 million CAD secondary minority common equity investment from Kelso & Company (“Kelso”), a leading U.S. private equity firm renowned for its commitment to employee ownership.
October Market Insights: Trump, Carney and the Western Awakening
A new era for Canada is about to begin “I read in a newspaper that I was to be received with all the honors customarily rendered to a foreign ruler. I am grateful for the honors; but something within me rebelled at that word ‘foreign’. I say this because when I have been in Canada, […]
September Market Insights: Bull Markets, Peace Dividends, and the Federal Reserve’s Next War
Bacon’s wisdom, that true prosperity is won by strategic preparation, not by accident, serves as the north star for sophisticated investors navigating the closing months of 2025. As we approach the U.S. Midterm Elections looming in 2026, a remarkable convergence of geopolitics, technology, and policy is setting the stage for a potentially historic bull market.
Maximizing Your RESP: Withdraw Wisely
A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a Canadian registered investment account that promotes saving to support a beneficiary’s post-secondary education. Anyone — parents, family and friends — can open a RESP as a “subscriber” for the benefit of a child. Invested contributions grow tax free.
Independent Advisor Solutions Launches Canadian Corporate Bond Plus in Expanded Partnership with Fiera Capital
Independent Advisor Solutions today announced the launch of Canadian Corporate Bond Plus (“CCBP”) and the deepening of its strategic partnership with Fiera Capital Corporation (“Fiera”), one of Canada’s leading independent asset managers.
August Market Insights: The Unreasonable Rally
In a year marked by fiscal surprises and technological upheaval, America stands at a crossroads. The June 2025 budget surplus has upended the old narratives, leaving Wall Street’s perennial skeptics scrambling for new alarms. Yet beneath the noise, a deeper transformation is underway.
Canada Disability Benefit
Launched in June 2025, the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a new federal program providing monthly financial support to working-age Canadians living with disabilities. The benefit aims to reduce poverty and provide greater financial security for those who may face additional living costs related to their disability.
July Market Insights: The Six Months Where Everything Changed
The Great Depression of the 1930s was more than an economic collapse; it was an ideological crucible. As capitalism faltered, socialism surged, promising salvation through state control. Today, that battle rages anew, with the U.S. Federal Reserve at its heart. Martin’s metaphor of the Federal Reserve as a chaperone—removing the punch bowl to curb excess—once defined an era of restraint: intervene only to prevent instability, never to orchestrate outcomes. That era is dead. The Federal Reserve has abandoned its traditional neutrality, embracing Keynesian dogma and becoming a partisan weapon in the war between capitalism and socialism, a war that threatens American economic sovereignty.
The Upside of Downturns: Strategic Tax-Loss Harvesting
Volatile markets often prompt investors to review their portfolios and asset allocations. While market volatility is rarely enjoyable, it can open the door to valuable opportunities – especially for tax-savvy investors. One such opportunity is the “triggering” or “harvesting” of capital losses.
June Market Insights: The New Nexus of Power
For decades, the American establishment clung to the gospel of globalization, open markets, cheap goods, and the promise of shared prosperity. Yet beneath the surface, this grand experiment hollowed out the nation’s industrial heartland, eroded economic security, and fuelled a populist backlash that upended politics from Ohio to
Washington. The opioid crisis, the decay of small towns, and the anger of those left behind are not mysterious—they are the predictable fallout of an economic order designed by and for elites, insulated from the consequences of their own policies.
Wellington-Altus recognized as Canada’s top-rated investment dealer for sixth consecutive year
Wellington-Altus Private Wealth has been recognized as Canada’s top-rated investment dealer in the 2025 Brokerage Report Card for the sixth consecutive year.
Independent Advisor Solutions Partners with Fiera Capital to Launch Canadian High Conviction Equities
Independent Advisor Solutions today announced a strategic partnership with Fiera Capital Corporation (“Fiera”), one of Canada’s leading independent asset managers.
May Market Insights: From Hegemony to Balance
In an era of unprecedented geopolitical and economic shifts, the Mar-a-Lago Accord signals a decisive, disruptive strategy by the U.S. to redefine its global influence and economic stability. Moving beyond unipolar dominance, the U.S. aims to reshape the international order through strategic tariffs, security realignments, financial innovations, and institutional reforms—guided by historical lessons and Keynesian principles. This approach seeks to address systemic imbalances—notably the overvaluation of the dollar and unsustainable debt levels—by fostering growth, innovation, reindustrialization, and regional resilience.
Wellington-Altus Founder and Chair Charlie Spiring named to the Order of Manitoba
Wellington-Altus is pleased to learn that Charlie Spiring, Founder and Chair of the company, has been appointed to the prestigious Order of Manitoba.
Canadian Election Special Market Insights: Carney’s Canada
Now that the Canadian election is over and Mark Carney has won, the hard part begins. The campaign trail is behind him; the spotlight now shifts to the daunting reality of governing a nation under siege from global headwinds and domestic skepticism.
April Market Insights: Embracing a Multipolar World
The signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 didn’t just end the Thirty Years’ War; it reshaped the global order. It established state sovereignty and balance-of-power principles that have governed international relations for centuries.
Wellington-Altus Expands Leadership Team with Three Key Executive Appointments
Wellington-Altus is pleased to announce three strategic appointments aimed at strengthening advisor support and accelerating the firm’s continued growth.
2025 Personal Tax Planning Cards
Download our province and territory-specific 2025 Tax Planning Cards.
Alberta Tax Planning Card
British Columbia Tax Planning Card
Manitoba Tax Planning Card
Personal and Corporate Tax Integration Reference Cards 2025
Download our province and territory-specific 2025 Personal and Corporate Tax Integration Reference Card below.
2025 Tax Resources
2025 Wellington-Altus Corporate Tax Reference Card LIF and RLIF Minimum & Maximum Factors Personal and Corporate Tax Integration Reference Cards Personal Tax Planning Cards
March Market Insights: From Trump’s Demands to Canada’s Destiny
Bismarck’s 19th-century declaration about the changing realities of geopolitics resonates today as the global economic order undergoes seismic shifts. For decades, Canada and the U.S. have shared a mutually beneficial trade relationship, underpinned by the post-Second World War framework of free trade agreements and multilateral cooperation. However, Donald Trump’s presidency revealed cracks in this foundation.
February Market Insights: From Extremes To Centre
In today’s politically charged atmosphere, it can feel as though standing for anything less than radical extremes invites scorn. As we entered 2025, a surprising emergence of centrist economic policies is reshaping our political discourse, defying party lines and pushing back against the extremes that have dominated the conversation.
Making the Most of Canadian Registered Accounts: A Quick Reference Guide
Canadians have access to a plethora of tax-preferred vehicles for saving and investing, each of which provides unique planning opportunities and trade-offs, as well as their own rules and conditions that must be followed.
Independent Advisor Solutions Adds to Exclusive Canadian Retail Partnership with Apollo; Continues Mission to Power Advisor Portfolios
Independent Advisor Solutions has announced the next phase in its exclusive retail partnership with Apollo, a leading provider of alternative assets and retirement solutions.
