Gifford Carr

10/12/2026

We hit the office with a mic and one question: what are you thankful for? The answers (and a little bit of workplace flattery) say it all. 🦃

From the Gifford Carr team to you and yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Insurance and financial planning for what's next.

10/06/2026

Life gets busy, but your finances don't have to fall through the cracks. A 25 minute monthly check-in is all it takes to spot patterns, prepare for what's coming, and stay ahead, even on your busiest months.

Here's the checklist our advisors recommend:

1️⃣ Scan your transactions. Look for charges you don't recognize, bank fees you didn't know you were paying, and free trials that quietly became $19.99/month subscriptions.

2️⃣ Look ahead 30 days. Bills, renewals, gifts, membership dues, whatever's coming. Knowing what's next means no surprises, and no overdraft scrambles.

3️⃣ Pay yourself first. Whether it's your first $50 or more, move money into savings or a registered account on pay day, before lifestyle creep gets to it. Automate it if you can.

4️⃣ Check your CRA account. Mail, balances owing, refunds, and your RRSP, TFSA, and FHSA contribution room.

That's it. Save this, book 25 minutes a month on repeat, and stay in control of your finances.

Insurance and financial planning for what's next.

10/05/2026

$1.7 million. One night. One cause worth every round. 🥊

Fight for the Cure broke its own record on Saturday, and Gifford Carr was happy to show our support. Our Director of Client Development, Adam Kane, assisted in coaching the red team, and the rest of us showed up to make noise.

Congratulations to the fighters and to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. The full story from Caroline Phillips is worth the read.

If you’re going to leave Fight for the Cure having [...]

09/29/2026

Last week's Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association (GOHBA) & Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) Mayoral Debate brought together Ottawa's business, real estate and building communities with candidates for an important conversation about the future of our city.

In his opening remarks, Rick Chase, VP at Gifford Carr, highlighted the importance of organizations like GOHBA and OREB having a continued seat at the table while policy is being developed, not simply after decisions are made.

His message was simple: business and community are deeply connected. Strong businesses help drive strong communities, and strong communities create the environment for businesses to thrive. Few groups demonstrate that relationship more literally than the builders, developers, and real estate professionals represented in the room.

Our thanks to GOHBA and OREB for hosting, to the candidates for their time, and to everyone in the room for a morning well spent.

Photos: J Harris Photography

09/24/2026

The people who depend on you deserve more than a guess at your life insurance coverage.

Three numbers worth adding up: what your income replaces, what you owe, and what it actually costs to protect your family's future.

Once you know your life insurance number, you know exactly where you stand, and that's a good feeling to have.

Swipe through to see how the math breaks down, then let's map your numbers together.

Insurance and financial planning for what's next.

09/22/2026

Your policy describes your life on the day it was written. Your life keeps moving.

A teenager gets their licence. The basement becomes an apartment. A side business moves in at the kitchen table. The car gets a little faster than it was. Ordinary changes, and most people don't think of them as insurance news. But any of them can change what your policy covers, and the responsibility to report them is yours.

When something changes, tell us.

09/16/2026

Insurance renewal time is a good moment to make sure your coverage still fits your life, not just your budget.

With recent changes to Ontario auto insurance, here's three things worth a quick check:

1️⃣ The cheapest option isn't always the safest one. A lower premium can mean a dropped benefit you'd want after a serious accident.

2️⃣ Look at what you already have. Disability or health coverage through work might overlap, or it might leave gaps you're not expecting.

3️⃣ Know who's actually covered. Optional benefits now apply to a narrower group, mainly you, your spouse, dependents, and listed drivers.

A quick conversation now beats finding a gap later.

Insurance and financial planning for what's next.

09/15/2026

Your home is where you unwind, where your family gathers, where you're supposed to feel safe. A few small, easy-to-miss checks can be the difference between a quiet evening and a claim that runs $25,000 to $45,000 or more.

Storm-damaged trees near the house, aging hoses on your fridge, washer, and dishwasher, eavestroughs and window wells that haven't been cleared. None of these take more than an afternoon to check, and all of them are common causes of the claims we see most.

Swipe through to see what to look for, then let's make sure your coverage actually has your back.

Insurance and financial planning for what's next.

09/09/2026

Back-to-school season means a lot more eBikes and eScooters on the road, whether it's a new way for your teen to get to school or a quicker commute around campus.

But here's the question most people don't think to ask: is it actually covered?

Auto policies don't typically extend to eBikes and eScooters, which means no liability and no accident benefits if something happens. And homeowners coverage often has its own limits too.

Before your eike becomes part of the daily routine, it's worth a quick call to your advisor to see where you actually stand.

Insurance and financial planning for what's next.

09/04/2026

There's a moment that happens when someone opens their first RRSP: excitement. 🤝

Excitement that they finally started. Excitement that "someday" became "today."

We get it, life gets busy, and retirement savings can feel like a problem for future you. But every year you wait is a year of compound growth and tax advantages you don't get back. An RRSP isn't just a savings account, it's a way to lower your taxable income now while building toward the future you actually want.

If you've been putting this off, consider this your sign. Let's talk about what an RRSP could look like for you.

Insurance and financial planning for what's next.