by admin | Mar 10, 2015 | Advisor Stream
Now that the RRSP deadline has come and gone, many people have switched their attention on how to get the most from their tax return.
While the best time to do your tax planning is before the end of the calendar year there are certain things that you should be aware of that can help you to save a buck or two.
This week’s article share’s what new on this year’s tax return.
If you have any questions please feel free to give me a shout.
Cheers,
Coach Mark
What’s new on this year’s tax return: Mayers
It’s a good year to do your own taxes. Only a few things are new, and it’s always good to stay in touch with what you make and where it goes. Tax software is making it even easier, and filing online is getting simpler. The Canada Revenue Agency expects about 1.5 million of us will file this week, as we’re eager for a refund that averaged $1,697 in 2014. The number of early birds will rise to 3.2 million by the end of next week. Most of this year’s tax changes give a little bit to families as part of a bundle of populist tax breaks introduced in 2014. Here are the highlights:
Read more here
by admin | Mar 10, 2015 | 52 Week Accountability Challenge
Believe it or Not!
We are now into Week 10 of our Accountability Challenge. Take a moment now to mentally assess the progress that you have made so far toward your Definite Purpose.
Are you completely on track?
If so congratulations! My simple advice is to keep on doing what you’ve been doing.
Perhaps on the other hand you find that you are not on track or that you are not completely satisfied with your progress thus far.
In that case there is a very good chance that it is your own limiting beliefs (or what I like to refer to as your Inner Enemy) that is standing in your way.
Henry Ford is credited with saying ‘Whether you think you can or whether you think you cannot, you are right”.
Accountability Challenge Week 10: Part 1. List all of your limiting Beliefs:
Take ten minutes today (right now if you can) and list all of the beliefs that you currently hold about yourself that are creating Resistance-in other words are holding you back.
E.g.: My Limiting Beliefs about myself are:
- I am too old.
- I am too young.
- I will always be overweight. I am fat
- ‘It” is too hard.
- I am not smart enough, strong enough, good looking enough…good enough.
- There is not enough time.
- I am too busy.
- I don’t deserve success…
- Etc etc etc..
Add to your own list –write down whatever comes to mind. This is a very important exercise.
Now I have some very good news to share with you. Everything that you wrote down under your limiting beliefs are LIES, yes they are big fat lies. They are not true. This is just your “ego” talking to you. Remember that its mission in life is to keep you safe. It has one job and that is to stop you from doing the work that your goal is asking you to do to achieve it.
Accountability Challenge Week 10: Part 2. List all of your Empowering Beliefs:
Take another ten minutes and make a list all the empowering beliefs that you can think of:
E.g. My True Beliefs are:
I am the right age now to do whatever I set my mind to do.
- I am in great shape right now, and I’m getting better every day.
- I eat healthy, nutritious foods, and I enjoy exercising every day.
- I can do this and I know I can.
- I am worthy, and I deserve success right now.
- I believe in myself.
- I have all the time I need to get what needs to be done right now.
- I like myself.
- I am fit, I am strong, I am unstoppable.
Add to your list-write down whatever comes to mind, if you are having a hard time thinking of new, empowering beliefs, and then go listen to the Affirmation CD that I sent you. It’s full of great ones.
Now take the first list that you wrote down-print it out if you have to and immediately go and tear it up, piece by piece and throw it away into the trash can.
When you do take a moment and repeat to yourself the following
“These beliefs, thoughts, and words are all lies. I refuse to live by lies any more. I only live by truth, and the truth is I already have everything I need within me right not to achieve any goal that I set. I can do this and I know I can. I CAN do this and I know I can.
Please do not underestimate the importance of doing these exercises. Reading through them and intending to do them later, is not enough. Change only occurs when we consciously apply what we learn in the present moment.
Cheers,
Expect Success,
Coach Mark
Thought for the week-Your life will not change because you KNOW what to do. It will change when you do what you know.
Keep Your Core Strong!
Mark Hudon, CFP™, CCS™
Financial Fitness Coach, Certified Cash Flow Specialist™
Creator of The Core Conditioning Program™
by admin | Mar 3, 2015 | Advisor Stream
As someone who has competed in triathlons on and off for the past 15 years, I always enjoy reading about other people’s forays into the sport.
