5 Strategies to Boost Financial Literacy in Honour of Financial Literacy Month Financial literacy is a valuable skill that benefits everyone. Whether ...

Kerr Financial turned 45 years old!  Over the years we have worked with many successful Canadian families, helping them maximize their personal finan...

  Kerr Financial turns 45 years old!  Over the years we have worked with many successful Canadian families, helping them maximize their personal...

  Kerr Financial turns 45 years old!  Over the years we have worked with many successful Canadian families, helping them maximize their personal...

Managing Concentrated Stock Portfolio Risk: Strategies and Solutions “Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid surv...

The Family Cottage: Managing Tax and Trust implications for Your Legacy For many, a family cottage is a treasured getaway, a place of relaxation and c...

Why Travel Insurance Matters When planning a vacation, many people think about the destination, accommodations, and activities, but often overlook tra...

Your First Summer Job. Believe It or Not, It’s Never Too Early to Start Saving and Investing! Getting your first summer job is a big achievement. Wi...

Mid-Year Financial Check-Up: Navigating Your Wealth in 2024 As we approach the midpoint of the year, it's helpful to pause and reassess our financial ...

International Women's Day March 8th is International Women’s Day in Canada.  As we recognize this important day, the evolving landscape of Canadian...

With Valentine's Day around the corner, love is undoubtedly in the air. If you're celebrating this year as a newlywed or as part of a new couple combi...

In the world of financial planning, one strategy that has been particularly beneficial for high net-worth individuals in Canada is the use of prescrib...

As the RRSP deadline for the 2023 tax year approaches, remember, investing in your future is not just a February ritual but a year-round commitment. T...

Maximizing Charitable Impact and Tax Benefits as the Year Ends Charitable giving is a wonderful way to support communities and causes that are importa...

Navigating Post-Retirement: The Vital Role of Ongoing Planning During Retirement Understanding the importance of planning for retirement is crucial to...

Navigating the aftermath of a loved one's death can be a daunting task, especially when faced with various administrative and legal responsibilities. ...

The Traditional Approach to Finance: A Numbers Game When we consider finance and investing, our initial inclination is often to approach it with a foc...

Experienced investors typically approach risk assets with a long-term view, utilizing short-term volatility to invest in themes they believe will pan ...

Canadians now have several tax effective savings vehicles to choose from, with the new tax-tree First-Home Savings Account (“FHSA”), the tax-free ...

Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) are an important tool in helping families save for your children’s post-secondary education. RESP account...

There are many types of Trusts that can be created but the one that stands out for couples is a Joint Partner Trust because of its unique estate plann...

The end of the year is almost here and many of us are looking forward to 2023. High inflation and rising interest rates have made managing our finance...

Big Change in Bond Yields On January 1st, the Canadian government 10-year bond had a yield of 1.43%.  By the end of October, the yield on that very s...

Prices and interest rates rising With prices way up, it will be a real challenge for the next generation to buy a house. Here's the problem: A house t...

Overview of the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA) As part of the 2022 Budget, the federal government introduced the Tax-Free First Home Savin...

How to inflation proof your financial plan 2022 has been a challenging year for personal finances. Poor market performance, high market volatility, an...

How to take the sting out of current year investment losses Another year is coming to a close. It was a tough one in the investment markets and unfort...

Managing a Concentrated Portfolio Holding “Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.” ― Andy Grove The ...

Remaining Invested through Market Volatility Market volatility is an investment term that describes a period of unpredictable and sometimes sharp move...

A family cottage might be one of those love/hate things we go through in life. You love the memories, time with the family and time away to decompress...

Updating Your Financial Plan If we have learned anything in the past year, it is that the world can change in a heartbeat. Going back over the last tw...

5 questions you should ask your Financial Planner One of the biggest obstacles people face that stops them from engaging the professional services of ...

Family Offices Move into Digital Assets While elder statesmen like Warren Buffett and his business partner Charlie Munger have been vocal critics of c...

Socially responsible investing - now part of mainstream investing strategies In the face of mounting social, economic, and environmental challenges, t...

What investment strategies should you consider while you continue to grow your business You have worked countless 80+ hour work weeks, dealt with more...

10 advantages of having an Individual Pension Plan for business owners and executives Business owners are always faced with the challenge of planning ...

Love & taxes - yes they do go together! With Valentine’s Day around the corner, are you part of the growing number of married Canadian’s looki...

Why not Contribute to your RRSP and TFSA Accounts Early? RRSPs are very useful for retirement savings as well as other savings strategies such as savi...

