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Want To Make a Savvy Decision With Your Tax Refund? Here’s Four Ideas

March 21, 2017 4:44 pm Published by

Tis the season! The days are getting longer (particularly since we sprung our clocks forward last weekend and had an hour of our lives robbed due to daylight saving time) and the tax returns are starting to roll in. You doknow it’s tax season, right? Ok good. Just checking. If you’re eagerly anticipating a healthy tax return this year, then you probably have all sorts of ideas when it comes time to spend it. Vacation? A sports car to fuel the midlife crisis? Hey, you’ve earned some fun with all the hard work you’ve done this year. And a shiny...

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The 3 Money-Making Advantages of Dollar Cost Averaging

February 23, 2017 4:45 pm Published by

We’ve all been there. Our phone in our hand, our online banking app opened up, ready to pull the trigger on a huge purchase.  It’s exciting because this could really pay off. It’s stressful because every investment comes with at least some element of risk.  We’ve all struck at the right time and watched that one-time purchase gain steam and make us a tidy profit. We’ve also been on the other side of the equation, where our research doesn’t pay off and the fund goes the other way.  That hurts, but it’s the nature of the beast.  Well, what if...

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What is Term Life Insurance?

February 10, 2017 4:46 pm Published by

Imagine you were sitting down at a nice dinner party with some friends and some new friends and the conversation turned to the future. Now, no one likes to openly discuss money, but investments? Sure, I know friends of mine who don’t work in the investment and insurance industry who talk about where they’re putting their money all the time.  Now imagine that someone at the party asked you what sort of life insurance you owned. What would you tell them? First off, it’s important to let them know there are two main types of life insurance, term insurance and...

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Does Your Group Insurance Cover Critical Illness?

January 17, 2017 4:47 pm Published by

It’s ironic, but in our current age of medical advances due to the progressive nature of research and technology, people seem to take more notice of critical or life-threatening illnesses. We all know someone close to us who had to take time off work because of a debilitating disease. It can be an excruciating process, watching someone endure an illness or going through it yourself.   In fact, one out of every four employees addresses a critical illness before the age of 65 (according to “Critical Illness Insurance: A Lump-Sum Review.” LIMRA’s Marketfacts Spring 2002v 2013 Canadian Cancer Society). Also, people...

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5 New Year’s Resolutions for Prudent Investors

January 3, 2017 4:48 pm Published by

The reality in the financial industry over the past couple years has been chock full of potentially upsetting words like turbulent, unpredictable, and anxious. Not the reality any investor wants to deal with on a regular basis, but reality all the same. But even as the market attempts to correct itself, that doesn’t mean the prudent investor should worry too much about their securities. No, the great thing about our market is we’re free to build a portfolio that suits us. Sure, you’re never going to achieve 100% certainty that a particular fund will blossom to its fullest potential, but...

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Sure, Your Finances Are Important – But What Else Truly Matters During the Holidays?

December 20, 2016 4:49 pm Published by

Another long year of working, investing, and earning is coming to a close. It’s a few days before Christmas, and I don’t know about you, but the team here at MGF is excited to enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation. The tree is set up, the presents are wrapped, and something unbelievable is baking in the kitchen. It’s nice to put your feet up, but even with all that current freedom, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress of the busy year that was. We work and live in a hectic society. And chances are, whether you’re immersed...

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3 Hidden Benefits of Permanent Life Insurance

December 6, 2016 10:16 am Published by

It’s a quiet, snowy night in December. The lights of the new tree are reflected in your husband’s glasses as he creates one of his famous desserts in the kitchen. You’ve got your feet up, a small glass of red wine in one hand, a magazine in the other. Your youngest child is busy with his iPad, the other one is locked away in her room. Teenagers, right? That’s ok. Everyone helped with the tree, they can do their own thing and you can do yours.  Everything is in its place, the holidays are still a few weeks away, and...

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3 Reasons Canadians Are Choosing to Bank On Yourself

November 7, 2016 10:19 am Published by

There’s so much to love about Canada. Well, maybe not another soggy lower mainland day in November. Health care, stable education system, safe schools, workable infrastructure – there’s so much to love and so much to save for. In Canada, you’re free to pursue your goals, make money, and save that money for a future rainy day. However, it’s important to understand the options when it comes to saving your money. For instance, bank GICs or term deposits pay less than 1%. Stock markets can be quite volatile. And both of these types of investments can make it difficult to access your money when you need it....

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Disability Insurance: The Difference Between Any Occupation, Regular Occupation, & Own Occupation

September 20, 2016 10:24 am Published by

Two weeks ago we talked about the importance of maintaining stability in the system upon which disability insurance is built. Disability insurance is important for self employed people in any occupation, but the rules are specific for each individual case. Are we making sense yet? Ok, try this. Let’s say you own and operate your own landscape architecture business. Your work requires you to travel to residential and commercial spaces to implement beautiful outdoor designs for all your unique customers. This is a career that requires physical labour on a daily basis. Now, and I apologize for this, but imagine an...

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Self Employed? The First 2 Things You Need to Know About Disability Insurance

September 6, 2016 10:25 am Published by

The world of self employment is as rewarding as it is challenging. Whether you’re a freelancer, contractor, or business owner, as an advisor, it’s important for to have detailed conversations about the challenges you face so we can manage risks. One area of concern for self-employed individuals is the inability to work due to an accident or illness. So let’s talk about disability insurance. Disability insurance is vital for the self-employed because for the most part, if you’re self employed and you’re not working, then you’re not making any money. It’s one of the distinct disadvantages for self employed people, as...

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