Federal Government Defers Capital Gains Inclusion Rate Increase to 2026
The Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, announced that the federal government will postpone the implementation of the proposed increase to the capital gains inclusion rate—from one-half to two-thirds. Originally set to take effect on June 25, 2024, the new proposed implementation date is now January 1, 2026.
RRSP
RRSP 101 Understanding the RRSP Deduction Limit Statement
Calculating 2025 RRIF Minimum Withdrawals
For clients who have rolled their Registered Retirement Savings Plan (“RRSP”) over to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (“RRIF”) or who have an existing RRIF account in 2024, the following information outlines how their 2025 minimum withdrawal will be calculated. All RRIF withdrawals are reported as pension income on a T4RIF slip.
Understanding the RRSP Deduction Limit Statement
Every year clients look at the RRSP Deduction Limit Statement on their Notice of Assessment and ask similar questions:
Tax-Free First Home Savings Account
The First Home Savings Account (“FHSA”) was introduced in the 2022 Federal Budget to address the increasing difficulty Canadians are experiencing in buying a first home due to rising real estate values. The FHSA is intended to help Canadians save and fulfill their dreams of home ownership.
TFSAs 101
The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) allows Canadians to save and invest funds tax free in order to fund a wide variety of short and long-term financial goals. TFSAs were introduced in 2009 to provide Canadians with an additional tax-advantaged account to augment their savings for longer-term needs such as retirement, or for more immediate goals such as a vacation or vehicle
2024 Tax Resources
2024 Wellington-Altus Corporate Tax Reference Card Personal Tax Planning Cards LIF and RLIF Minimum & Maximum Factors Personal and Corporate Tax Integration Reference Cards 2024 Form T1135 – Foreign Income Verification Statement 2024 Canada/U.S. Cross-border Tax Reference Card Income Tax Information Slips: Important Dates Income Tax Returns: Important Dates and Deadlines
Deadline Reminder: 2024 Prescribed Rate Loan Interest Payment
Clients who have implemented a prescribed rate loan should be reminded to pay the appropriate interest relating to the 2024 year on or before January 30, 2025.
Prorogation Purgatory: What Parliament’s Shutdown Means for Proposed Tax Changes
On January 6, 2025, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned, effective upon selection of a new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and requested that Parliament be prorogued.
January Market Insights: The Digital Gold Rush
In our fast-paced world, we often overlook the long arc of evolution. With a new administration set to take control in Washington, it’s timely to reflect on the evolution of the U.S. dollar.
Independent Advisor Solutions Announces Exclusive Canadian Partnership with Apollo to Power Advisor Portfolios
WINNIPEG, TORONTO, and MONTRÉAL, Wednesday, December 18, 2024 /CNW/ — Independent Advisor Solutions Inc. (Independent Advisor Solutions)—a wholly owned subsidiary of Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus)—is pleased to announce an exclusive retail partnership with Apollo (NYSE: APO), a leading provider of alternative assets and retirement solutions.
2024 Fall Economic Statement
On December 16, 2024, amid a tumultuous day at Parliament Hill, the Federal Government released its heavily delayed 2024 Fall Economic Statement (FES 2024). Earlier that day, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. In her absence, FES 2024 was tabled, but not presented or debated in the House, while the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc was being sworn in as Canada’s new Minister of Finance.
Year-End Personal Tax Tips for 2024
Tax planning is a year-round activity, however as 2024 comes to an end, there are several key opportunities to take advantage of available credits, deductions, and savings.
Wellington-Altus Explores Strategic Minority Share Sale to Drive Shareholder Value
Wellington-Altus is launching an exploratory minority secondary share sale process as part of its ongoing strategy to accelerate and enhance shareholder value for the firm and its partners.
December Market Insights: A Year In Review
As we reflect on the market journey from late 2023 to the present and look ahead to 2025, the resilience and dynamism of the global economy stand out as defining characteristics. Throughout this period, a bullish outlook has been maintained, often swimming against the tide of mainstream opinion. This perspective has proven valuable as markets navigated through economic and political terrains, embodying the Dickensian sentiment of the best, and worst of times.
Independent Advisor Solutions Announces Relationship with Goldman Sachs to Power Advisor Portfolios
Independent Advisor Solutions is pleased to announce a relationship with Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a leading investor across fixed income, liquidity, equity, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions.
Individual Pension Plans
Individual Pension Plans (IPPs) can be a valuable retirement planning tool for incorporated professionals, business owners, or key employees of a company who are not part of a registered pension plan.
U.S. Election Special Market Insights: American System 2.0
As the Roman philosopher and statesman Lucius Annaeus Seneca once said: “Yield not to adversity; trust not to prosperity; keep before your eyes the full scope of Fortune’s power, as if she would surely do whatever is in her power to do.”
Wellington-Altus Announces Three New Leadership Roles to Support Advisors and Accelerate Growth Trajectory
Wellington-Altus has announced the creation of three new leadership roles, including two executive-level positions, to support its exceptional growth trajectory and continue its mission of delivering unparalleled levels of advisor support.
November Market Insights: Money For Nothing
The Illusion of Easy Wealth in Today’s Economy “That ain’t workin’ that’s the way you do it; Money for nothing and your chicks for free.” – Dire Straits Download this PDF here. There are moments in life that leave a lasting impression. For me, two significant memories from the 1985 Live Aid concert stand out: […]
October Market Insights: The Great Delusion
Are We Trapped in a Cycle of Change That Never Changes? A Forecast for 2025 and Beyond “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” – Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr Download this PDF here. The Mirage of Recovery: How We’re Fooling OurselvesAs we emerge from the shadow of COVID-19, a narrative of robust economic […]
Wellington-Altus Launches Independent Advisor Solutions to Enhance Experience and Accelerate Growth
WINNIPEG, TORONTO, and MONTRÉAL, Wednesday, October 2, 2024 /CNW/ Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus), parent company to Canada’s top-rated* investment dealer, Wellington-Altus Private Wealth, today launched Independent Advisor Solutions Inc., a new wholly-owned subsidiary as part of its backing for the growing number of Canadian advisors who are seeking an independent platform that champions individual autonomy and delivers the key supports required to care for clients and accelerate the growth of their practices.
Wellington-Altus Ranked One of Canada’s Top Growing Companies
WINNIPEG, TORONTO, and MONTRÉAL, September 27, 2024 /CNW/ — Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus), parent company to Canada’s top-rated investment dealer*, today announced its placement on The Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s Top Growing Companies for 2024—the second consecutive year the firm has earned this recognition, demonstrating its impressive growth trajectory. Since its genesis in April […]
Executor’s Checklist
As an estate executor, you may face unfamiliar responsibilities and questions, during an often highly emotional time. The good news is your Wellington-Altus advisor and our experienced team of tax and estate professionals are here to help. Among the various tools and estate planning strategies available to you, we’ve created this handy checklist* which outlines five key phases and associated tasks to help you effectively and confidently settle an estate.
