Maximizing the Benefit of Philanthropic Giving

By iA Private Wealth, November 15, 2024 Having a child is an exciting time in life. Before the baby arrives, it’s useful to think about your finances, since raising a child can be both incredibly rewarding and very expensive. While each family is different and costs will vary, the average Canadian family spends almost $300,000 to raise a child from birth to age 171. Accordingly, expect to budget roughly $17,000 a year (while also accounting for the impact of inflation) until your child turns 18 – and then the potential for post-secondary education will add to this cost. Aside from expenses related to food, clothing, personal care, toys, activities, etc., your daycare/babysitting costs largely depend on where you live and how many hours of supervised care your child will require. Funding your family addition Clearly, the more money you can put away, the better your financial situation will be when the baby enters the picture. You don’t have to do it all on your own, however. Family and friends might be able to help with gifts, babysitting and hand-me-downs, plus you may qualify for government support. Parents who take time off work to look after their newborn or newly adopted child may receive up to 55% of their earnings in standard Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, to a current weekly maximum of $668. As the chart below illustrates, parents can share the benefits. The eligible period for benefits may last from 55 to 69 weeks (although ‘extended’ benefits beyond 55 weeks provide less support). Benefit name Maximum weeks Benefit rate Weekly max Maternity (for the person giving birth) up to 15 weeks 55% up to $668 Maternity benefits can be followed by parental benefits. You can apply for both at once. Benefit name Maximum weeks Benefit rate Weekly max Standard parental up to 40 weeks, but one parent cannot receive more than 35 weeks of standard benefits 55% up to $668 Extended parental up to 69 weeks, but one parent cannot receive more than 61 weeks of extended benefits 33% up to $401 Source: Government of Canada Canada Child Benefit (CCB) In addition to EI benefits, your family may qualify for the CCB. Payments are based on your adjusted family net income (AFNI) for the previous tax year, and are indexed to inflation. As an example, for the 2024 benefit period (July 2024 to June 2025), let’s say your family’s 2023 AFNI is below $36,502. You would qualify for the maximum regular CCB of $7,787 per year for children under six years old, and $6,570 annually for children between six and 17 years old. The maximum benefit gradually decreases for AFNIs above $36,502.2 Certain provinces and territories also offer financial assistance to help with child-rearing costs. For example, the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) pays lower-income families up to $140 per month for each child under the age of 18, for the period from July 2024 to June 2025. If the AFNI exceeds $25,646, OCB may provide a partial benefit.3 Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) The cost of post-secondary education continues to rise. It’s good to consider an RESP, which is a savings and investing program designed to cover some of these costs. Currently, the lifetime RESP contribution limit is $50,000 per student (beneficiary). You may invest in many types of securities, from mutual funds and stocks to bonds and GICs, and the investment growth compounds – tax deferred – until the RESP beneficiary begins withdrawing assets. As an incentive to save, the federal government offers the Canadian Education Savings Grant (CESG) that matches up to 20% of your contributions, to an annual maximum of $500 and a lifetime limit of $7,200. Each province and territory has some form of student grant or loan, so it’s worthwhile to look into programs available in your area. Talk to your Investment Advisor for more details about how RESP contributions and withdrawals work, as well as questions you may have about EI, CCB or CESG. Other things to consider Review your insurance coverage when preparing to have children. You may want to upgrade your life, disability and critical illness insurance plans to reflect your family addition(s). Also, if you’re covered under a group insurance plan, your children may qualify for certain medical and dental care needs. Update your will as your family grows, so you can include your children as estate beneficiaries. You may also use your will to make physical and financial care arrangements for your children in the event they’re still minors when you (or both parents) pass away. An iA Private Wealth Investment Advisor can help you optimize your wealth plan for your growing family. Find one near you. 1https://globalnews.ca/news/10001146/canada-family-spending-children-statcan/ 2https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview/canada-child-benefit-we-calculate-your-ccb.html 3https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview/canada-child-benefit-we-calculate-your-ccb.html

