My Practice

Mark Groulx

Mark Groulx is president of AIM Group Canada Ltd., which has specialized in the sale of privately owned Canadian companies since 1990. The bulk of the firm’s transactions range in size from $5 million to $50 million. Reach him at mark@aimgc.ca.

Key considerations when advising business-owner clients

  • September 18, 2019 July 11, 2023
  • 14:30

Years of organization can precede a sale process—and it’s worth the effort

  • June 11, 2019 July 11, 2023
  • 15:00

A case study of a complex process

  • April 5, 2019 July 11, 2023
  • 13:27

Every transaction presents unique challenges

  • January 18, 2019 July 11, 2023
  • 15:00

When clients sell their businesses, they’re usually unlocking wealth – which benefits their advisors.

  • August 4, 2016 September 7, 2018
  • 11:23

When it comes to selling a client’s business, timing matters.

  • January 19, 2015 July 11, 2023
  • 05:55

Sometimes, seemingly good companies don’t make it to sale closing. Here are the primary reasons why transactions fail.

  • May 1, 2014 July 11, 2023
  • 05:59

Even though the entrepreneurs may realize they’re neither properly equipped nor sufficiently knowledgeable to do deals properly, they don’t want to pay for advice and don’t realize what’s involved with such a transaction.

  • February 11, 2014 July 11, 2023
  • 06:00

There are three kinds of buyers who will be interested in your company.

  • January 28, 2014 July 11, 2023
  • 00:00

Most people don’t know the process people in the Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory business undertake when hired to sell a business

  • November 6, 2013 July 11, 2023
  • 05:59

More columnists

Tax & Estate Planning

Wilmot George

FHSAs and the role of spouses

Help clients get the maximum benefit from these accounts

  • October 10, 2023 October 10, 2023
  • 15:34

Tax-loss selling: Superficial loss and identical property rules

Help clients realize a capital loss while maintaining market exposure

  • April 26, 2023 July 11, 2023
  • 17:31

Selling real estate? The CRA is (still) watching

Transactions, including property flipping, require proper tax reporting

  • January 6, 2023 July 11, 2023
  • 13:43

What happens to non-residents’ RRSPs and RRIFs when they die?

A client scenario illustrates whether withholding taxes apply

  • August 15, 2022 July 11, 2023
  • 16:33
Tax & Estate Planning

Curtis Davis

The cost of TFSA contributions for non-residents

Case study explains the consequences

  • September 27, 2023 October 5, 2023
  • 17:27

The gift of homeownership

Tax tips when tapping the Bank of Mom and Dad

  • March 31, 2023 June 24, 2023
  • 10:00

Inflation will affect tax brackets

Indexing helps your clients’ after-tax income keep pace

  • November 7, 2022 June 24, 2023
  • 10:30

Tax-loss selling: investing’s moral victory

Help clients turn investment losses into a tax win

  • November 3, 2022 June 24, 2023
  • 12:17
Investments

Mark Rosen

Some energy firms are quietly separating their ESG businesses

Investors should still stick with transition-focused investments

  • September 15, 2023 September 15, 2023
  • 16:26

Beware the Canadian corporate champion

It’s tough to take patriotism to the bank

  • June 20, 2023 June 15, 2023
  • 06:00

Should advisors ride the coattails of activist investors?

Lack of long-term gains might mean it’s time to exit a stock instead

  • March 31, 2023 March 29, 2023
  • 10:00

Should advisors buy shares with inferior voting rights?

Better to focus on whether a company is evolving or stagnating

  • November 7, 2022 November 4, 2022
  • 10:30
My Practice

Sam Sivarajan

Should advisors be afraid of AI?

There’s still room for human coaching in investing

  • September 11, 2023 September 11, 2023
  • 17:08
Tax & Estate Planning

Matt Trotta

RESPs and blended families

A client scenario illustrates pitfalls to avoid with proper planning

  • August 30, 2023 August 30, 2023
  • 13:52

How employee ownership trusts limit estate planning

Challenges for business-owner clients include taxable disposition and compliance costs

  • June 21, 2023 June 21, 2023
  • 13:00
Tax & Estate Planning

Catherine Hung

Bare trusts: Is your client prepared for increased tax filings?