Wellington-Altus Announces Credit Facility With Ares Management, Providing Long-Term Capital to Fuel Growth
Wellington-Altus, parent company to Canada’s top-rated* investment dealer, has announced a new credit facility from credit funds managed by Ares Management that provides Wellington-Altus with access to significant capital as it continues its growth trajectory.
September Market Insights: Trump’s Trade War
Tales of empires are as old as civilization itself. From ancient Mesopotamia to Rome, from the Mongols to the British, history is replete with stories of great powers that rose to dominate vast swaths of territory, only to eventually crumble under the weight of their ambitions. The United States of America, as the preeminent global superpower of the modern era, finds itself at a critical juncture in this age-old narrative.
Wellington-Altus Acquires Wickham Investment Counsel to Expand Presence in Ontario
Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus), parent company to Canada’s top-rated* investment dealer, has announced the acquisition of investment management firm, Wickham Investment Counsel Inc. (Wickham), located in Hamilton and Burlington, Ontario.
August Market Insights: Trump’s Fiscal Frenzy
At this very moment, the U.S. faces a fiscal predicament which urgently calls for proactive measures following the 2024 presidential election. The nation’s mounting debt crisis demands immediate attention, yet neither party has outlined a clear strategy to address this pressing issue. This election cycle has had no shortage of historic events, from the attempted assassination of Former President and Republican Nominee Donald Trump to Vice President Kamala Harris replacing President Joe Biden as the Democratic Nominee. Yet the underlying fiscal dilemma, if left unaddressed, risks triggering an economic crisis that even Wall Street may be underestimating—dismissing U.S. debt concerns as mere cautionary tales.
July Market Insights: Navigating The Dual Revolutions
Mark Twain once delivered a sobering reminder of humanity’s tendency to disregard transformative ideas while allowing misconceptions to persist. As we stand on the precipice of two seismic shifts—the AI revolution and an impending fiscal storm—his words resonate profoundly.
Wellington-Altus Recognized as Canada’s Top-Rated Investment Dealer for Fifth Consecutive Year
Wellington-Altus has been recognized as Canada’s top-rated investment dealer for the fifth consecutive year in the 2024 Brokerage Report Card.
June Market Insights: The Grand Chessboard
In the complex arena of global finance, as in geopolitics, strategic positioning can be just as crucial as raw power. This insight comes from Polish-American diplomat and political scientist Zbigniew Brzezinski in his book The Grand Chessboard, which offers a compelling parallel to the world of investing. Brzezinski’s analogy paints a vivid picture where nations are likened to chess pieces, with their geographic locations and potential weaknesses playing a pivotal role in the grand strategy of international relations.
Wellington-Altus Surpasses $30 Billion AUA Milestone, Continues Exponential Growth Trajectory
Wellington-Altus has exceeded the remarkable milestone of $30 billion in assets under administration (AUA) in just seven years since inception, continuing its parabolic growth.
May Market Insights: Out Of Options
U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, deeply mindful of Arthur Burns’ missteps and inspired by Paul Volcker’s tenacity, is fully cognisant of the historical significance of his role. I have consistently argued that Powell would benefit from studying William McChesney Martin’s tenure as the first post-Second World War Federal Reserve Chair in the 1950s. Martin adeptly navigated through a period of fiscal dominance, a pattern that is emerging once again. As Sir Winston Churchill implied, focusing on the wrong historical period can lead to policy errors and financial turmoil.
Highlights from the 2024 Federal Budget
The 2024 Federal Budget, tabled on April 16, 2024, provides a mix of expected measures and a few surprises. In line with the announcements leading up to Budget Day, Budget 2024 outlines a multitude of measures targeted at housing affordability and the cost of living.
April Market Insights: Greenspan’s Game Of Thrones
We are at a pivotal moment in history, one that former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan might liken to a historical juncture, where the intertwined narratives obscure the uniqueness of our era. As we contend with a world that echoes the tumult of epics like War and Peace or Game of Thrones, we are in the midst of a “Fourth Turning”—a period of intense demographic, technological, and structural change that recurs approximately every 80 years.
CIRO Policy Options for Leveling the Advisor Compensation Playing Field
Alignment with Industry Perspective & CIRO Commitments. We are in alignment with the Investment Industry Association of Canada (IIAC) on several fronts, particularly on the importance of enabling incorporation options for advisors.
No Drama: Plan for a Smooth Family Business Succession
Succession planning is vital to ensuring the orderly transition of a family business from one generation to the next.
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) – What’s new for 2024?
Most Canadians are familiar with CPP, which provides retirement, disability, survivor, and death benefits for individuals that have been employed in Canada.1 CPP is funded by mandatory annual contributions by employees, employers and self-employed individuals based on their CPP pensionable earnings, which typically include salary, wages or other remuneration, commissions, bonuses, most taxable benefits, and tips/ gratuities.
Foreign Spin-offs
Many Canadian shareholder investors (“investor”) own foreign securities. Occasionally a foreign corporation (“original corporation”) will spin-off a subsidiary or business line to its shareholders, so the subsidiary becomes a separate, publicly traded corporation (“spin-off corporation”). In this situation, the investor now owns two separate foreign securities.
March Market Insights: The Financial Storm Is Coming
It’s All About Timing. Navigating macro investing poses the challenge of not only identifying key events but also timing their occurrence. The hardest part is indeed getting the timing right. With Japan and the United Kingdom in recession, and Germany likely to follow, the global economic landscape is increasingly fraught with challenges. The downturn in these major economies, coupled with China’s dramatic slowdown and deflationary trends, points to a broader malaise across global markets.
Investing in a Corporation
For business owners or incorporated practitioners that generate surplus funds not required to meet personal lifestyle needs or the needs of the business or practice, the question becomes how to maximize the value of these funds?
February Market Insights: Trump’s Shadow
As we enter a presidential election year in the U.S., financial markets are resonating with historical echoes. One can particularly recognize the rise of populism after the Civil War, which parallels today’s socio political dynamics. This comparison challenges the conventional wisdom about investing in a world that is constantly evolving. Concomitantly, there are parallels to the post-Second World War era, notably the extreme levels of debt which rival only today. As the war ended and life got back to normal, a growth scare and deflation resulted. Hence my thesis that our transition period out of COVID-19 has all the earmarks of a transitional period of secular stagnation and deflation.
January Market Insights: Is There Something Rotten In The State Of Canada?
In this sequel to Is There Something Rotten in the State of Canada? we delve further into the complex web of monetary and fiscal policies that seem at odds with one another, evoking the drama of a Shakespearean play.
The New Rules for Trust Reporting: Four Unexpected Scenarios
The new enhanced trust reporting rules (“new trust rules”) may catch certain Canadian trusts or informal trust arrangements considered Bare Trusts, that previously did not have to file an annual Trust Income and Tax Information Return (“T3 Return”).