By John Tabet, November 10, 2020 This is the first article in a two-part series on charitable giving. Read Part II here. Over the last number of years, my interactions with clients have shown a clear and undeniable trend: today’s investor is moving away from the conventional separation of wealth creation and personal values, and more towards the complete integration of socially conscious priorities into the holistic wealth planning process. On the investment side, this often takes the form of increased interest in socially responsible investment funds, which in recent years have gone from a market niche to a core offering for virtually all asset management firms. But the most direct way of expressing a commitment to a cherished cause, apart from the gift of your time, is through monetary donations. In this article series, I’ll provide an overview of how you can incorporate charitable giving into an optimally structured wealth plan, and explain how to maximize the benefit of your monetary gifts – both for your charity of choice and yourself. Different types of donations There are three main ways to make monetary donations: Giving Simple, one-off acts of support, such as buying a raffle ticket at a charity golf tournament or supporting a church bake sale. Being charitable Personal engagement with a specific organization that aligns with your values, and making monthly or annual financial gifts to support it. Philanthropy The option of choice for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families. Typically, this involves looking out over a longer time horizon and entails a systematic approach to donating very large sums to one or more causes. In this article we’ll focus on being charitable; in the next installment of the series we’ll take a closer look at philanthropy. Being charitable For most people in the wealth accumulation stage of their financial journey, charitable giving will involve annual donation amounts ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars, spread out over multiple charities or focused on a single cause. When you donate to a registered charity you become eligible for tax credits, making charitable giving a win-win for both you and your charity of choice. Let’s look at an example: Andrea makes $100,000 a year as an app developer in Toronto. She donates $1,000 in 2019 to a registered charity focused on environmental sustainability. Current tax rules allow for a federal credit amounting to 15% on the first $200 of the donation and 29% on the remaining $800, for a total of $262. On the provincial level, Andrea can claim 5.05% on the first $200 and 11.16% on the remaining $800, for a total of $99.38. The combined federal and provincial tax credit on her $1,000 donation reduces her income tax bill by $361.38. This example represents a fairly straightforward case, but our tax rules include a number of other provisions that can enhance your credit amount and add significant flexibility to how you claim your credits. These include: An enhanced credit rate of 33% on eligible amounts over $200 for taxpayers who earn more than $200,000 annually. The ability to carry forward donation credits to any of the five years subsequent to the year the donation was made. The ability to transfer donation credits to your spouse or common-law partner and combine them on a single tax return. Conclusion Charitable giving is one of the best ways to meaningfully support causes that engage and inspire our natural impulse to help those less fortunate than we are and join with those dedicated to making our world a better place. Working with your Investment Advisor and accountant can make this immensely satisfying activity financially beneficial for you as well.

By iA Private Wealth, March 06, 2020 Meet early retirees Clara and Charlie, both 63 years old. Charlie has a $3,200 monthly defined benefit pension through his employer and still does occasional consultation work. In total, he earns about $60,000 annually. Meanwhile, Clara’s work pension amounts to about $2,300 monthly, or $27,600 annually, putting her in a lower tax bracket than Charlie. Now that the couple is generating less income than they did when they were both working full time, they’re looking for ways to lower their tax burden to keep as much of their money as possible. Thanks to Canada’s pension income-splitting rules, Clara and Charlie have the potential to reduce their overall income taxes by dividing up the money they receive from their respective pension plans. Based on their age and the eligibility requirements, Charlie can give up to half of his pension income to Clara for tax purposes. In short, because Charlie is in a higher tax bracket, he can split his income with Clara and drop into a lower tax bracket without bumping her into a higher one. Once you understand the age and eligible income rules, taking advantage of pension splitting is as simple as completing a tax form each year. No money has to change hands. What is pension splitting? Pension splitting allows you to allocate up to 50% of your eligible pension income with your spouse or common-law partner for income tax purposes. To qualify, you and your spouse or partner must both be Canadian residents, be living together at the end of the tax year, and remain together for a period of 90 days or more at the beginning of the next tax year. What qualifies as eligible pension income? For those under age 65, the most common form of eligible income is from a registered company pension plan, whether defined benefit or defined contribution. Individuals who are age 55 or older are eligible to split pension income with their spouses. Individuals without a registered pension plan can also take advantage of this tax strategy by converting their Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) or deferred profit-sharing plans into income through a life annuity or a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). It’s important to note, however, that this income doesn’t qualify for splitting until after age 65. In terms of government pension sources, the Canada Pension Plan (CPP)/Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) isn’t considered eligible income, although CPP/QPP benefits can be split based on a separate set of “sharing” rules. Old Age Security (OAS) payments also aren’t eligible income. The complete list of eligible pension income sources can be found on the Government of Canada website. Who should take advantage of pension splitting? In general, if one of the pension earners is in a higher marginal tax bracket than their spouse, then pension splitting is worth considering. Take advantage of our retirement planning support Other potential tax-management strategies related to pension income splitting include the pension tax credit for qualifying individuals. When it comes to planning for retirement, there’s a lot to think about, but we can help. Learn more about how you can get the most out of your retirement income by contacting one of our Investment Advisors today.

