Russell Sawatsky CFP

Downsizing in retirement can sound simple: free up home equity, reduce maintenance, and simplify your life. But a smaller home is not always cheaper, or better. It may affect family visits, community, accessibility, rent or condo risks, and the meaning attached to a long-time home. My latest #MoneyArchitect blog looks at the trade-offs. https://moneyarchitect.ca/downsizing-in-retirement-things-to-consider/ #PersonalFinanceCanada #FinancialPlanning #RetirementPlanning #Downsizing

Taxes are not only about raising revenue. They also reflect choices about what society taxes: what we earn, what we spend, what we accumulate, and what we eventually pass on. In my latest #MoneyArchitect blog post, I look at #incometax, #consumptiontax, and #wealthtax, including taxes on wealth transfers, and why the tax mix matters. Read more here: https://moneyarchitect.ca/taxing-what-we-earn-spend-and-leave-behind/#Canada #TaxPolicy #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #WealthTax #GST #HST

“Tax-free” does not mean “rule-free.” My latest #MoneyArchitect blog post looks at active trading inside a TFSA, same-year recontributions, foreign withholding tax, qualified investments, and anti-avoidance rules. One issue—the line between investing and carrying on a trading business—does involve genuine uncertainty. For most TFSA holders, however, understanding is more useful than alarm. https://moneyarchitect.ca/tax-free-does-not-mean-rule-free-understanding-the-limits-of-a-tfsa/#TFSA #PersonalFinance #Canada

What happens if you open a First Home Savings Account (FHSA) but never buy a home? My latest Money Architect post follows three fictional Canadian couples whose FHSAs lead to different outcomes. It also explains some easily misunderstood rules, including the limited carry-forward of unused contribution room and the option of transferring the funds directly to an RRSP or RRIF. https://moneyarchitect.ca/what-if-you-open-an-fhsa-but-never-buy-a-home/ #FHSA #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning #Canada