Trust Reporting Rules
Understanding the New Reporting Requirements for Trusts The New Rules for Trust Reporting: Four Unexpected Scenarios
Wellington-Altus Appoints Steph Condra as Chief Experience Officer, Continues Elevation of Advisor Support
Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. has announced the appointment of Steph Condra to the new role of Executive Vice-President, Chief Experience Officer (CXO).
Deadline Reminder: 2023 Prescribed Rate Loan Interest Payment
Clients who have implemented a prescribed rate loan should be reminded to pay the appropriate interest relating
to the 2022 year on or before January 30, 2023.
Final Thoughts For 2023: Unveiling The Path To A 1.75% Federal Funds Rate
In the realm of economic forecasting, the concept of a trilemma emerges as a thought-provoking framework. This trilemma, which I refer to as the Truman-Gandhi-Churchill trilemma (or the TGC trilemma), encapsulates the perspectives of three influential figures: former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the 33rd President of the United States Harry S. Truman, and the revered Indian political leader Mahatma Gandhi.
Year-End Personal Tax Tips for 2023
Tax planning is a year-round activity, however as 2023 comes to an end, there are several key opportunities to take advantage of available credits, deductions, and savings.
Estate Planning: Getting the Details Right
When it comes to estate planning, co-ordination of documents and details such as beneficiary designations matter. A lack of planning and out of date or incomplete documentation can result in additional costs, delays and taxes for your estate, or a loss of control over certain aspects, such as the guardianship of minor children and/or how you want your assets to be distributed when you die.
Wellington-Altus Attracts Additional Capital to Fuel Parabolic Growth
Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus), parent company to Canada’s top-rated wealth management company*, announced today that it has attracted $40 million in a second-round growth equity investment from The Cynosure Group (Cynosure).
December Market Insights: 2024 Forecast
Ray Kurzweil, computer scientist and futurist, once said, “The past is over; the present is fleeting; we live in the future.” This sentiment echoes through our current moment as we stand on the threshold of an era defined by technological advancement, navigating a myriad of complex challenges and opportunities.
Industry Veteran Andrew Marsh Joins Wellington-Altus Board of Directors
Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus), parent company to Canada’s top-rated wealth management firm*, today announced the appointment of Andrew Marsh to its Board of Directors. Wellington-Altus has grown its assets under administration (AUA) to over $25 billion since its genesis in April 2017 and continues to strategically expand its advisory team to support the firm’s parabolic growth.
2023 Fall Economic Statement
On November 21, 2023, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland delivered the 2023 Fall Economic Statement (FES 2023), a mid-fiscal year update that was narrower in focus than previous economic statements.
November Market Insights: Riding The Bull In The Midst Of Chaos
In the investment world, volatility and uncertainty often reign, evoking a sense of unease. Remembering the call for 3000 on the S&P 500 Index in late 2022, the recent correction at 4600 might seem unnerving. Yet, like the hopeful message in Steely Dan’s song Any Major Dude Will Tell You, we should maintain our resilience, knowing that things will eventually fall together again.
Financial Literacy and Children: Keep it Relatable at Every Age
How can we raise financially confident children and grandchildren in an increasingly complex world filled with distractions? Many of our clients, for example, are concerned that the next generation won’t possess the financial literacy needed to inherit family wealth.
October Market Insights: Is There Something Rotten In The State Of Canada?
In the grand theatre of Canadian economic governance, a clandestine struggle is waging, echoing the dramatic narratives of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, once dismissive of monetary policy, now finds himself locked in a power struggle with the enigmatic Bank of Canada.
Wellington-Altus Ranked One of Canada’s Top Growing Companies
Wellington-Altus Financial Inc., parent company to the number-one wealth advisory firm in Canada, * has today announced its inaugural placement on Globe and Mail’s list of Canada’s Top Growing Companies for 2023.
Solving The Retirement Funding Puzzle
While generally a cause for celebration, retirement often comes with its fair share of financial anxiety. Research indicates that many people fear outliving their savings, resulting in an inability to enjoy life to the fullest throughout retirement.
September Market Insights: The Fed’s High-Wire Act
The adage, “Discretion is the better part of valour,” has never been more pertinent as the U.S. Federal Reserve cautiously navigates between the perils of inflation and deflation. In the world of economic policy, the Federal Reserve finds itself delicately engaged in a balancing act akin to a tightrope walker traversing a starlit sky obscured by clouds.
August Market Insights: Unveiling The Crystal Ball
In early 2021, I presented a thesis regarding the latest inflation episode and its potential economic implications. At that time, I shared a perspective that differed from the prevailing narrative.
RESP Withdrawal Decision Tree
When withdrawing from an RESP, there are a variety of considerations to keep in mind, such as is this the first time the beneficiary is attending post-secondary education, are they attending full or part-time, and what makes the most sense – withdrawing EAP and/or PSE.
Intergenerational Business Transfers: Where are we now?
The transfer of family businesses to the next generation has long been a contentious tax issue. Owners rightfully expect the same tax benefits when selling their businesses to their children or other relatives as if they had sold to a third-party purchaser. Fiscal policy, meanwhile, aims to ensure that such sales to family are authentic
Wellington-Altus Evolves Leadership and Readies for Parabolic Growth
The firm has been strategically preparing for its continued growth trajectory, and this has been a key area of focus and planning over the last six months. Wellington-Altus’ leadership continues to evolve and is ready for this next phase, including an elevated structure for advisor support.
The Ins and Outs of RDSPs
A Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a tax-sheltered savings vehicle designed to help families
ensure the long-term financial security of a loved one affected by disability.
July Market Insights: Wall Street Is About To Embrace Crypto, And It’s Not What You Think!
There is an old saying, “never let a good crisis go to waste.” And true to form, Wall Street is capitalizing on the current chaos within the digital asset space. Many will be surprised, but those who take a minute to review how society has historically absorbed innovations will understand that what’s occurring is quite normal. Blockchain’s time has come, and Wall Street is embracing it.
June Market Insights: Is AI The Next Goldrush?
We believe that an AI-driven productivity growth investment boom will be this cycle’s Gold Rush, and when coupled with demographics (Millennials), should provide the catalysts to reignite the secular bull market into the next decade.
Wellington-Altus Ranked #1 Investment Firm in Canada
Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. today announced that its private wealth division, Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc., has retained its top spot as Canada’s number-one investment advisory firm in the 2023 Brokerage Report Card, for the fourth consecutive year.
Alternative Minimum Tax – When Does It Apply, How, And For Whom?
Background. The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)1 is a second, alternate tax liability calculation that Canadian individuals and trusts must consider annually in parallel with their normal tax liability. First introduced in 1986, AMT was implemented to promote and maintain fairness within Canada’s income tax regime.
May Market Insights: The FTX Fiasco Has Nothing To Do With Blockchain Adoption.
With the collapse of FTX and the fraud surrounding the crypto space, many have jumped to the incorrect
conclusion that the era of blockchain is over, done, akin to the long list of bubbles throughout history.
Unfortunately, fraud happens all the time. As former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan states:
“Corruption, embezzlement, fraud, these are all characteristics which exist everywhere.” Thus, the
FTX scandal will not stop blockchain—an open-source, transparent, distributed-ledger innovation—
from transforming business practices.