Failure to comply with new tax rules could result in penalties

  • July 31, 2023 July 31, 2023
  • 10:16
Tax & Estate Planning

Vivek Bansal

Taxation of employee stock options

Help your client consider tax-preferential treatment, donation of shares and AMT

  • June 6, 2023 September 19, 2023
  • 15:00

What to know about the new intergenerational transfer rules

Business owners planning for succession must meet certain criteria

  • August 23, 2022 August 23, 2022
  • 15:42

What your clients should know about real estate renos and repairs

For the best tax treatment, distinguish between current and capital expenses

  • May 2, 2022 May 2, 2022
  • 15:04

Unintended tax consequences of joint tenancy with a right of survivorship

A client scenario with a family cottage shows the importance of planning

  • December 3, 2021 December 3, 2021
  • 14:23
Insurance

Kevin Wark

Corporate-owned life insurance as a charitable gift

Avoid bloopers when designating a charity as policy beneficiary

  • June 2, 2023 June 30, 2023
  • 10:00

Understanding rebating rules for insurance

Advisors in breach of provincial regulations could face sanctions

  • June 26, 2020 June 26, 2020
  • 15:00

How the CRA takes the life out of life interest trusts

If your business-owner client uses these trusts, special planning is required

  • October 25, 2019 June 30, 2023
  • 13:00

Immediate leveraged insurance: Tips and traps

Watch out for these issues

  • September 12, 2018 June 30, 2023
  • 15:14
Tax & Estate Planning

Frank Di Pietro

Understanding the underused housing tax

If your client is an affected owner, they must file a UHT return by Oct. 31 to avoid penalties

  • May 15, 2023 June 25, 2023
  • 09:39

Unexpected tax consequences when accessing real estate equity

Interest deductibility may be at stake

  • June 18, 2021 June 25, 2023
  • 14:18

Deducting home office expenses during the pandemic

The rules are restrictive and deductions require the employer’s support

  • June 2, 2020 June 25, 2023
  • 13:00

Sidestepping superficial loss rules

The process of selling losing investments is fairly straightforward

  • April 16, 2020 June 25, 2023
  • 11:00
Tax & Estate Planning

Lea Koiv

Understanding the CPP death benefit

The amount has been falling in real terms

  • May 12, 2023 June 30, 2023
  • 10:59

What clients should know about the CPP reforms

Clients are paying in but increases to benefits remain minimal for now

  • April 19, 2023 June 30, 2023
  • 13:25

How inflation affects OAS timing

Three case studies to help clients choose when to begin their benefits

  • January 5, 2023 June 30, 2023
  • 14:34

Consider inflation when deciding when to begin CPP

The higher the inflation rate, the bigger the benefit of waiting

  • June 28, 2022 June 30, 2023
  • 09:00
Tax & Estate Planning

Jacqueline Power

T1135 reporting: What your clients need to know

Failure to report foreign-source income can result in high penalties

  • May 5, 2023 June 26, 2023
  • 13:15

Estate planning with trusts

Help your client benefit from these important tools

  • August 12, 2022 June 26, 2023
  • 13:56

Programs and incentives to help first-time homebuyers

These initiatives can help clients enter the housing market

  • March 31, 2022 June 26, 2023
  • 14:32

Help your client with tax-efficient charitable giving

Use these tips to make the most of a donation tax credit

  • November 23, 2021 June 26, 2023
  • 16:18
Investments

Mark Yamada

The real costs of covered-call strategies

Is the latest ETF craze too good to be true?

  • April 5, 2023 April 5, 2023
  • 09:27

Inflation and the 60/40 portfolio

Some good news — but mostly bad

  • November 7, 2022 November 4, 2022
  • 10:30

An inconvenient truth about ESG investing

Widespread awareness has not translated into widespread impact

  • May 9, 2022 May 9, 2022
  • 10:00

Energy ETFs face a low-carbon future

New risks and rewards from Canada’s second-largest sector

  • March 14, 2022 March 10, 2022
  • 10:00
Tax & Estate Planning

Jamie Golombek

Advisor learns the hard way that TFSAs are not for frequent trading

A Tax Court case led to a hefty tax bill

  • March 31, 2023 June 30, 2023
  • 10:00

TFSA overcontributions still a problem

Federal Court case is the latest reminder of the costs

  • November 7, 2022 June 30, 2023
  • 10:30

CRA can use ‘arbitrary assessments’ to fill a filing void

A Tax Court case offers a warning about missing corporate returns

  • May 9, 2022 June 30, 2023
  • 10:00

No court relief for accidental RRSP overcontribution

A lack of understanding about spousal RRSP limits was no excuse

  • March 14, 2022 June 30, 2023
  • 10:00

This isn’t an obituary

The demise of the financial advice industry has been predicted frequently over the past quarter century. But you’re still here — and so are we.