I’ve been very fortunate to meet many wonderful, and extremely interested & talented people through my pursuits into the sport of triathlon, many of whom are now close friends, and clients.
One of the terrific things about the sport of triathlon, is that you come across people from all walks of life, and all age groups.
Many of the people that I have crossed paths with ( be it in the pool, on the bike, or on the run) believe in the adage that it’s never too late to do something new.
Or in this case, that it’s never too late to compete in a triathlon,
Here’s a great article that I came across that I wanted to share with you.
It really is never too late….
Cheers,
Tri-hard,
Mark
Training for Triathlons at an Older Age
LAST year, at 66, Jenny F. Scott was not an obvious triathlete. A retired special education teacher, she had suffered a stress fracture running decades ago and took up serious bicycling only when she was 64 years old. But Ms. Scott, of West Columbia, S.C., and a friend decided to “bite the bullet last year, with no expectation other than we wanted to live through it,” she said of the swim-bike-run training needed to participate in the triathlon held locally each July. She signed up for training again this year, and like growing numbers of people in their 50s and 60s — and some older — she has found a new challenge in triathlons and other sports that test discipline and endurance. Some opt to train for competitive swimming, or the senior tennis or golf circuits.
Read more here
by admin | Mar 3, 2015 | 52 Week Accountability Challenge
Accountability Challenge Week 9: THE FLIP SWITCH: 17 seconds to change your life
This week whenever you are overwhelmed by a situation, circumstance, or a thought or emotion that is moving you away from the direction of your BIG Goal, I challenge you to draw upon a positive thought, memory or emotion for 17 seconds. That’s it. Just concentrate and focus your energy on looking for ways to feel better in the moment, regardless of what is happening around you.
How do you do this?
Think of something you are grateful for in your life. I encourage you to make a list of things that make you feel really good. Perhaps it’s the memory of the birth of your child; perhaps it’s when you met that special someone in your life. Maybe it’s that feeling you get when you step off the plane and feel the wonderful warmth of that tropical destination, particularly in the depths of a long cold winter. Maybe it’s the memory of the little league home run you hit to win the championship.
Whatever it is for you just do it for 17 seconds right now. When you do it for 17 seconds you override ten times the negative flow of emotions that you previously sent out. Gradually build up the time you spend on this exercise. When you can do this simple exercise for just 10 minutes per day, I guarantee that you will be overwhelmed by all of the wonderful things that you are now attracting into your life.
It is impossible to think & act positive 24 hours a day, However it is entirely possible to do it for just 17 seconds today.
Go to it, you can thank me later.
Expect Success,
Thought for the week:
“Your life will not change because you KNOW what to do. It will change when you DO what you know”. Dr. Robert Anthony
Keep Your Core Strong!
Mark Hudon, CFP™, CCS™
Financial Fitness Coach, Certified Cash Flow Specialist™
Creator of The Core Conditioning Program™
by admin | Feb 23, 2015 | Advisor Stream
One of the most common financial questions I have heard over the years, is whether it is better to pay down your mortgage or save for your retirement?
Recent behaviour indicates that many people have chosen to focus on paying down their mortgage vs saving for retirement.
In my opinion this is a reflection of the time tested adage that money is about more than math. The emotional decision to seek out security over more financially profitable alternatives often takes precedence.
When you do take a look at the numbers; (particularly expected rates on return on your RRSP compared to the prevailing cost of mortgage debt) the decision definitely favours adding to your retirement savings.
Here is an excellent article that takes a look at the math, as well as the emotion.
Cheers,
Coach Mark
How saving for retirement beats paying down your mortgage
Saving for retirement beats paying down your mortgage. There – a long-standing debate in Canadian personal finance is settled. To build wealth in today’s low interest rate world, divert money you were going to use to pay down your mortgage balance to your registered retirement savings plan or tax-free savings account. This is the conclusion of a report to be issued Thursday called “Mortgages or Margaritas: Is Paying Down Debt Putting Your Retirement at Risk?”. Read on to see the proof.
Read more here
by admin | Feb 23, 2015 | 52 Week Accountability Challenge
Accountability Challenge Week 8: A Simple Plan for Success.