6 Tips to improve your 2022 Financial Resolutions The new year is under way and before you get to lost in your day-to-day activities, consider taking ...

“Snowbird’s dilemma” Buying versus renting and 7 factors to consider Are you a snowbird facing the dilemma of whether to buy or rent a property ...

Selling your business?  Here are 3 options & the steps you can take now If you are a business owner who is ready to move on from what you worked ...

The Gifts that Keep on Giving With the holiday season fast approaching, some of us may be struggling to find gifts ideas for the younger members of ou...

From the desk of Robert J. Kerr - Part 2 of 2 Estate planning for assets that are owned by you outside of Canada Most countries have estate tax or suc...

From the desk of Robert J. Kerr - Part 1 Estate Planning: What is involved? Estate planning is a personal responsibility for all of us, and it require...

The Hedge Fund Comeback To the surprise of some investors, hedge funds have experienced a revival over the last year. Financial markets have been deal...

Why you need a Power of Attorney (“POA”) When reviewing financial affairs from a legal standpoint, most individuals ensure that their will is up t...

Inflation- How it affects your financial plan and what can you do to protect yourself? Rising inflation is making financial planning more important as...

Your Money, Your Values Historically, the two main considerations when it came to investing were risk and return. However in recent years investors ha...

USE IT OR LOSE IT! 5 Steps you can take to protect your accumulated rewards points programs Rewards cards have made their way into our wallets in one ...

Five Steps to Optimize your Financial Resources before a Liquidity Event A liquidity event is much more than just a sudden inflow of capital. For many...

Wealth accumulation, distribution, or transfer? Mending the financial planning generation gap How much accumulated wealth is needed to retire? How sho...

Bitcoin or Buffett?  Mending the Investment Strategy Generation Gap Bitcoin or Buffett?  You are likely to illicit very polarizing points of view if...

The importance of implementing the recommendations of your financial Plan We’ve all heard them, the stories of individuals with both simple and comp...

Financial Planning for couples - an important topic that is rarely discussed Financial planning for couples is a topic that is very important but rare...

The appeal of investing in unconventional assets Just before Christmas, countless middle-aged men across Canada likely spent hours scouring shoeboxes ...

Claiming Home Office Expenses in 2020 In 2020, a number of people worked from home for a part of the year.  Some returned back to the office, some ke...

Top 3 benefits of RESPs and how they can be used to attain your education goals Many parents are thinking of starting a family or already have young c...

Millenials and Gen Zers Finances during COVID-19 Along with the rest of the population, Millenials and Gen Zers have been coping with the repercussion...

Selling a Property in the US is Complicated Selling real estate in a foreign land is usually subject to income taxes, both in Canada and the host coun...

Selling the Nest Egg: Understanding the benefits and how to best proceed? The global pandemic has unravelled a host of challenges for Canadians young ...

Build a sustainable investment strategy (ESG) in your portfolio A Tipping Point In the world of epidemiology, the tipping point is known as when epide...

Charitable giving in Canada: What are the benefits and how to best proceed? Statistics Canada reported that in 2017 total donations by Canadian tax fi...

Real Estate vs Stocks:  What is the Right Fit for Your Portfolio? Everyday in Canada individuals invest in real estate and stocks with the objective ...

Family Patrimony & Matrimonial Regimes in Quebec What Are the Impacts to Marriage? In Québec, if you are married or in a civil union then your ci...

Are you covered? 5 Reasons you may need Life Insurance There are different types of life insurance available and each one has its benefits that can be...

Registered Disability Savings Plan: Financial Support for Individuals with Disabilities The federal government introduced the RDSP in 2008 to help all...

6 Steps in Choosing a Financial Professional Multiple surveys have concluded that Canadians are most prepared to handle life’s challenges when their...

“To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.”- Oscar Wilde This year will provide investors many new lessons to reflect on Whi...

3 Advantages of Dealing with A Financial Planner The tools available to self-directed individuals to help them manage their personal finances has grow...

4 things you should do if you have lost your job No doubt, the COVID-19 crisis has produced massive layoffs as shown in the unemployment numbers.  In...

Multi-Manager Diversification   A well-diversified portfolio is often overlooked The value of a well-diversified portfolio is often overlooked in...

How to pay for the COVID-19 Government Debt? The parliament’s budget office (PBO) has stated that it is likely the federal deficit for the year will...

3 Steps to Deal with your Personal Debts During the COVID-19 Pandemic Even before the COVID-19 crisis, Canadians were facing mounting personal debt le...

Much Needed - Payroll Tax Relief for Eligible Employers - through the TWSE In response to the COVID-19 crisis and the ensuing economic fall-out the go...

