Author: kiara

With interest rates at an all-time high, right now is the time to invest in GICs for long-term security and peace of mind.

Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GIC) provide a reliable source of income and are a great way to get closer to your financial goals. With competitive fixed interest rates, you can rest assured that your funds are invested safely and securely regardless of stock market fluctuations. It can be time-consuming, however, to shop around for the best rates. That’s why you may want to consider working with a GIC broker.

GIC brokers like Rothenberg & Rothenberg specialize in finding the best possible GIC rates on the market. As a broker, they monitor rates across dozens of institutions daily and compile this information to make sure you have access to the highest interest rates.

“We know what’s happening with the GIC rates on a day-to-day basis. We do the homework for the client,” said Tina Patel, GIC department coordinator at Rothenberg & Rothenberg. “We shop across Canada to get the best rate for our clients, and we don’t just deal with one financial institution. We deal with over 25 financial institutions across the country.”

But it’s not only a matter of easy and flexible access to great GIC rates from Canadian banks, trust companies and credit unions. When you choose to go with a GIC broker instead of buying from the issuer directly, you can potentially maximize your returns.

By purchasing directly from the issuer, your funds are at risk if you invest more than the $100,000 amount covered by the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). You want your interest protected, so you should always invest less than the eligible insured amount. By purchasing a GIC through a broker like Rothenberg & Rothenberg, you can increase your insurance coverage and invest across multiple financial institutions.

Further, using the services of a broker like Rothenberg & Rothenberg to purchase GICs has no cost for you as the client. Much like a mortgage broker that is paid by the provider and not by the client, GIC brokers are paid a fee by the financial institution offering the GIC.

“There is no fee charged to the client if a client were to come into Rothenberg. If we quote them a one-year GIC rate at six per cent, that is the rate the client will get,” Patel said. “The commission paid to Rothenberg does not affect the rate of return to the client in any form.”

With the help of a GIC broker, achieving your financial goals becomes a lot more realistic. Through their guidance and expertise, you can be confident knowing your investments are in good hands.

Rothenberg & Rothenberg has been serving the GIC needs of Canadians since 1979. With offices in Westmount, South Shore, Pointe-Claire in Quebec, and an office in Calgary, Alberta, we are conveniently located to serve your GIC needs. To see what rates they currently have available or to get in touch with a GIC broker, you can visit www.rothenberg.ca/gic-rates.

For those who are interested in wealth management, Rothenberg Wealth Management helps clients manage their investment portfolio and provides strategies to grow their wealth. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to review your financial situation.

This article originally appeared in the Montreal Gazette. To view the original article, click here.

Please note: Rothenberg & Rothenberg, the company mentioned in this article, deals exclusively with GICs and operates independently of its sister company Rothenberg Wealth Management, which provides a full suite of wealth management solutions.

Eligible Canadians can contribute up to $8,000 each year to an FHSA up to a lifetime contribution limit of $40,000 to help them buy their first home.

Purchasing a home is an important decision that requires careful financial planning. Fortunately, there is a specialized tool designed to help Canadians save tax-free towards their goal of buying a first home – the new Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA).

The FHSA is a game-changer for aspiring homeowners. This unique type of savings account allows eligible Canadians to contribute up to $8,000 a year with a lifetime maximum contribution limit of $40,000 towards the purchase of their first home. This can help you break down the cost of buying your first home into tangible yearly savings goals.

Once funds are deposited in an FHSA, you can watch them grow tax-free. This means that any interest earned, or investment gains made within the account are also free from taxes, allowing for potential compounding and greater returns. Most importantly, any qualifying withdrawals are tax-free. You also have the option to transfer existing RRSP amounts into the FHSA.

Adding to its appeal, contributions made to the FHSA are tax deductible, meaning you can claim them on your personal income tax return filing to lower your taxable income and potentially save more money in taxes. In this way, an FHSA is similar to an RRSP.

To be eligible to open an FHSA, you must meet certain criteria set by the government. These eligibility requirements are designed to ensure that the FHSA is accessible to those who genuinely need it and are committed to buying their first home.

