Michael Berton

Don’t make friends with clients

Sandra called out of the blue and wanted to see me again. I cringed, guessing what she would be coming for. Although she was a talented musician, she had been underemployed for almost a year. She’d been in to see me already twice to claim mea culpa and withdraw significant funds from her retirement plan […]

By Michael Berton |December 21, 2009

3 min read

Tax News

Hidden Savings

Archie and Marie Roberts were amazed when they received a $27,000 cheque from the CRA. Never in a million years did they expect the money they’d been forking out for special tutoring, counselling and other expenses for their son, would be partially reimbursed by the tax credit system. Although the couple had been filing taxes […]

By Michael Berton |April 1, 2009

5 min read

Planning and Advice

Meet junior

After fifteen years in the business, Gary knew something had to change. Like many of his colleagues, he started out working hard and building his client base with pretty much anyone he could get. The income was excellent, but the working hours were excessive. But, he’d recently started receiving complaints from top clients questioning his […]

By Michael Berton |October 8, 2008

8 min read

Planning and Advice

Amicable division

(April 2005) After 18 years of marriage, Ken and Josie (all client names have been changed) decided to throw in the towel. Both accepted they’d be happier apart, so long as they were assured their 10-year-old daughter, Susan, would receive the support of both parents, and that they could agree to an equitable distribution of […]

By Michael Berton |April 9, 2007

3 min read

Planning and Advice

Platform predicament

(July 2006) For the better part of 20 years, Don Proteau, a Vancouver-based advisor, has been successfully building a select high-networth client base. But recently he’s failed to attract a few top prospects due to his inability to take custody of their stock and bond assets. He’s not IDA-registered, and that’s become a problem because […]

By Michael Berton |July 27, 2006

6 min read

Industry

IAFP delegates tackle complex cross-border planning

(October 13, 2004) The complicated cross-border financial planning issues of a fictional family fell under the magnifying glass of RFPs attending the second annual Institute of Advanced Planners’ annual symposium last week in Kelowna, B.C. The case study approach was initiated at the IAFP’s inaugural symposium last year in Toronto. This year’s “High Water Mark” […]

By Michael Berton |October 13, 2004

3 min read

Industry

IAFP healthy and growing, says president

(October 12, 2004) The Institute of Advanced Planners (IAFP) is here to stay, says president Ian Secord, with close to 500 RFP members. The IAFP held its annual conference last week in Kelowna, B.C. Confidently laying aside speculation that the organization would not be viable, Secord said that it is healthy today with 463 RFP-toting […]

By Michael Berton |October 12, 2004

3 min read