  • March 31, 2023 April 21, 2023
  • 10:00

The financial industry wants you — to mentor

The advice channel’s survival depends on seasoned veterans who are willing to impart knowledge

  • March 14, 2022 March 10, 2022
  • 10:00

Racial justice, one year later

Editorial: Financial firms still have work to do in acknowledging their role in systemic racism

  • May 11, 2021 May 11, 2021
  • 09:30

What financial firms are doing to fight systemic racism

Advisor's Edge asked 20 banks, asset managers, insurers and advisory firms how they are addressing anti-Black racism

  • July 16, 2020 July 17, 2020
  • 10:23
Tax & Estate Planning

Keith Masterman

A cautionary tale about executors and clearance certificates

Court decision serves as a warning about property distribution, executor renunciation

  • December 9, 2022 June 30, 2023
  • 15:00

Help clients claim tax credits for charitable donations

A sample scenario illustrates the savings

  • September 14, 2022 June 30, 2023
  • 15:58

All about eligible medical expenses

Help your client claim these non-refundable tax credits

  • March 23, 2022 June 30, 2023
  • 11:14

Help your client plan for income when a spouse dies

A sample case illustrates the impacts for the surviving spouse

  • November 22, 2021 June 30, 2023
  • 14:11
Tax & Estate Planning

Akua Carmichael

Common gaps when appointing an attorney for property and personal care

A case study explains the challenges

  • November 10, 2022 November 10, 2022
  • 16:59

Power of attorney and incapacity planning: Do you have a plan?

Addressing estate planning’s ignored middle child

  • September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022
  • 15:47

How to avoid succession battles with the family cottage

Keeping it in the family and maintaining harmony

  • November 2, 2021 November 2, 2021
  • 12:30

Avoiding a dependant’s relief claim

A recent court case illustrates the risks that come with longer lives

  • February 7, 2020 February 6, 2020
  • 09:30

Time for advisors to rethink ‘retirement’

The traditional idea is increasingly outdated

  • November 7, 2022 November 4, 2022
  • 10:30

Adventures in personality testing

What I learned from taking four firms’ personality or behavioural assessments

  • May 9, 2022 June 23, 2023
  • 10:00

Efficient work isn’t always the most effective

Building trust remotely is still a challenge

  • February 4, 2022 February 3, 2022
  • 15:00

An unlikely confession about commuting

The loss of that loathsome ritual may be contributing to stress

  • November 2, 2021 November 2, 2021
  • 12:30

Do corporate spinoffs reward shareholders?

Creating value by shrinking

  • May 9, 2022 June 24, 2023
  • 10:00

When stock frauds go beyond gaming the numbers

Claims of novel technology are at the centre of many collapses

  • March 14, 2022 March 10, 2022
  • 10:00

Finding the tipping point of stock collapses

When does accounting become important?

  • February 4, 2022 February 3, 2022
  • 15:00

Heed the warning signs of stock market frauds

Use the fraud triangle to root out problem investments

  • November 2, 2021 November 2, 2021
  • 12:30
Tax & Estate Planning

Jon Hreljac

Buyer beware: Foreign income in a corporation

Help business-owner clients manage foreign dividend investments

  • January 28, 2022 January 28, 2022
  • 12:27
Market Insights

Jim Otar

Inflation lessons from history

It’s time to stress-test client portfolios

  • December 17, 2021 June 30, 2023
  • 11:17

How sustainable is the CPP?

A panoramic view of the next 75 years

  • May 14, 2021 June 30, 2023
  • 13:58

How asset allocation impacts portfolio recovery

Don’t underestimate the behavioural element

  • July 16, 2020 June 30, 2023
  • 13:15

How long until my portfolio recovers from March’s sell-off?

Using historical returns to forecast a recovery

  • June 12, 2020 June 30, 2023
  • 09:00