How Should I Compensate Myself: Salary Or Dividends?
Everyone’s situation is unique.
Tax is important, but incorporated business owners and professionals should also consider retirement planning, lifestyle and corporate cash flow needs when deciding to take compensation as salary, dividends, or a combination of the two.
Wellington-Altus Welcomes Jon Kilfoyle to Leadership Team
Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus), parent company to Canada’s top-rated wealth management company*, today welcomed Jon Kilfoyle as Executive Vice-President, Products & Platforms of Wellington-Altus Financial Inc.
Real Estate and U.S. Taxes: The Cost of Ownership
For many Canadians who are not otherwise U.S. persons (“Canadian”), owning property in the U.S. may represent an investment opportunity,
a home away from home and an escape from the colder winter months.
Planning for Families Affected by Disabilities
More than one-fifth of Canadians over the age of 18 are living with disabilities, often with special needs which can entail significant costs. There is a vast network of supports, programs and tax rules designed to assist Canadians and ease the financial burden that can sometimes accompany a disability,
Reducing Household Taxes Through CPP Sharing
If you are collecting or have applied to collect your Canada Pension Plan retirement pension benefits (CPP) and have a spouse or common-law partner (CLP) in a lower tax bracket, you may want to consider sharing your CPP benefits with them. Let’s look at the “why, how, what and when” of CPP sharing.
April Market Insights: It Looks Like This Holy Fool Was Right, What Now?
Since 2020, I’ve been one of the few holy fools that put forth the thesis that aggressively raising rates into a highly levered global economy would result in another financial crisis. My sin was questioning aggressive rate hikes based on the belief that low unemployment causes inflation. But now, after the events of recent weeks and the banking crisis in the U.S. and Europe, it looks like the inconvenient truths have come home to roost—again.
Economic and Tax Highlights from the 2023 Federal Budget
Budget 2023 outlined the government’s plans to build a stronger, more sustainable and secure Canadian economy against a backdrop of slower global growth, elevated global interest rates, and high inflation.
March Market Insights: Fire and Ice – The Fight Between Inflation and Deflation
In today’s current market environment, we see the forces of inflation and deflation are at work. Central bankers are and should be concerned about price stability, but too many assume that price stability is only a one-way street.
February Market Insights: Apocalypse Delayed – The U.S. Debt-Ceiling Debate
If the U.S. was to default on its debt obligations, it would cause investors to flee from U.S. Treasuries, leading to a decrease in confidence in U.S. government debt and the U.S. Dollar (USD) as being the medium of exchange for the global economy.
Naming Your Executor: Friend or Pro?
A key element of estate planning is choosing an executor, someone you trust to carry out the instructions in your will. To ensure that the administration of your estate is completed efficiently and economically, it’s important to carefully evaluate your needs and choose your executor wisely.
Retirement Readiness: 10 Questions to Support the Planning Process
It’s never too early to start planning the retirement you desire. But do you have a clear idea of how you want to spend your time, and if you have the means to support the lifestyle you envision?
Key Considerations When Planning for Retirement
Canadians have historically relied upon employer-sponsored pension plans, government benefits and their
own assets—including rising real estate prices—to cover their financial needs in retirement.
Wellington-Altus Welcomes Dennis Stewner to Leadership Team
Today, Wellington-Altus is proud to announce that Dennis Stewner will join the firm as Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, subject to all regulatory approvals. Trevor Coates will continue to act in his executive role, on an interim basis, to support the transition over the coming months.
January Market Insights: The 2023 Market Forecast – The Pause that Refreshes
To be clear, raising interest rates does not solve supply-side shocks. Nor does it, in the short term, stop governments from implementing inflationary fiscal policy.
5 Year-End Personal Tax Tips for 2022
While tax planning should be viewed as a year-round activity, there are several actions that can help you take full advantage of available credits, deductions and other savings as the year draws to a close.
November Market Insights: Trump, Gridlock And What It Means For Investors In 2023
Using the 1994-95 midterm election as our guide, we suggest that the conditions for a less aggressive Fed are starting to be in place. The effects of the twin supply shocks are working through the global economy. Money supply growth has dramatically declined.
Donating Shares: A Tax-Efficient Form of Philanthropy
When it comes to philanthropy, Canadians today are more intentional, want to see the impact of their gift, and are giving more. With intentional philanthropy, clients should address the following questions…
Highlights from the 2022 Federal Fall Economic Statement
The government is confident that the Canadian economy will withstand the global economic slowdown that is anticipated by many. While Canada’s unemployment rate is at multi-decade lows, and its economic growth has outperformed its G7 peers’ year to date, admittedly its strong recovery post-Covid 19 is slowing down.
Canadian Snowbirds and U.S. Taxes: Avoiding Turbulence
Canadian residents who routinely fly south to escape the cold winters at home may not be aware that they could face U.S. tax consequences. This article looks at how spending extended periods in the U.S. can subject Canadians who are not otherwise U.S. taxpayers
Wellington-Altus Leverages Conquest Planning’s Next Evolution of Wealth Planning Software to Elevate the Advisor and Client Experience
WINNIPEG, TORONTO, and MONTREAL, October 25, 2022 — Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus) and Conquest Planning Inc. (Conquest) announce the launch of Conquest’s leading-edge artificial intelligence wealth planning software to support Wellington-Altus advisors in delivering personalized wealth planning solutions to existing and prospective clients. “This is an exciting opportunity to partner with a best-in-class platform to […]
Earlier or Later? Deciding When to Start Canada Pension Plan Retirement Benefits
Many individuals approaching retirement wonder if there is an optimal age to begin taking their Canada Pension Plan retirement pension benefits (CPP).
October Market Insights: Is The Fed Repeating The Mistake Of 1937?
The long-term ramifications of the recent OPEC+ decision to cut output and the war in Europe have yet to be fully felt in terms of geopolitics, economic growth, and earnings growth. The North American energy industry is on the cusp of a new renaissance. Under the radar, liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants are being built in the Gulf of Mexico.
Communicate Your Wishes: Advanced Healthcare Directives
What is an Advanced Healthcare
Directive? An Advanced Healthcare Directive (“AHD”) is a legal document providing instructions for your personal care and/or healthcare decisions when you are not capable of making those decisions yourself.
Death and Taxes: Awareness and Understanding of Multiple Terminal Tax Returns
There are many reasons why preparing income tax returns for a deceased individual in the year of death can be complicated. However, we would be remiss to not recognize the planning opportunities available in appropriate client situations.
Aircraft, Vessels and Vehicles: The New Luxury Tax
First announced in the 2021 Federal Budget, the new luxury tax will apply to sales, leases, and imports in Canada of certain luxury recreational aircraft, vessels, and vehicles delivered on or after September 1, 2022.
September Market Insights: Waiting for Godot
As I recommended in June, my high-conviction trade was buying government bonds at the long end of the yield curve. We also recommended investors use the volatility of the summer market to add to high-quality equity secular growth names that perform well in a slow-growth environment.