Once you’re ready to purchase your first home and have a written agreement to buy or build your home, you can use the money in the FHSA towards a qualified home purchase, which can include a down payment, closing costs, and other related qualifying first home expenses.

You can even use an FHSA in conjunction with the Home Buyer’s Plan (HBP) to have an even greater amount to use for the purchase of your first home. It’s important to note, however, that the money in an FHSA can only be withdrawn for the purpose of buying your first home but you won’t need to pay it back like you do with the HBP.

If you already own a home, unfortunately, you cannot use the funds for a second home or investment property. You may also incur penalties and tax consequences if you withdraw funds from an FHSA for a non-qualified purpose.

But should you decide to forego your first home purchase and use your funds for something else, you can always transfer the money to your RRSP or RRIF on non-taxable basis until December 31 of the year following the year of your first qualifying withdrawal, without affecting your RRSP contribution room.

For complete details, please review the FHSA resources available on the CRA website. You can also find all applicable definitions for FHSAs here.

Starting on November 20, 2023, Rothenberg Wealth Management is offering clients the option to open their FHSA.

Contact a Rothenberg Wealth Management Advisor to discuss your goals and get advice on how to customize your investment portfolio in your FHSA to maximize your future savings potential. If you are not eligible (or are unsure you are eligible) for the FHSA, a Rothenberg Advisor can assess your situation and help you explore other savings options to meet your financial goals.

Travel personality and bestselling author Robin Esrock has reported from over 100 countries on 7 continents.  We’ve invited him to share his summer travel inspiration.     

Global Dream of the Summer:  Slovenia

Of all the countries that once made up the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia has emerged as the undiscovered gem of Central Europe.  The country boasts lush countryside, medieval fortresses, the sweeping Julian Alps, crystal lakes, and the culture-rich capital of Ljubljana.  Straight out of a central European fairytale, mountains overlook green valleys so smooth you’d think they grow vegetables on manicured fairways.  Romantics will love the old church sitting in the middle of Lake Bled, a vista you may have seen in popular screensavers. Horse-lovers will relish a bucket list visit to Lipica, the ancestral home of the classic white Lipizzaner.  Ljubljana is quintessentially European: think cobblestones, churches, old town squares, canals, parks, bicycle lanes and busy outdoor cafes.  Easy to get to via air or if visiting from neighboring Italy, Austria, Croatia and Hungary, Slovenia offers great European value with abundant options for nature, culture, food and history.

Canadian Dream of the Summer: Prince Edward Island

What do you do with an abandoned province-wide railway line? You turn it into a 400km-long recreational trail running tip-to-tip across Prince Edward Island, resulting in an unforgettable bucket list East Coast adventure. With your bags shuttled ahead to homely inns and B&B’s, the trail takes you through gorgeous forest, beaches, rivers, farmland, restored railway stations and small towns bursting with Maritime charm. Kick off at the Confederation Bridge, load up on local lobster, pop into bays with the world’s best oysters, and work it off with some healthy daily exercise.  An optional e-bike upgrade can make it especially easy and fun for the whole family.

Leaving the Pandemic Behind

In May 2023, the WHO officially declared that the COVID-19 pandemic no longer constitutes a global health emergency.  Instead of wild celebrations that the pandemic is finally behind us, we’ve quickly moved onto new fears and uncertainty, heavily promoted by media that thrives on bad news (remember: if it bleeds it leads).  Tourism continues to boom, with heavy demand for airfare, accommodation and activities.  Prices are skyrocketing, as operators and airlines eagerly recoup lost profits.  It’s been a year since The Great Chaos of 2022, and the tourism industry has prepared for the rush.  Industry employment is almost back to pre-pandemic levels, and efficient new technologies have been implemented.  It’s going to be busy out there, but summer 2023 will see a significant improvement over 2022.

Pro Tips: Staying Safe

A surge in tourism brings a surge in opportunistic crime.  You’ll often hear “Use Your Common Sense” but little about what common sense actually means.    Very simply:  Avoid flashing your wealth or drawing unnecessary attention to yourself.  If a local or guide advises you not to go somewhere, take their advice seriously.   If something looks or sounds too good to be true, it usually isn’t.  Keep secure online back-ups of your passport, banking and insurance details (you can just email it yourself or leave a copy with someone at home).  Credit cards are accepted just about everywhere, so don’t carry too much cash.  Avoid unnecessary confrontation, and when in doubt, ask for help.  With a little common sense, it’s highly unlikely anything terrible will happen. Scams and crime grabs attention, but both are statistically rare for travellers worldwide.

