Cura Financial Planning Inc.

10/29/2026

Holiday spending can feel manageable right up until it isn’t.

A few extra purchases can quietly spill into credit card balances, leaving less room for the goals that matter after the celebrations end.

A clear spending cap changes the experience. Decide on the total amount you are comfortable using, move it into a separate account, and treat that number as the finish line.

The goal is not to make the season restrictive. It is to enjoy it without borrowing from future cash flow.

At Cura Financial Planning Inc., annual spending is part of the bigger picture alongside retirement, investments, insurance, and family goals.

If a defined holiday budget brings you more peace of mind, leave a 👍

10/22/2026

One piece of account paperwork can quietly fall out of step with the life you have built.

Beneficiary designations are easy to complete, then forget. But an old name on an RRSP, TFSA, workplace pension, or insurance policy can create confusion for the people you meant to protect.

A short review after a significant life change can bring your accounts, estate documents, and family intentions back into alignment.

It is a small part of financial planning, but it can spare your family difficult questions at an already hard time.

Is beneficiary information part of your regular financial check-in, or is it easy to overlook?

10/19/2026

A lot of people celebrate a big win in their portfolio, only to get blindsided by the Alternative Minimum Tax later.

If you sold investments with large gains or claimed heavy deductions, the math changes quickly under Canada's updated tax rules. You might assume your usual credits will balance things out, but AMT recalculates your income with fewer breaks. That means a successful financial move can quietly trigger a much larger bill than your regular tax bracket suggests.

Take a look at your realized gains before the year wraps up so you aren't caught off guard at filing time.

Have you factored AMT into your financial plans yet? Share your thoughts below.

Protect your Canadian investment income from unexpected liabilities. Review your capital gains and deductions with careful portfolio tax planning today.

10/15/2026

Stop maxing out accounts blindly.

Every autumn, plenty of high earners across Vancouver rush to top up their RRSPs simply to trim a few thousand dollars off their tax bill. It feels like an easy win in the moment, but it often backfires.

Money tucked into an RRSP does not escape taxes; it just waits. Every single dollar pulled out later in retirement counts as regular taxable income. If your pension, rental property, or investment portfolio keeps you in a solid tax bracket later in life, pulling from a large RRSP can trigger heavy taxes and claw back government benefits.

Putting those funds into a TFSA or a taxable account can leave you with far more control and lower overall taxes across your lifetime.

Are you prioritizing tax savings today, or are you looking at what you will actually pay at withdrawal?

10/08/2026

Sitting on too much cash feels comforting until inflation chips away at purchasing power.

A lot of high-earning households in Greater Vancouver park large sums in basic savings accounts just to avoid market volatility. Leaving money idle year after year carries its own quiet penalty. The real purchasing power of those funds steadily shrinks against the cost of living.

A clear retirement plan balances safe reserves with disciplined growth investments. That protects your lifestyle down the road without leaving you exposed to silent cash drag.

Where do you usually draw the line between comfortable cash reserves and money that should be invested?

10/02/2026

Holding the right investments inside the wrong accounts quietly drains your returns every single year.

A portfolio split across an RRSP, TFSA, and non-registered account can look fine on paper while shedding cash to unnecessary tax drag. Canadian dividend stocks, foreign equities, and fixed income all carry different tax burdens in British Columbia. Placing a high-yield asset in an exposed account means the CRA takes a cut before compound growth has a chance to do its job.

Smart asset location fixes that without changing your underlying risk. It keeps more money working for your household instead of leaking out in taxable distributions.

When was the last time you checked which specific assets live in which accounts?

09/28/2026

📢 Reminder for business owners!

You need to file your GST/HST returns before the due date.

Remember that you have to file them regardless of whether you have anything to report: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/complete-file-when.html

[Image description: Two people wearing aprons work on a laptop. Text reads "File your business’ GST/HST returns on time so you don’t miss refunds!".]

09/24/2026

September always feels like a second new year. Summer wraps up, the kids settle back into school routines, and work calendars fill right back up.

Most people leave tax planning until the final two weeks of December. By then, your options are pretty limited, and everyone is scrambling before the holiday break.

Looking at your corporate dividends, capital gains, and family income split right now gives you three full months to make adjustments. It is much easier to protect your cash when you give yourself time to run the numbers properly.

Do you usually look at your year-end financial checklist in the fall, or do you tackle it all during December?

09/22/2026

It's easy to focus on today's responsibilities and put tomorrow's goals aside. But every financial decision you make today shapes your future. Taking the time to create a thoughtful financial plan today can help provide greater confidence, flexibility, and peace of mind for years to come.

Start your planning journey: https://www.cura-fp.com/

09/21/2026

Ever find yourself thinking about what the next few years might look like, especially when it comes to your finances? I was chatting with a friend who said they feel more confident about their plans after sitting down and really mapping things out. It’s interesting how just taking a little time to review goals and talk through options can make such a difference.

Have you had a moment lately where you felt more in control of your financial future? Would love to hear how you approach planning or what gives you peace of mind about your money.