Wellington-Altus Expands Footprint in Quebec
WINNIPEG, TORONTO and MONTREAL, September 6, 2022 – Wellington-Altus Financial (Wellington-Altus) reinforces Quebec expansion with state-of-the-art branch opening in Montreal’s downtown core. “Quebec is an important market to Wellington-Altus, and we are delighted to have a new office in the heart of the downtown financial community,” said Jordy Chilcott, President. “With a track record of incredible growth across […]
August Market Insights: The Global Economy has its Hamlet Moment
Rebirth or a Financial Crisis Download this PDF here. “To be or not to be, that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” — Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1, William Shakespeare Words and phrases derive much of their meaning from the context in which […]
Our Firm’s Independence
We take pride in our firm’s independent model, and so do our advisors. Learn more about how they benefit from having the freedom to run their own businesses and visit join-wellington.ca for more details. #UnstoppableMomentum
July Market Insights: The Fed & Its Use of Economic Coercion
This is Not Coin-Flip Policymaking Download this article as a PDF. “Every theory is a self-fulfilling prophecy that orders experience into the framework it provides.” — Ruth Hubbard The old saying “don’t fight the Fed” has been a golden rule in investing that has served investors well for many decades. Yet, today, confidence in the […]
June Market Insights: The Fed, From Tragedy to Rebirth?
Just Follow the Path of the Credit Markets Download this article as a PDF. “Always make the audience suffer as much as possible.” — Alfred Hitchcock Alfred Hitchcock once suggested that drama is life with the dull parts cut out. Given the state of the financial markets, this has never been more relevant than it […]
Wellington-Altus Partners with CapIntel to Put More Innovation in Advisors’ Hands
CapIntel’s partnership with Wellington-Altus reflects the wealth management industry’s growing adoption of technology platforms that support advisors in delivering better outcomes for clients. WINNIPEG, TORONTO, and MONTREAL, May 26, 2022 — CapIntel, a leading financial technology company that improves day-to-day workflow efficiency and fund analysis for financial advisors announces a strategic relationship with Wellington-Altus Financial […]
Wellington-Altus Again Ranked #1 Investment Advisory Firm in Canada
WINNIPEG, MB, TORONTO, and MONTREAL, May 16, 2022 /CNW/ — Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. announced today that its private wealth division, Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc., has again been rated the number-one investment advisory firm in the 2022 Brokerage Report Card, conducted by industry publication, Investment Executive—its third year in the coveted spot. With an overall rating […]
May Market Insights: A Secret War to Control the Fed?
The Danger of Bowing to Political Pressure Download this article as a PDF. “You are what your record says you are.” — Bill Parcells Author Michael Lewis reminds us of the consequences that can emerge when independent bodies succumb to political pressure. In his latest book, The Premonition, he suggests that the politicization of the […]
Celebrating Five Incredible Years!
This month marks the fifth anniversary of Wellington-Altus, and we have lots to celebrate! On behalf of our Founders and Executive team, thank you all for everything that you’ve done to help us get to where we are today and fueling our unstoppable momentum! Celebratory video: See what our team members across the country have to say […]
Economic and Tax Highlights from the 2022 Federal Budget
To the relief of all Canadian taxpayers and contrary to widespread speculation, the government did not increase the capital gains inclusion rate, nor were changes announced to the appropriate use of the principal residence exemption.
April Market Insights: Detonating a Tactical Financial Nuclear Weapon
Sowing the Seeds of a New Financial World Order? Download this article as a PDF. “With proper tactics, nuclear war need not be as destructive as it appears.” – Dr. Henry A. Kissinger The Ukraine/Russia crisis has highlighted a historic moment in the evolution of geopolitical balance. While the humanitarian perspective cannot be overlooked — […]
Wellington-Altus Elevates Shaun Hauser to CEO and Jordy Chilcott to President in Strategic Leadership Moves
WINNIPEG, TORONTO, and MONTREAL, March 21, 2022—Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus), the number-one wealth advisory company in Canada,* is pleased to announce the appointments of Shaun Hauser to CEO, Wellington-Altus Financial, and Jordy Chilcott to President,** Wellington-Altus Private Wealth & Wellington-Altus Insurance, in a strategic leadership shift that seats the industry veterans in two of the […]
March Market Insights: Peak Inflation, Saved by Inertia?
Peak Inflation: Saved by Inertia? Download this article as a PDF. “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?” – Simon & Garfunkel Given the continuing calls by market pundits for 50 basis point (bps) inter-meeting rate hikes — even while the Fed balance sheet is still expanding — or seven rate hikes in 2022 — despite […]
February Market Insights: Is the Federal Reserve Losing its Independence?
Is the Federal Reserve Losing its Independence? Download this article as a PDF. “Grin and bear it.” – Alan Greenspan to Janet Yellen, 2016. When U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump accused the Federal Reserve of political bias in 2016, then-Chair Janet Yellen was given some advice: “Grin and bear it.” Indeed, there is a demarcation […]
January Market Insights: The Year of the Fed
The Maradona & Cantillon Effects: 2022 — The Year of The Fed! Download this article as a PDF. “I am Maradona, who makes goals, who makes mistakes I can take it all, I have shoulders big enough to fight with everybody.” – Diego Maradona Often referred to as the “goal of the century,” Diego Maradona, […]
Wellington-Altus Forges Strategic Partnership with Envestnet to Empower Advisors with Industry-Leading Solutions
WINNIPEG, TORONTO, MONTREAL, and CHICAGO, December 14, 2021—Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus), the number-one wealth advisory company in Canada*, and Envestnet, Inc., a leading provider of intelligent systems for wealth management, announce a strategic partnership to provide Wellington-Altus advisors with access to a unified financial wellness ecosystem supporting intelligently connected advisor and client experiences. “We’re forging ahead […]
December Market Insights by James Thorne: The Law of the Hammer
The Law of the Hammer: A Volcker Shock in 2022? Download this article as a PDF. “It’s burning down the house to roast the pig.” —Robert Solow, Nobel Prize Winner, Economics (1987) The concept of the “law of the hammer,” attributed to psychologist Abraham Maslow, suggests that humans can often be biased to have an over-reliance […]
Retirement Planning Tips
It’s easy to put off retirement planning, but sometimes retirement just happens unexpectedly. It always has a way of arriving sooner than expected. When should individuals start retirement planning? Today, tomorrow or whenever possible, it is also not a one-time event. Having a retirement plan promotes accountability and formulates a desired goal. Having a retirement plan […]
Wellington-Altus Attracts Up to $85 Million in Minority Partner Capital to Fuel Future Growth
WINNIPEG, TORONTO and MONTREAL – November 2, 2021/CNW/ – Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus), Canada’s pre-eminent independent comprehensive wealth management company, with approximately $20 billion in assets under administration, announced today that it has attracted minority growth equity investments from The Cynosure Group (Cynosure) and Jessiman Family Investments (JFI). As Wellington-Altus continues to gain momentum as […]
November Market Insights by James Thorne: Economic Squid Games
Economic Squid Games: China’s Enduring Mastery of Survival Download this article as a PDF. “We’ve already come too far to end this now.” – Sang-Woo, Squid Game Squid Game is a dark drama set in Korea that depicts the lengths some individuals will go to in order to try and eliminate their extreme levels of […]
Wellington-Altus Advisors Among Canada’s Best in New Top Wealth Advisor Ranking
Wellington-Altus Financial Inc. (Wellington-Altus) proudly announces that nine of the firm’s investment advisors have been recognized on the Globe and Mail’s inaugural ranking of Canada’s Top Wealth Advisors, a new annual list designed to celebrate excellence in the industry and help investors identify what greatness looks like when it comes to financial expertise.
