Catherine Leahy Wealth Management

10/02/2026

Great article from the AMA website
We all wonder what documents to shred and what to keep and for how long.

Documents to Keep and For How Long
With identity theft and other misuse of people’s personal information on the rise, it’s more important than ever that we safeguard and/or securely dispose our personal documents.

Check out the guidelines below to find out how long you need to keep some of your important documents or if it’s time to let them go.

Keep These Paper Documents Forever in Printed Format:
Birth and death certificates
Marriage licence
Divorce certificate
Any parenting, custody or other agreement or court order arising from a marital separation
Wills, living wills, and powers of attorney
Social Insurance Number (SIN) cards
Pension plan documents
Current ID cards and passports
Immigration documents
Current Business licences
Military service records
Issued educational diplomas and degrees
Alberta birth certificate

Keep These Documents Forever in Digital Format:
Any insurance policy, and claims such as home, auto and life (in case problems come up in the future)
Education transcripts
Appraisals and receipts for valuables like art or jewelry

Destroy These Documents After Three Years (Regardless of Format):
Documents for vehicle loans or loans to other personal property that have been closed
Documents related to mortgages that have been closed
Securities and trade confirmations
Employment contracts and agreements for employee benefits that have ended
Expired contracts for rentals or leases
Expired membership agreements
Expired utility contracts
canadian-tax-return-with-pen

Destroy These Documents After Seven Years (Regardless of Format):
Year-end bank statements if saved for tax purposes
Titles, contracts and deeds for sold properties, including any legal documents connected to the sale
Income tax returns and related financial documentation
Bank statements
Pay stubs
Charitable receipts
Credit card bills saved for tax or business purposes, or for proof of purchase
Medical records and bills
Brokerage and mutual fund account monthly statements/periodic trade confirmations
Documents arising from an estate where the estate matter has been closed
Home purchase, sale or improvement documents

(keep for at least seven years)
credit-card-statement-balance-showing-a-small-credit-amount

Destroy These Documents After 10 Years (Regardless of Format):
Documents related to a legal conflict or claim, like a vehicle collision

Keep the Most Recent Copy Only:
EI and CPP statements
Retirement plan statements (RRSP, RESP, etc.)

Send a message to learn more

09/01/2026

Catherineleahy.com is more than just a digital presence—it's your personal hub for building confidence in your financial journey. See how Catherine Leahy blends trusted expertise with a supportive touch to help you make smarter financial decisions. Whether you're planning for tomorrow or building for the future, your website has the tools and insights to keep you moving forward. Check it out and take the next step with confidence. [email protected]

04/29/2026

Is your bank doing what is in your best interest, this article from Zoomer explains alot.

From questionable investment advice to relentless upselling, how the bank-client relationship started going off the rails

03/27/2026

Is it time to review the group benefits you offer your employees?

03/27/2026

Segregated Funds:
Combining Investment Growth with Insurance Protection

Segregated funds are unique investment products managed by insurance companies. They offer the growth potential of the stock market while providing specific guarantees and protections that traditional mutual funds don’t.

Here are the key benefits for your financial plan:

* Principal Protection (Maturity & Death Guarantees):
You are guaranteed to receive at least 75% to 100% of your deposits (minus withdrawals) either when the contract matures or upon your death. This protects your capital even if the markets decline.
* Faster, Private Estate Transfer:
Because these are insurance contracts, they bypass probate—the often slow and expensive legal process of settling a will. Your money goes directly and privately to your beneficiaries, usually much faster than through a standard estate.
* Creditor Protection:
For business owners and professionals, naming a specific beneficiary (like a spouse or child) may shield your investments from creditors during your lifetime and after death.
* Locking in Gains:
Many contracts allow you to "reset" your guaranteed amount. If the market goes up, you can lock in that new, higher value as your new guaranteed floor.
* Understanding the Cost:
These unique protections are essentially insurance for your investments. Because of these benefits, segregated funds typically have higher fees than traditional mutual funds to cover management and insurance costs.

Would you like to see a personalized illustration showing how these guarantees would apply to your specific investment amount?

03/26/2026

Consider some of the unique benefits of owning segregated fund contracts.

The death benefit payout of a segregated fund passes quickly and directly to the named beneficiaries.
The benefit bypasses legal, administration and probate fees associated with the estate, leaving more for beneficiaries.
The estate is distributed in accordance with the owner’s wishes without establishing a trust.
Wealth transfers remain private, and the disclosure of information is minimized (not applicable in Saskatchewan).1
Segregated funds offer potential protection from creditors while the owner is alive, and from estate creditors upon death.
Beneficiaries of a segregated fund are easier to change than those within a will.

Contact me for more information.
The benefit is not subject to any challenges to the will or estate litigation, reducing the potential burden and liability for the estate’s executor.
A segregated fund contract can be an effective tool for financial gifting or charitable donations.
Transferring ownership of segregated funds is a relatively simple process.
Guaranteed Investment Accounts (GIA) and Daily Interest Accounts (DIA) can be held within a segregated fund contract.
An annuity settlement option, if offered, allows the death benefit to be used to buy an annuity and set up periodic payments to pass to the beneficiary for the remaining years of their life or for a specific period.

11/13/2025

Discover all that Catherine Leahy has to offer on our website!

Stay informed with the latest updates, explore our wide range of offerings, and connect with everything exciting happening here.

Visit us at https://catherineleahy.com today to see what’s waiting for you!

Helping you plan a bright future!

06/06/2025

Last day for my assistant she’s been a big help. Wishing her the best on the new endeavour.

05/22/2025

https://youtu.be/hW7cX1ILNeY?si=th1FIiNopdHJeQ1j
Are you looking to remortgage this year? Contact me and I can introduce you to options the bank does not have.

02/27/2025

Thankful for great clients and these beautiful flowers from them ☀️🌹