March 16th, 2012
The Globe and Mail – Financial Facelift by Larry MacDonald
“Judy, 65, had always let her husband handle their finances. But when he died just months after a cancer diagnosis last year, she was suddenly on her own. ‘The transition has been very difficult and stressful,’ says Judy, who retired last year. ‘Not only was his death untimely but he also handled all our financial affairs, including the family budget, paying bills, savings and investments. I very much regret that I was not more involved in our financial affairs.’ She has begun to educate herself by reading investment articles and personal finance books. She also has begun to look for a financial adviser. The two she has seen so far have recommended switching from dividend stocks to mutual funds in her registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) and tax-free savings account (TFSA). Taking a look at Judy’s situation is David Shymko, a partner in Macdonald Shymko & Co. Ltd., a fee-only, financial-planning firm based in Vancouver.” Click here to read the rest of the article
February 21st, 2012
When interest rates are at low levels, finding the right mix is easier with expert advice.
The Vancouver Sun – by Peter Kenter, for Postmedia News
“Traditional wisdom suggests that investors follow a typical investment pattern as they grow older: more risky in youth, conservative in middle age and cautious in retirement. But according to some investment advisers, how you choose to invest may have more to do with the economic climate, your personality and your tolerance for risk than the passage of time.” Gina Macdonald, a fee-only financial adviser with Macdonald, Shymko and Co. Ltd., comments on the relationship between age and investment strategy. Click here to read the rest of the article
January 27th, 2012
Yahoo! Canada Finance – by Gail Johnson
“When Laura Campbell first opened up a tax-free savings account (TFSA) two years ago, she assumed she’d use it just like any other savings account, making withdrawals when she needed a little extra cash. But after talking to her a financial planner, the Vancouver-based web designer has rethought how she’ll use that account. Now, Campbell’s TFSA is more an investment tool than a rainy-day fund.” Ian Black, fee-only financial advisor with Macdonald Shymko & Company Ltd. advises on possible tax implications for investments held in a TFSA and the advantage of a TFSA over an RRSP. Click here to read the rest of the article