October Market Insights by James Thorne: Stagflation
Stagnation or Change: Crypto and the End of the Petrodollar Download this article as a PDF. “Just follow the money.” – Deep Throat, All the President’s Men In 1972, while Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward were investigating the break-in of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate office complex, an informant provided the key to […]
Wellington-Altus Announces Expansion of National Footprint to Quebec
WINNIPEG, TORONTO and MONTREAL, September 14, 2021/CNW/ – Wellington-Altus Financial (Wellington-Altus), has officially begun its expansion into the Quebec market, building on a track record of remarkable growth for Canada’s top-rated advisory firm.* “While still in the early phase of our rollout, we are extremely eager to get up and running in Quebec, a market with incredible potential […]
September Market Insights by James Thorne: Covid’s Lasting Economic Scar
Covid’s Lasting Economic Scar & A Goldilocks 2022? Download this article as a PDF. “This porridge is just right.” – Goldilocks and the Three Bears As the delta variant exerts its strength, the world is coming to terms with the sobering reality that Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon. Since the pandemic began, […]
August Market Insights by James Thorne: The Case for Deflation
The Case for Deflation: Central Banks & Princes of the Yen Download this article as a PDF. “Central banks have the power to create economic, political and social change.” — Princes of the Yen, 2003. In his book, Princes of the Yen, Richard Werner warns us to never underestimate the central bank’s ability to achieve its agenda[1]. He […]
July Market Insights by James Thorne: Meme Stocks and Millennials
Meme Stocks, Millennials and The Fourth Turning Download this article as a PDF. “We are the middle children of history…raised on television to believe that one day we’d all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won’t. And we’re slowly learning that fact. And we’re very, very pissed off.” — Fight Club, 1999. […]
June Market Insights by James Thorne
Welcome to the Matrix: Cryptocurrencies Download this article as a PDF. “Denial is the most predictable of all human responses.” — The Architect, The Matrix, 1999. In The Matrix, one of the top cyberpunk movies of all time1, the protagonist, Neo, is offered the option of a red or blue pill by the rebel leader, […]
Wellington-Altus Welcomes Industry Veteran Gary Mayzes to Leadership Team
Wellington-Altus Private Wealth (Wellington-Altus) announced today that Gary Mayzes will join the firm as Senior Vice-President & Regional Manager, AB, SK, MB, effective June 1. Gary has more than 30 years of experience in advisory, branch management, regional management and head office executive roles, bringing a wide breadth of expertise and knowledge to the growing team across the region.
Wellington-Altus Again Ranked Best Investment Advisory Firm in Canada
Wellington-Altus Private Wealth (Wellington-Altus) has been rated as the number-one overall investment advisory firm in the 2021 Brokerage Report Card, conducted by industry publication, Investment Executive—marking the second consecutive year in the top spot.
Wellington-Altus Named One of Canada’s Best Managed Companies
Wellington-Altus Private Wealth has been recognized with the prestigious Canada’s Best Managed Companies designation for its overall business performance and sustained growth.
May Market Insights by James Thorne
Our Chief Market Strategist Dr. James Thorne shares his May Market Insights – Breaking Bad: Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) Going Mainstream.
Federal Budget Commentary
Download this article as a PDF. Economic and Tax Highlights from the 2021 Federal Budget “The truth is that the tragedy of COVID-19 has created a window of opportunity.” On April 19, 2021, Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland delivered the Liberal government’s first budget in over two […]
Wellington-Altus Welcomes Paula Kaner as Executive Vice-President & Chief Risk Officer
Wellington-Altus Holdings Inc. (Wellington-Altus) welcomes Paula Kaner as Executive Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer.
April Market Insights by James Thorne
A pivot by global central bankers – changes in policy responses, efforts to reduce income inequality and a focus on green initiatives – has created a foundation that is ripe for a commodities supercycle.
2021 Tax Planning Cards
Download our province- and territory-specific 2021 Tax Planning Cards below. Alberta Tax Planning Card British Columbia Tax Planning Card Manitoba Tax Planning Card New Brunswick Tax Planning Card Newfoundland and Labrador Tax Planning Card Northwest Territories Tax Planning Card Nova Scotia Tax Planning Card Nunavut Tax Planning Card Ontario Tax Planning Card Prince Edward Island […]
COVID-19 Benefits: Are They Taxable Income Receipts?