As you know by now, (or at least I hope that you do), one of the four core steps to our Power of Persistence formula to reach any goal that we set is to have definite plans backed up by continuous action starting right now.
In this week’s lesson I want to focus on helping you to create a simple, yet very powerful daily plan of attack. I personally use this very simple formula every day to help me to stay on track.
Again, I wish I could claim credit for the creation of this step, but I can’t. I was initially introduced to the original version of this gem of an idea in where else? Napoleon Hill’s classic book Think & Grow Rich. This version is a slight modification.
Accountability Challenge Week 8: A Simple Plan for Success.
6 Most Important plus Vital One.
Before you leave the office at the end of each day or at the latest before your head hits the pillow each evening, take 5 minutes to list out the 6 important steps you can take the next day that will move you closer to reaching your top goals.
Of those 6 most important action steps, list out the one step that you consider MOST VITAL. to your success. Be sure to focus 100% of your efforts on accomplishing this one VITAL step.
Once you have done that, move on to the next most important step, complete it, and then carry on down your list until all 6 steps are complete.
There will be those days where you do not complete all 6 of your action steps. However if you have been diligent in starting with your MOST VITAL priority for the day, then the chances are you will still be making terrific progress to your goals.
Here’s a look at what the format for this exercise looks like. It is very easy to put this into your contact management program in the form of an ongoing, recurring activity.
My 6 Most Important Tasks for Today plus Vital One:
My Most VITAL One:
Now go to it!
Keep Your Core Strong!
Mark Hudon, CFP™, CCS™
Financial Fitness Coach, Certified Cash Flow Specialist™
Creator of The Core Conditioning Program™
by admin | Feb 16, 2015 | Advisor Stream
Happy Family Day!
During the heart of a bitterly cold winter like we are currently experiencing in southern Ontario-thoughts often drift to what it would be like to pack up and head out for a much warmer, and perhaps more exotic climate.
For some people this decision entails not just a temporary reprieve from the harshness of colder climate, but actually making a permanent move-retiring abroad.
Whether you are seriously contemplating this decision for yourself, or just day dreaming about it, here is an interesting article to help you divert your attention for a few moments.
Cheers,
Coach Mark
Overcoming The 5 Big Obstacles To Retiring Abroad
There are plenty of reasons people consider retiring abroad, among them: A lower cost of living (sometimes much lower); Better weather (sometimes much better); The ability to live a different type of life — perhaps less stressful, healthier, more meaningful or a self-reinvention; To have an adventure. There are also reasons why people won’t consider retiring abroad. But based on the 4,700 answers and 200 stories posted by the 300+ expats on our site, Best Places In the World to Retire, I think five commonly perceived “obstacles” are overblown and can easily be overcome:
Read more here
by admin | Feb 16, 2015 | 52 Week Accountability Challenge
The Core Conditioning Program 52 Week Accountability Challenge
Accountability Challenge Week 7: Six Steps to turn desire into reality.
One of the key ingredients in achieving any really big, hairy or audacious goal is DESIRE.
In Napoleon’s Hill’s classic book Think and Grow Rich, he states that desire is the starting point of all achievement. Hill teaches us that this can not be just any old ordinary desire. It must be a “white hot” BURNING Desire.
Hill explains to the reader that there is one main difference that distinguishes practically all who succeed from those who fail.
Wishing for what we want in life will not make it so. But, desiring our goals with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to achieve our goals, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will bring us the successful achievement of our goals.
In Chapter 2: Desire, Hill outlines his can’t miss practical 6 step method for turning our desires into reality. If you are truly serious about achieving your major goals this year, then take the time to complete the following 6 steps.
Accountability Challenge Week 7: Six Steps to turn desire into reality.
First: Fix in your mind, exactly the goal that you desire. Do not be vague with your description. Be definite as to exactly what you want.
Second: Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the goal that you desire. (There is no such thing as “something for nothing”).
Third: Establish a definite date when you intend to achieve the goal you desire.
Fourth: Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.
Fifth: Write out a clear, concise statement of the goal you intend to achieve, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to achieve it.