Don’t Quote Me:

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”

Mark Twain

If you have any travel-related questions or inquiries, feel free to email me at robin@robinesrock.com

Bestselling author and travel personality Robin Esrock has reported from over 100 countries on 7 continents.  We’ve invited him to share some travel inspiration.

International Dream of the Season:

Sail a Tall Ship in the Caribbean

Unless you personally know someone with a luxury 16-sail, 62m-high, 15m-wide and 110m-long tall ship, chances are you’d never get to sail one.  Fortunately, Swedish-owned Star Clippers has a fleet of them, pampering guests with spectacular sailings around the world. Spring is an ideal time to board their Star Flyer for a week-long sail around the British Virgin Islands. Among sailing enthusiasts and first-timers, you’ll get to explore stunning coves, beaches and island communities where big cruise ships simply cannot go.  Star Flyer accommodates up to 160 passengers and 74 crew, combining luxury (think polished mahogany and brass interiors) with adventure (climb the mast and feel that wind!) Best spot on the yacht is the bowsprit, a thick, hammock like netting at the front of the ship where I felt the spray of the ocean, and spotted curious dolphins beneath the waves.  On board were seasoned cruise veterans who told me the Star Flyer had been their favourite cruise ship of all.  Sailing is just a different way to do it, and burning just 15% of the fuel of a similar sized ship, it’s an eco-friendly way to cruise as well.

Canadian Dream of the Season:

Blossoms, sugar shacks, wildflowers and whale watching are just some of the attractions that come alive each spring. It’s also a great time to hit the ski slopes as the crowds thin, the snow softens, and the days stretch longer.  An estimated 40,000 cherry blossom trees brighten up Vancouver (my favourite spot is Queen Elizabeth Park) for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, while over a million tulips bloom in Ottawa at the Canadian Tulip Festival in May.  Returning after the pandemic hiatus, Elmira, Ontario once again hosts the world’s largest maple syrup festival, kicking off April 1^st, and sugar shacks kick into high gear across Quebec too. On April 2^nd, Stratford, Ontario releases swans onto the Avon River with a lively parade, and on the Manitoban prairies, the world’s largest concentration of snakes (all totally harmless!) slither from the Narcisse Snakes Dens creating a rather unique wildlife spectacle.  Less snakes, more chocolate?  Check out my inspiring story about a family of Syrian refugees in Nova Scotia producing the best chocolates in the country, and how a community rallied to support them.

Leaving the Pandemic Behind:

In December I attended a World Travel and Tourism Council conference in Saudi Arabia. Fifty-two Ministers of Tourism were attendance along with thousands of attendees to debate the future of sustainable tourism, ironically gathered in the world’s largest oil producer. Saudi Arabia is investing a staggering US$1 trillion into tourism as a strategy to wean GDP off fossil fuels.  Check out this jaw-dropping video for The Line, one of several Saudi ‘giga-projects’ that feel like they belong in a sci-fi movie.  You can read my full report on the kingdom’s wild and problematic transformation.

Pro Tips:

I used to always drink tomato juice on flights.  It must help in some way, I figured, otherwise why would they serve it?  A friendly flight attendant set me straight.  “Do your feet swell up on planes?” she asked me.  They do!  “Then stay off the salty tomato juice!”  Incredibly high in sodium, tomato juice is the worst liquid to put into your body in a pressurized cabin, and coffee, pop or alcohol are not much better.  Stay hydrated with water. A pro trip for long-haul flights is to wear a pair of compression socks (nowadays marketed as fashionable energy socks).   You’ll notice an immediate difference on arrival, with your legs and feet feeling fresh and ready to take on any new adventure.

Don’t Quote Me:

“Travel. Because money returns, and time doesn’t.” – Anonymous

If you have any travel-related questions or inquiries, we invite you to reach out directly to Robin at robin@robinesrock.com