Keep your Employees on the Payroll The federal government responded to the economic fall-out from the COVID-19 crisis with the introduction of the Can...

Federal Government Support for small businesses or not-for-profit organizations With the economic fall-out from the COVID-19 crisis the federal govern...

Financial Assistance for Small Businesses Renting Commercial Property During COVID-19 - CECRA The government of Canada recently introduced the Canada ...

The Benefits of Active Investing Investors are faced with two competing investment management approached. Active management, whereby a portfolio manag...

How I see the near-term financial picture - Robert J. Kerr I thought I would send you a note about how I see the near-term financial picture. The econ...

Financial support for students affected by COVID-19 About this time every year students begin preparing to start their summer jobs to help cover their...

Opportunity with Tax Loss Harvesting When there is a decrease in asset prices there may be a tax planning opportunity in the form of tax loss harvesti...

A Break for Retirees who can afford it… Like many Canadians you probably saved for years by contributing to your RRSP and pension plan. You now find...

Your Financial Emotions - During the COVID-19 Pandemic Investors are stricken by three types of emotions to the COVID-19 investment breakdown: excitem...

Setting Financial Goals is key Financial Planners encourage clients to continuously set goals and build a plan to attain their goals. “The Financial...

Kerr Financial turned 40 years old!  Over the years we have worked with many successful Canadian families, helping them maximize their personal finan...

Keeping your Financial New Year's Resolutions The new year is soon to be upon us, and will you like many before, dare to make a Financial New Year’s...

Conquering Your First IPO Congratulations, it’s finally here! The tech start-up you’ve been working so tirelessly for is about to go public. While...

Should we buy a condo for our child? It’s an exciting time for the Smith family. Anna, an only child, begins university in the fall, where she will ...

As a business owner, the right time to sell a business is difficult to determine.  There are many factors beyond one’s control that could affect th...

Making a Measurable Contribution to the World while Earning a Financial Return The world of investing has significantly evolved over the past 20-30 ye...

Best Practices to Prevent ID Theft and Fraud Sir Richard Branson disclosed recently that a person posing as him had called a successful business man a...

Tax Free Savings Account - TFSA Much more than a savings account Recently, I was having a glass of wine with a friend and we started talking about my ...

At Kerr Financial Group, we help high-net-worth-individuals and their families achieve their wealth management goals which often involves working with...

Once school starts back times seems to fly faster and suddenly it’s the end of the year and we are in the throes of the holiday season!  Before you...

The Purpose of Our Wealth  As most of us embark on our professional journeys, initial financial priorities are often clear:  earn money to pay off b...

The benefits and challenges of inheriting the family cottage When thinking of the family cottage it brings up wonderful memories of warm summer nights...

  Kerr Financial turns 40 years old!  Over the years we have worked with many successful Canadian families, helping them maximize their personal...

Supersize your retirement Retiring Canadians are downsizing their homes to supersize their lives in retirement.   If you are considering how to  ma...

Celebrating  post divorce freedom?! What happens when the party’s over and you’re the new CFO of your household? Krista Kerr, wealth advisor shar...

Let's be honest, for most of us, tax time is usually a nightmare. Krista Kerr has some tips on how to tidy up your financial processes so that taxes s...

Shocked by how much tax you paid this year?  Here are a few strategies to consider to reduce your families tax bill next year. Do you make large regu...

Tax efficiency is an essential component of optimizing your investment returns. Due to the complexities of both tax laws and investing, many high-net-...

Think your tax bill was steep?  Willie Nelson is almost as famous for his previous $16.7 million tax debt as he is for his music.  Here are three ru...

Having no money is no fun! But having an excess sum of money can also become a big responsibility. You are responsible to yourself to not lose it, to ...

Could you benefit from an integrated team? Kerr's Toronto Wealth Management Team - recently participated by including a piece in the Toronto City Post...

Krista Kerr - Could you benefit from an integrated team? Krista Kerr, CEO of Kerr Financial discusses some of the benefits of working with an integrat...

Love Your Summer Cottage Here's a story we hear often: Charlie loves the family cottage – the whole family does!  The kids practically grew up ther...

We often hear that our Canadian dollar is closely correlated to oil prices.  If you are a master forecaster of currency movements then it should be a...

For many households the purchase of a home is the single largest investment One rarely considers the amazing family barbeques in the backyard when buy...

The decision to rent or buy? It’s an exciting time for the Smith family. Anna, an only child, begins university in the fall, where she will live on ...

The benefits of working with an integrated team when managing your taxes, investments and estate planning! It’s an exciting time for David and Saman...

