The You First Blog

Welcome to a new year and a new decade!  Before we begin, we would like to extend our sincere wishes for a happy new year to you and your family. We would also like to thank to you for your continued trust in us and for the opportunity to assist you in working toward your financial goals. Should you have any questions about your… Read More

We hope you all enjoyed your summer. The weather in Vancouver was not always perfect, but a smoke-free August was certainly appreciated! Here is where markets stand for 2019 (year-to-date return as of August 30. Foreign market returns are expressed in Canadian dollar terms): –TSX (Canada): 14.8% –DOW Jones (U.S.): 10.5% –S&P 500 (U.S.): 13.9%… Read More

For many families, September means a return school. It is also a good time to discuss the powerful advantages of the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). For most households, the RESP is the top vehicle available for children’s education savings. Here are the key facts: Annual maximum contribution: $2,500 (or $5,000 if you have carry-forward… Read More

“We really can’t forecast all that well, and yet we pretend that we can, but we really can’t” – Alan Greenspan 2019 Mid-Year Outlook During this time of year, most investment firms release a mid-year or 3rd quarter market outlook. As usual, some indicators are supportive of a rising market, while others are not. We’ve culled… Read More

The 2019 Federal Budget tabled several proposals that will impact the financial, tax and estate plans of Canadians. The following is a summary of the most relevant budget proposals that may impact You First clients: Measures for Individuals Home Buyers’ Plan Withdrawal Limit Increase The home buyers’ plan (HBP) allows first-time home buyers to withdraw… Read More

We would like to wish you and your family a happy new year. We hope to provide you with a brief overview of how investment markets have performed over the past year and to look ahead at what we can expect for 2019. How did markets do in 2018? After an unusually calm year of… Read More