top of page
Search
“Wait… My Wife Can Get Social Security Too?”
The morning after the heartbreak of a lifetime, a Game 7 World Series loss for my beloved Blue Jays to the Dodgers, I found myself limping into Pearson Airport, coffee in hand, on my way to a much-needed family vacation. As fate would have it, we ended up in the lounge chatting with a former Blue Jays player from the 1992–1993 championship roster. What started as easy small talk turned into a full hour of cross-border financial planning. He and his wife were gracious, curious
Andrea Thompson
10 hours ago4 min read
CPP at 70 - Makes Cents and Sense... but CPP at 60? Everyone seems to be doing it.
I came across a Kitces blog post about deferring Social Security income to 70, and how it is the best long term investment that money can buy. Akin to Social Security, is our Canada Pension Plan. When considering retirement planning decisions, one of the biggest choices clients face is when to start Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits . Choosing between taking CPP at 60 or waiting until 70 can be daunting. Each option offers distinct advantages and disadvantages, so underst
Andrea Thompson
Sep 147 min read
Is "Put in $2,500 and Call it a Day" Really an Education Funding Plan?
When I was preparing to go to university, my divorced parents each gave me $5,000. That was their contribution to my education. The rest...
Andrea Thompson
Sep 93 min read
Planning for the Unthinkable: How to Use Your RRSP to Support Your Children
If you’re a parent—especially a single parent or someone in a blended family—your RRSP may be one of your largest financial assets. But...
Andrea Thompson
May 313 min read
What the proposed "Big Beautiful U.S. Tax Bill" could mean for Americans living in Canada and Canadians alike
I've had a lot of clients reach out to me trying to interpret what 'big and beautiful' changes could be coming their way. Since there is...
Andrea Thompson
May 266 min read
Maximizing Your TFSA: A Guide for Different Life Stages
The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is a versatile financial tool that can help Canadians save for various goals throughout their lives....
Andrea Thompson
Mar 74 min read
Planning for the Future: Understanding Long-Term Care Cost Inflation in Canada
Long-term care. It's a topic many of us prefer not to think about, but it's a reality that many Canadians will face. And like everything...
Andrea Thompson
Feb 33 min read
Debunking myths: Planning Projections vs. Financial Planning
The idea of making 'a plan' has been overemphasized. Everyone supposedly needs one, correct? "My advisor insisted I must have a plan...
Andrea Thompson
Jan 315 min read
Social Security benefits restored for millions of pensioners
Today, the Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023 with a 76-20 vote. This significant relief for more than 3 million...
Andrea Thompson
Dec 21, 20243 min read
Moving to the US? Let's Talk About Your RRSP
So, you're excited about your move to the US! But what do you do about your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)? Let's break down...
Andrea Thompson
Dec 12, 20243 min read
Do You Need a Business Bank Account?
By Shay Steacy, CFP Do you need a business bank account? As the sole owner of your business, it’s sometimes hard to see the line that...
Shay Steacy
Dec 3, 20243 min read
Living the Canadian Dream: Navigating Cross-Border Retirement Planning for US Expats in the Great White North
By Andrea Thompson, CFP (CAN), CRPC (US), CLU, CHS, CCS Welcome to the fascinating world of cross-border retirement planning, where the...
Andrea Thompson
Sep 10, 20243 min read
5 Questions to help evaluate your Financial Advisor
Advice only planners see many different types of clients. One of the things that I love most about what I do is the ability to switch...
Andrea Thompson
Jun 10, 20244 min read
Why we believe in 'Adaptive Financial Planning'... and are ditching the old paradigms
I knew that we had done something right, when she started crying. Do I normally want to make my prospective clients cry? Of course I...
Andrea Thompson
Apr 2, 20242 min read
Why we NEED Financial Planning
Believe it or not, I didn't always envision having a personal finance career. In fact, my degree is in the life sciences - I majored in...
Andrea Thompson
Oct 3, 20233 min read
Navigating cross border retirement planning - A Case Study
Retirement planning can be a complex task, especially for Canadian residents whose lives are complicated by their cross border reality....
Vikki Brown
May 23, 20233 min read
A tale of 4 RESPs
Most individuals saving for their child's post-secondary education will do a standard deposit up to $2,500 per child per year to get the...
Andrea Thompson
May 3, 20234 min read
3 reasons why a tax refund is a bad thing
With CRA workers potentially going on strike, it's a great time to visit why getting a tax refund is not always a GOOD thing! (side...
Andrea Thompson
Apr 18, 20231 min read
Buying a Home North of the Border? How Canadian Mortgages Differ From U.S.
Many Americans or Canadians that have spent the past number of years in the U.S. assume that navigating the mortgage landscape in Canada...
Vikki Brown
Mar 27, 20234 min read
Understanding How Social Security Integrates with your Canada Pension Plan
UPDATE: As of January 2025, the Windfall Elimination Provision is no longer applicable. The blog post below is for informational...
Andrea Thompson
Mar 2, 20232 min read
bottom of page