Twenty-four years this month Roberto Baggio stood alone on the soccer pitch of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Baggio, the star-forward for the...

When you hear the words, “summer vacation”, what comes to mind? Where to go, with whom, where to stay, what to pack? But where would travel insura...

Although it is early days since Doug Ford and the PC Party were voted in with a resounding majority on June 7th, there were some significant commitmen...

Have Harry and Meghan thought through their finances? Krista and Robert share financial tips for all engaged couples, royal or not.     RETURN T...

Krista Kerr - Advice on avoiding tax chaos Worried about your taxes?  Krista Kerr shares her advice on how to get through tax time.   RETURN TO HOME...

KRISTA KERR - Talks Tax: Worried about your taxes?  Krista Kerr shares three top things to keep in mind as you organize to prepare your families taxe...

In the March 22, 2017 federal budget, the government announced that, in order to achieve a more equitable tax system, tax planning strategies involvin...

Interview with Krista Kerr - CEO Kerr Financial Group: Marjo Johne sits down with Krista Kerr to discuss planning strategies  for wealthy Canadian...

Canadians may be able to brag to our American neighbours about being allowed to sell our principal residence free of capital-gains tax. But no doubt t...

Tax, investment & financial planning strategies you need to know Stock options can be a lucrative bonus for high-achieving employees or a remunera...

Take control  of your finances with these easy financial planning guidelines The new year is well underway and it appears 2017 will be a year of con...

Life insurance can be the least liked tool in a financial planner’s kit. And it is understandable. It can be expensive and in some cases it has been...

Having more money than you need normally is a good thing. But when it comes to unused funds in a registered education savings plan, you may be penaliz...

In Canada if your income exceeds $200,000 you have graduated to the highest federal tax bracket. Congratulations! In many provinces this brings your m...

In Canada there is expected to be a significant wealth transfer over the next 20 years–worth approximately $1 trillion.[i] Those fortunate enough to...

The concept of a Family Office (FO) has been around for many years. Today, as a family’s financial complexity increases, the need arises where it ma...

This is the ‘million dollar’ question, isn’t it.  And if you are like many soon to be retirees, you are no doubt concerned as to whether you ha...

As a business owner, the right time to sell a business is difficult to determine.  There are many factors beyond your control that could affect the u...

It’s hard to believe 2015 has come and gone. With key tax filing deadlines fast approaching (see table below), your tax advisor will no doubt soon b...

Since Canada makes up only a small fraction of the Global Investment Market, you may already have considered diversifying your portfolio with U.S. and...

Tuition is on the rise, and fast! On average Canadian students paid 3.3%(i) more for tuition for the 2014/15 academic year than the previous year. Not...

Prince Charles & Diana tied the knot for an estimated $110 million USD(i) . While weddings are expensive for the hosts, guests too can bear a sign...

Generation Y encompasses children born in the 1980’s and 1990’s. This generation is unique and commonly associated with certain characteristics th...

As the year comes to a close, you may be surprised to learn that there are still a number of steps you can take to minimize your taxes before year-end...

Although there is some disagreement on the specific cut-off dates for Generation Y, there is concensus that this new cohort also referred to as “Mil...

As summer nears to an end, are you ready for back to school? If you have children who are heading off to university or college, making withdrawals fro...

Buying a home will likely be the largest investment that an individual will ever make. When two people join together in matrimony, or opt to live toge...

The future is always uncertain and more so for those of us with family or friends who have a disability. The late Finance Minister Jim Flaherty unders...

As many individuals will soon be preparing to head south for the winter, there are a few items to keep in mind before heading to warmer climates. The ...

Whether your children are pre-schoolers or your youngest child is graduating from high school, our clients ask us if they are saving enough for their ...

If you have a child who is disabled there are several strategies available to assist with building resources for their future and for providing protec...

Most unusual: Minister Flaherty is trying to raise bank mortgage interest rates!  Usually he would be trying to reduce bank charges to Canadians.  W...

Building financial security involves more than investing.  We have found some of the more common mistakes are: Looking for a quick fix instead of a l...

Financial literacy (education) builds skills for children to have a healthy relationship with money and provides a start toward financial organization...

Life insurance has many uses, with the three of the most common being: to provide for survivors’ living expenses in case of untimely death, to help ...

Paying off debt is the number 1 financial strategy in Canada!  Why?  Because debt that bears interest is costly, taking more from you every month th...

Now may be the time to buy your dream property in the South.  Prices have dropped 30% or more to return to 2006 price levels before the big run up in...