Estate Freezes: A Smart Tax Strategy or a Risky Move?
Have you heard of an estate freeze but aren’t sure what it means—or whether it’s right for your business?
An estate freeze is a powerful tax-planning strategy that allows business owners to “lock in” the current value of their company while shifting future growth to the next generation. Here’s how it works: you exchange your common shares for fixed-value preferred shares on a tax-deferred basis. Your children—or a family trust—then receive new common shares, which capture all the future growth of the business.
Living Paycheque to Paycheque: How Canadians in the Gig Economy Can Build Financial Security
For past generations, financial security often meant a steady, full-time job with a pension. Today, more Canadians are working as freelancers, contractors, or gig workers—enjoying flexibility, but also facing unpredictable incomes. In fact, a 2025 ADP survey found that over half (56)% of Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque.
While this reality brings challenges, it also highlights the importance of proactive money management. With the right planning, Canadians can protect their health, reduce stress, and build long-term stability.
Finding Coverage That Fits: Flexible Insurance Choices for Canadians
Life and critical illness insurance are designed to help protect the people you care about most. But let’s be honest—qualifying for traditional insurance isn’t always easy. If you’re living with a health condition or have faced coverage denials before, the process can feel frustrating and discouraging.
The good news? There are newer, more flexible insurance options in Canada that can give you the protection you need—without all the hurdles.
Which Term Life Insurance is Right for You?
Once you have decided on how much life insurance you need, your next decision is whether you are going to use term insurance or permanent insurance to provide it. For many Canadians, while permanent cash value life insurance offers a significant opportunity for them, many initially utilize renewable and convertible term life insurance. Most life companies in Canada offer 10-year, 20-year and 30-year renewable term policies. In deciding which one is right for you, attempt to match the need to the term. While 10-year term might have the lowest entry level cost, the renewal premiums will be substantially higher. If you have a young family, ask yourself, will I still need protection beyond the 10th year? If that answer is yes, then a longer renewal period is more appropriate.
SIX IMPORTANT REASONS TO HAVE A WILL
It has been said that a Will is the last message you will leave your family. Having a Will can provide clear direction as to what your wishes are and who will get what. Die without a Will (known as dying intestate) and chaos will likely be the result. Having a Will allows you to provide for certainty instead of chaos.
Most of the reasons to have a Will have to do with what happens if you don’t have one and that often will depend on what province you reside in. Each provincial government has its own Wills and Estate legislation which also provides for the rules regarding intestacy. The following are some of the reasons to have a Will and what could result without one.
Retirement – Are You Prepared?
Whether you are decades away from retirement or if it is just around the corner, being aware of the planning opportunities will take the fear and uncertainty out of this major life event.