Sixth: Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. AS YOU READ-SEE AND FEEL AND BELIEVE YOURSELF ALREADY IN POSSESSION OF YOUR GOAL.
Go to it!
Expect Success,
Coach Mark,
Thought for for week : P.S. “Do or Do Not. There is No Try” – Yoda
Keep Your Core Strong!
Mark Hudon, CFP™, CCS™
Financial Fitness Coach, Certified Cash Flow Specialist™
Creator of The Core Conditioning Program™
Check out our exciting new Website, Radio Show, & Cash Flow Planning tools:
https://financiallyfitforlife.ca/
http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/financially-fit-for-life/
http://cashflow-specialist.com/
by admin | Feb 8, 2015 | 52 Week Accountability Challenge
The Core Conditioning Program 52 Week Accountability Challenge Week 6: Imagine The Moment
This week’s challenge is short, sweet and fun.
I’m a firm believer that before you experience the actual achievement of any goal, dream, or desire in its physical form, you have to first see, feel, and achieve it in your mind’s eye.
Many experts call this “visualization”, or “visioning”. Whatever you want to call it, it’s been proven to work, so let’s give it a test drive, with our most important goals.
52 Week Accountability Challenge Week 6: Imagine The Moment
- Find a quiet, peaceful place where you won’t be disturbed or distracted for the next 2-3 minutes.
- Picture in your mind’s eye, in the present moment, the successful completion of your most important goal. See it as if it is actually happening right now.
- How would you feel? Would you be experiencing a huge sense of accomplishment, joy, satisfaction, relief, unstoppable self-confidence? Feel those feelings.
- Bring in as many of your physical senses as you can. How would this experience feel? Look? Taste? Sound? Smell?
- Repeat this process with other really important goals you have.
Keep Your Core Strong!
Mark Hudon, CFP™, CCS™
Financial Fitness Coach, Certified Cash Flow Specialist™
Creator of The Core Conditioning Program™
Check out our exciting new Website, Radio Show, & Cash Flow Planning tools:
https://financiallyfitforlife.ca/
http://webtalkradio.net/internet-talk-radio/financially-fit-for-life/
http://cashflow-specialist.com/
Thought for the month: ”The important thing in life is not to triumph, but to compete”. Pierre de Coubertin
by admin | Feb 8, 2015 | Advisor Stream
When I first started out as a financial advisor, twenty years ago, a strategy that was very prominent and recommended by many financial advisors was “borrowing to invest”.
This strategy involves taking out a loan to purchase investments outside of your RRSP. The benefits are that the interest you pay on the loan is tax deductible against your income and as long as you earn a return that is equal to the after tax cost of the loan, you will be successful, and have the ability to dramatically increase your net worth over time.
However, one of the areas that was overlooked, or down played was that when the investment markets go into a big slump as they do from time to time (also known as a bear market) your losses are magnified.
Many people found that they were not emotionally prepared for the ups and downs of this strategy, and as a result this strategy fell out of favour.
Does this strategy still make sense for people today?
My personal opinion is that borrowing to invest can still be a very effective strategy for the investor with the right type of temperament, who understands the risks and the rewards, and has a long term investment horizon.
I encourage you to read the enclosed article-it features comments from Talbot Stevens, who is a highly respected thought leader within the financial community. He was also a guest on our Financially Fit For Life webtalk radio show back in 2014
Click here to listen:to our interview with Talbot Stevens The Smart Debt Coach.
Interview with Talbot Stevens The Smart Debt Coach
I look forward to hearing any comments or questions that you might have.
Cheers,
Coach Mark
When borrowing to invest actually makes sense
Borrowing to invest is always a risky strategy, especially so in a climate like this. The bull market is six years old, and nothing lasts forever. Between March 2009, when Toronto share prices touched bottom, and this week, the main Toronto stock market index has almost doubled. Last week’s interest rate cut may be the first of several. The bank’s message is that a bumpy road lies ahead. But each cut also adds a little more energy to the markets. It makes it cheaper for companies to borrow, which improves their profitability and so lifts share prices. It makes it cheaper for us to borrow to buy stocks. But should we? Yes- borrowing for investments can be a good idea, if you do it right.
Read more here
