2009 Magical Mystery Tour

Happy New Year everyone!

Start your new year off right at the Great Hall at the University of Western Ontario on January 31st 2009.    

CNIB proudly presents the 2009 Magical Mystery Tour!

Join us and test your detective skills throughout the entire night as a murder mystery unfolds right before your eyes.  Guests will be treated to an educational wine, beer and scotch tasting as well.  Tickets are on sale now and limited.  Act fast to avoid disappointment.  

For tickets and more information contact me: scott.wain@investorsgroup.com or Loralyn Smith at loralyn.smith@cnib.ca  You can also call 1-800-265-4127 Ex. 5113

Dion - Donkey or Darling

So, about 6 weeks after our election, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion decides to get together with NDP leader Jack Layton and the Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe and have a little chat. They decide they want to form a coalition government. In their eyes, Harper and the Conservative party aren’t getting things done in this time of economic uncertainty and turmoil.

Is it just me, or didn’t we Canadians just vote Mr. Harper into office again? I’m sorry, but common. What are these guys thinking? First of all, the House of Commons have lost confidence in the minority government, just 6 weeks after an election? Secondly, of course the Bloc is going to do anything they can to raise their profile. They have nothing to lose. They’re a separatist party for crying out loud! So I’m going to say the Bloc votes “Darling” on this one.

Really though, Dion is all over the map. For this, I vote “Donkey”. Thank the lord that he was never voted Prime Minister. Last week he was late submitting his video address, the quality was questionable. If you haven’t seen it, it looked like he dug up one of those huge video cameras with the full size VHS loadable tray in the side. In the address he reminded us that if the coalition government was to form, he would only be around till May. Good one buddy!

Now, it’s Monday and he’s resigned! To check out the text of his official resignation letter; click here. Wow, way to be consistent. I guess he actually is consistent when you really think about it. Consistently inconsistent!

To be an effective leader, we have to remain consistent. Whether it’s our home life or work life.

Here are some definitions for you. Consistent;
1. Coherent: reasonably or logically harmonious.
2. Reliable: able to maintain a particular standard or repeat a particular task with minimal variation.
3. With common solutions:
4. Free of contradiction:

You don’t have to be a leader in parliament or a big boss to apply leadership. Our attitudes become our actions. We are always “leading” by example. The question is; which example are you leading?

Scott Wain

A Scary Wake Up Call!

Perhaps the largest purchase decision most of us will ever make is the purchase of our home. Throughout this process, we’re faced with many decisions along the way. You finally find the home you’ve been looking for and as we approach the finish line, our anxiety increases as everything has been building up. Now we have to get the home inspected, set appointments with the lawyer, real estate and mortgage agents. Then we take a look at the amortization table, and nearly throw up when we see the total cost of borrowing!

Now, with all the stress and excitement of buying a home the mortgage agent from the bank tells you to initial a long questionnaire that entitles you to “mortgage insurance.” “It’s only $20 - $40 per month and if anything ever happens to you or your significant other the mortgage is looked after!” Is it really looked after? Well, unfortunately it’s not always the case.

Click here to watch a video from CBC MarketPlace. Anyone who owns a home has to watch this! It’s absolutely frightening. If you are in these shoes, don’t worry. There is an easy and cost effective solution.

Why not own your own individual term life and critical illness policy? Unlike the bank insurance, you own the policy. Did you know that when you pay your insurance premium through the bank that the payment stays level throughout the amortization of your mortgage? However, if there is a claim (and it is actually approved) the death benifit only pays out based on the remaining balance of your mortgage, not its initial principle which your premiums were originally based on?

Scary stuff.

For more information: scott.wain@investorsgroup.com

Are you Paying Too Much Tax?

How many of you have a savings account? Hopefully most of you do. Now, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way that your savings account was a tax free savings account?

75% of Canadians feel they pay too much tax. Are you in that cross section? Imagine there was a way where you could save on taxes. I know you’re thinking of RRSP’s, but that’s a tax deferral. Once the time comes when you need your money, the government is going to dip their hands back in your pockets and take their share. Not that there is anything wrong with deferring taxes to a later date when you’re in a lower tax bracket for retirement.

However, what if all the money you deposit is completely sheltered from taxes? Even once you withdraw your funds it was still tax free! Including any earned interest, dividends or capital gains! Well, the good news is here! Starting January 2nd 2009 this absolutely remarkable opportunity becomes available in Canada. You can start saving up to $5,000 per year in your own Tax Free Savings Account! (TFSA)

The benefits are utterly amazing. For example, not everyone saves money every year. So like RRSP’s if you miss a year, your contribution room for that year carries forward to the following year. (If in 2009 you didn’t have any savings, $5,000 carries forward and in 2010 your eligibility is now $10,000)

If you would like to sit down to discuss this incredible opportunity send me an email at Scott.Wain@Investorsgroup.com - For more informaition click here!