Download this article as a PDF. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a source of great financial hardship for many Canadians. In response, the Government of Canada has, and continues to provide a variety of benefits to both Canadian individuals and businesses to help support them financially through this difficult period. Here is a summary […]
WFH and COVID-19: Deducting Home Office Expenses as an Employee
Download this article as a PDF. COVID-19 has forced many employees to work from home (WFH) for the first time in their careers. It is estimated almost five million Canadians transitioned from working at an office to their home at the outbreak of COVID-19, joining approximately 1.8 million employees who already were working exclusively from […]
March Market Insights by James Thorne
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby Download this article as a PDF. Depicting a period of dramatic social, technological and economic change, The Great Gatsby, set in 1922, is often seen as a somber critique of the American […]
Wellington-Altus Holdings Inc. Strengthens Board of Directors with Appointment of David Feather
WINNIPEG and TORONTO, February 26, 2021/CNW/ – Wellington-Altus Holdings Inc. (Wellington-Altus) announced the appointment of David Feather to the holding company’s Board of Directors as an Independent Director. For more than 30 years, David has been a leader in Canada’s investment management industry and serves on several boards. David is currently Chairman of Russell Investments […]
Understanding RRSP Contributions, Deductions and Over-Contributions
Download this article as a PDF. A Registered Retirement Savings Plan (“RRSP”) is commonly used to help Canadian individual taxpayers (“Canadians”) save for their retirement. As well, Canadians can access the Home Buyers Plan or Lifelong Learning Plan if they have sufficient contributions in their RRSP and the required conditions are met. The theory behind […]
February Market Insights by James Thorne
On Darwinism: “In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best to their environment.” – Civilizations Past & Present, 1960 Download this article as a PDF. Often, it is not the strongest that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one […]
January Market Insights by James Thorne
“Vincit qui patitir.” – Latin proverb(Rough translation: “He who endures will conquer.”) After a year that few could have predicted, we look forward to a year that, for many, couldn’t have come soon enough. For 2021, we forecast another good year for risk assets. By the end of 2021, the S&P 500 has the potential […]
Wellington-Altus Welcomes Industry Leader Jordy Chilcott to Head Wealth Strategy and Enablement
WINNIPEG and TORONTO, December 1, 2020/CNW/ – Wellington-Altus Private Wealth (Wellington-Altus) is pleased to welcome Jordy Chilcott as Executive Vice-President, Wealth Strategy and Enablement in our Toronto office. For more than 30 years, Chilcott has been a leader in Canada’s wealth management industry and has held executive leadership positions across advisor management and asset management […]
Financial Literacy Month – Top Books From the Pros
As Financial Literacy Month 2020 comes to a close, our Investment Advisors and Advanced Wealth Planning Group shared their favourite personal finance books. Here are the Top 5:1. ‘The Wealthy Barber’ by David Chilton2. ‘Millionaire Next Door’ by Thomas J. Stanley3. ‘What Would the Rockefellers Do?’ By Garrett B. Gunderson4. ‘The Richest Man in Babylon’ by George […]
Financial Literacy Month – Tips From the Pros
In a recent national survey by FP Canada™, four-in-ten (39%) Canadians reported they do not have a financial plan. The survey also found that 35% are not confident they will achieve their financial goals. Financial planning is a process that enables participants to set goals, consolidate financial information, analyze decision-making, and catalyzes action. Individuals with […]
‘People are not appreciating how disenfranchised many advisors are’
Founder of fast-growing independent says mindset and tech infrastructure gives it distinct competitive advantage By James BurtonThis article was originally published November 24, 2020 on Wealth Professional Magazine. Shaun Hauser knew Wellington-Altus had to be on the right side of technology when it was formed three years ago. What he didn’t comprehend in its entirety was […]
Financial Literacy Month 2020
Wellington-Altus believes in the importance of financial literacy and embracing the role we play in supporting our clients and Canadians in this endeavour. That’s why throughout March, in honour of the 10th Anniversary of Financial Literacy Month, our AWPG featured a Q&A with WA. We’ve shared simple, impactful financial planning information sourced from our very […]
Which Work From Home (WFH) expenses can be deducted due to COVID-19?
Since mid-March, many Canadians have transitioned their businesses, altered their professional practices or began working from home almost exclusively. As Canadians are meeting clients, keeping in touch with patients or peers virtually from their homes, are they entitled to claim home office expenses as a tax deduction? As with all tax matters, it depends. The […]
November Market Insights by James Thorne
The year was 1787. At the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin walked out of Independence Hall and someone shouted: “Well, Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” To this, Franklin reportedly replied: “A republic, if you can keep it.” Threatened by the rise of populism, the effects of a pandemic and the results […]
Estate Planning Questions to Discuss
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.” – Pablo Picasso There are two fundamental questions that advisors work with their clients to address: How do you want to live? Who do you want to give? Most Canadians focus on the first question to determine their lifestyle goals, income […]
Income Tax Planning Questions to Consider
Prepare your income tax return or go to the dentist. Which would you rather endure? It is hard to ignore the financial impact of income taxes. The question is, are Canadians aware of the various federal, provincial or territorial personal tax credits, deductions, and government benefits that they are entitled to? Whether Canadians work with an […]
Retirement Planning Tips
It’s easy to put off retirement planning. Retirement has a way of arriving sooner than expected. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered many Canadians into an earlier than anticipated retirement. When should individuals start retirement planning? Today, or whenever possible. Having a retirement plan promotes accountability and formulates a desired goal. Having a retirement plan […]
Building Something Special
Frank Mauro’s 36-year career in the financial industry is no accident – it’s something he planned from the start. “I did my degree in finance and did another in urban land economics,” he says. “I graduated in 1984, and straight out of university, I got into this industry.” Today a senior financial advisor, director of […]
Growing Wellington-Altus tops investment advisory rankings
After just three years in business and in the first year of its eligibility, Wellington-Altus Private Wealth was rated the No. 1 investment advisory firm in Canada. The ranking, produced by the publication Investment Executive, surveys financial advisors at the 14 largest firms in the country including the Big Six banks’ investment firms. Wellington-Altus’ score […]
Wellington-Altus rated best investment advisory firm in Canada
WINNIPEG, May 1, 2020 /CNW/ — Wellington-Altus Private Wealth (Wellington-Altus) has been rated as the top investment advisory firm in the 2020 Brokerage Report Card, conducted by industry publication, Investment Executive. The results are a true reflection of Wellington-Altus’ unwavering commitment to attracting and retaining top-tier talent across the board. “We’ve built a fresh culture […]
Investment dealers’ recruitment efforts go virtual
Before COVID-19 hit, some of Canada’s largest independent investment dealers had been recruiting financial advisors actively and aggressively. Although the onset of the pandemic has had little impact on the level of this activity, how firms are recruiting advisors – and, in some cases, whom they’re targeting – has been affected significantly. Traditionally, most firms’ […]
Football Star Finds a Home in the Investment Industry
Adam Bighill rises at 4:45 a.m. most days – and it’s not just to prepare for the coming season as a linebacker for the Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He’s also answering client e-mails and poring over financial news. Besides being one the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) more accomplished defensive players, Mr. Bighill is […]
INFOR Financial and Wellington-Altus Announce Strategic Arrangement
TORONTO and WINNIPEG, January 31, 2020 /CNW/ – INFOR Financial Inc. (“INFOR Financial”), Canada’s leading independent investment banking advisory firm, and Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. (“Wellington-Altus”), one of Canada’s fastest-growing independent wealth advisory companies, are pleased to announced they have jointly entered into a strategic arrangement that will provide Wellington-Altus’ clients with preferred access to […]
Infor strikes cost-saving partnership with Wellington-Altus
A rapidly expanding wealth manager and a boutique investment bank plan to announce a partnership on Friday that gives both firms room to grow without incurring significant costs, a concept that will likely attract imitators at other small brokerage houses. Winnipeg-based Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc., which has $10-billion of assets under management, struck a deal […]
Top 50 Advisors 2020
Wealth Professional is proud to present the seventh annual Top 50 Advisors list. In total, this year’s Top 50 Advisors are managing more than $16 billion worth of assets, improving on last year’s total by close to $6 billion. Once again, this year’s list contains advisors from across the country, representing seven different provinces; British […]
Wellington-Altus attracts $2 billion more in advisor assets
Independent has deals lined up for first half of 2020 as it takes advantage of frustrations with big banks Wellington-Altus Private Wealth already has more than $2 billion of assets confirmed to cross over from bank-owned firms through Q1 and Q2 as it continues its explosive growth. The independent wealth manager, borne out of the […]
Recent Developments May Usher New Era of Advisor Independence
Financial advisors in Canada could soon find it much easier to work independently of large brokerage firms – a rapidly growing trend in the United States – amid changing regulations and advances in investment-management technology that makes going it alone more convenient and cost-effective. A turnkey asset management program (TAMP) ecosystem is being developed in […]