The course features are:
In this module, you will learn how to take a holistic approach to retirement discovery. We describe the process you should have in place to gather the information you need to understand what retirement means to your client. We also explain how to evaluate a client’s ability to fund their lifestyle goals and how much they can sustainably withdraw from their funds. Finally, we discuss the importance of positioning yourself as an advisor who cares about your clients and understands the issues they face in the current retirement environment.
In this module, we discuss the various factors one must consider when determining the best location for a client’s assets. You will learn why certain account types are suitable in terms of tax efficiency for particular asset types. You will also learn about the characteristics of various types of investments that lend themselves to particular asset location strategies. Finally, you will learn why the effect of compounding can help to dictate the appropriate location for certain investment assets.
In this module, you will learn about the concept of goals-based investing, in which the focus is on structuring different portfolios to meet different goals. You will learn about some biases and mental shortcuts that influence investors’ decisions, sometimes to the detriment of their short- and long-term goals. We explain how to help your clients overcome those behaviours by prioritizing their goals, setting different time horizons for each goal, and allocating assets appropriately. You will also learn how to de-risk a portfolio by using a phased approach to investing. Finally, you will learn the importance of a good process, one that recognizes and manages the different forms of regret to which investors are prone.
In this module, we discuss insurance as a wealth protection solution. We talk about the ability to generate income as an important asset that must be protected in case of death, disability, or job loss. We also explain how you can help your clients select the appropriate insurance products to meet their objectives of preserving their wealth.
In this module, you will learn how trusts can be used to protect assets and minimize taxation. First, we discuss strategies to segregate exempt property, safeguard family assets, and protect privacy using trusts. Then, we explain how family trusts can be used to fund education or allocate funds to family members in such a way that income from the trust is taxed at lower marginal rates. Finally, you will learn how recent changes to tax legislation have made it more difficult, but not impossible, to reduce the effect of taxes on a deceased person’s estate.
In this module, we discuss the financial issues that arise when a marriage breaks down, including support obligations and the division of net family property. You will learn about the different types of domestic contracts and their legal repercussions for both parties, as well as the factors that can make a domestic contract invalid. You will also learn about the factors that determine spousal support amounts and the different types of spousal support that may be considered. Finally, you will learn about the legislation governing child support, the mandatory nature of child support payments, and the factors that could affect child support amounts and duration.
In this module, you will learn how to determine the amounts retirees can withdraw from their portfolio during retirement while retaining enough value to last through their retirement years. First, we discuss the effects of market trends on the longevity of a retirement portfolio and the way market risk relates to fluctuations in the portfolio market. We then explain the effect of dividends on a retirement distribution portfolio and address some common misconceptions in this regard. We also describe the factors that can cause distribution portfolio to suffer permanent losses if they are not considered when making retirement projections. Finally, we explain how to calculate the percentage by which a portfolio will have to increase in value in order to recover from setbacks.
In this module, we discuss the taxation of gifted assets in the context of estate planning. You will learn how certain situations can give rise to deemed disposition at fair market value and the impact of attribution rules. You will also learn to recognize when there is the potential for double taxation of an asset. Furthermore, we explain some strategies you can use to correctly arrange a gift for maximum tax efficiency, including changing the nature of the gift to retain control and taking advantage of the capital gains reserve mechanism.
In this module, you will learn about fundamental strategies implemented during retirement in order to minimize taxation and help retirees maximize their wealth. We will look at the various options available to retirees with regard to planning their sources of income, including company pension plans, government benefits, and registered and non-registered investments. We also explain how and when a registered savings account should be converted into an income fund. Finally, we explain the tax impact on different types of income (interest, dividends or capital gains) from non-registered investments.
In this module, we discuss income-producing investment options suitable for clients who are planning their retirement. You will learn about a wide range of options in financial products and strategies that are available for their portfolios leading up to and during retirement. Our discussion includes products designed to produce retirement income, reduce risk, and provide tax advantages. You will learn about the features, benefits, and risks of annuities, guaranteed income certificates, mortgage-backed securities, and other products and strategies suitable for retirement portfolios. We also explain the appropriate use of income products that are customized for specific purposes within the retirement investment sector.