By iA Private Wealth, November 05, 2019 Stay-at-home parents know that it’s a full-time job, and then some! Taking time to care for young children can include leaving the workforce or reducing your hours. Naturally, this impacts your earnings and how much you contribute to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), or QPP in Quebec. But it shouldn’t impact the quality of your retirement. Fortunately, there is a special CPP provision called the Child Rearing Benefit that allows you to exclude years of low (or no) income from your benefits calculation. This accounts for periods when you were the primary caregiver raising your children under the age of seven, and can put more money in your pocket to fund your later years. However, the benefit isn’t automatic – you have to apply for it. The application form for the CPP retirement pension includes a section on child-rearing (section 11A). If you’re already receiving a CPP benefit, you’ll need to complete the Child-Rearing Provision (CPP) Request Form. Doing so ensures you’ll receive the highest possible benefit by compensating for periods when you were paid less. Even better news: The benefit is fully retroactive and could also help you meet the eligibility requirements for a CPP disability benefit, should you need it, as well as contributory requirements to pass along benefits to your estate and survivors in the event of your death. Eligibility You must have not worked or had low earnings while being the primary caregiver of a child under the age of seven born after December 1958 (either parent can claim this benefit). You must have been eligible to receive the family allowance or child tax benefit. How to apply You must provide one of the following for each child: The child’s name, date of birth and SIN number, or an original or certified true copy of the child’s birth certificate. When to apply You can apply at the same time you apply for any CPP benefit, or using the Child-Rearing Provision (CPP) Request Form, as noted above. Other provisions that protect benefits include the disability exclusion and over-65 dropout. Knowing the factors that impact your monthly CPP payment and what you can expect to receive is key to retirement income planning. Note to Quebec residents The CPP operates throughout Canada, except in Quebec, where the QPP provides similar benefits. The CPP and QPP work together to ensure that all contributors are protected, no matter where they live. You can find the QPP application form here. Your partners in retirement income planning Caring for young children is hard work – and truly a full-time job. With so much to think about, you may feel overwhelmed, but we’re here to help. Learn more about managing your retirement income sources and getting the most out of CPP by contacting us today.

By iA Private Wealth, October 04, 2019 As a retiree, it’s important to understand how the eligible Canadian dividend income you may receive affects your Old Age Security (OAS) – and whether to do anything about it. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed decision about managing this aspect of your retirement income. Eligible Canadian dividends and your taxes Remember that for the purposes of your tax return, you’re required to gross-up your Canadian dividends by 38% and declare that amount as income. In other words, if you collect $100 in dividends, you report it as having received $138 in income. This gross-up normally doesn’t matter because the tax on dividends is still lower than on, say, employment income. But if you’re a senior, be aware that the dividend gross-up can push you over the OAS clawback threshold. From grossing up to giving up In general, if your net income before adjustments (on line 234 of your tax return) exceeds a certain threshold ($79,054 for 2020), you’ll have to repay part or all of your OAS benefits for that year. If you’re not managing your income sources carefully enough, you could unintentionally compromise how much OAS you’re eligible for. For example, a senior who earns $65,000 from pensions and another $13,000 in dividends may think they come in under the limit, but are actually pushed over it by the gross-up. The clawback is 15% of the amount by which your income exceeds the threshold. Put differently, your OAS will drop by 15 cents for every dollar your net income exceeds the threshold. If your income is high enough, it will result in clawback that brings your OAS benefit to $0. Do you need to take action? Besides dividends, interest and capital gains can serve as other sources of investment income. They’re all treated differently from a tax perspective and the type of accounts in which they’re held. If you’re looking to lower your income from taxable investments on line 234, strategies can include keeping eligible dividends in a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), or focusing on generating capital gains, since only 50% are subject to tax. Because interest income is most highly taxed, there’s no advantage to replacing your dividend earners with interest-bearing investments – even with the OAS clawback, your taxes payable will still be higher than with dividends. Reducing clawback with a T-SWP Most mutual fund companies offer T-SWP (Tax-Efficient Systematic Withdrawal Plan) series of their products, which permit the withdrawal of capital before investment earnings. These “return of capital” (ROC) distributions reduce the adjusted cost base (ACB) of your investment for tax purposes. Because ROC is just your own money coming back to you, it isn’t considered taxable and OAS clawback rules don’t apply. However, capital gains are eventually triggered when you sell your investment or when your ACB reaches zero. While a T-SWP provides the advantage of helping to keep your taxable income low to avoid clawback, you need to stay aware of your ACB and if, or when, it reaches zero. At that point, any withdrawals from a T-SWP would be fully taxable and subject to OAS clawback rules, albeit in a more controlled fashion if anticipated and properly planned for. Let us help Reducing your taxable income and avoiding the OAS clawback starts with understanding and assessing your retirement income sources. We can help you evaluate your tax situation while ensuring you don’t lose sight of the bigger picture about your finances, including your short- and long-term goals, risk tolerance and unique needs. Learn more about maximizing your retirement income by contacting us today.