Canada offers tax exemptions and incentives for new immigrants. We are experienced in advising new immigrants on how to take maximum advantage of these benefits. We closely coordinate this tax planning with professional advisors in the immigrant’s country of origin. Specifically, in tackling such an assignment we review the immigrant’s assets, sources of income, and personal…

We frequently develop tax-planning strategies for high-net-worth families. We attempt to minimize their current taxes and develop a long-term strategic tax plan to minimize their ongoing taxes. In some cases, the plan may involve a non-resident aspect, an estate freeze, or the use of trusts. The plan may also focus on investment strategies, retirement plans,…

Our firm helps clients with tax issues connected with separation and divorce. Some examples of the issues we address include: whether separation and divorce payments are deductible; how to divide property in a tax-effective way; how to reorganize and separate companies in a corporate group and divide them between the parties; maximizing the tax advantages…

The preparation of tax returns for a deceased taxpayer and trust returns for an estate are specialized tax services that we know well. Our partners have authored books on this subject, widely used as references by tax professionals. Numerous elections and tax-planning opportunities are available, and an experienced tax professional can bring about substantial tax…

Recent changes to corporate tax rates have changed the rules of thumb followed for decades on how to remunerate owner-managers. The ability to defer tax by leaving funds in a corporation rather than take a bonus or a dividend is very enticing. Yet, this must be balanced against the family’s cash needs and other matters…

Many entrepreneurs who have built successful companies are concerned about business succession as they get older. They often want to pass the family business to the next generation but believe this cannot be done without paying significant capital gains tax. We can often reduce the tax greatly with advance planning. We assist with business succession…

Executives coming to Canada find the Canadian tax system confusing and complex, full of reporting forms, deadlines and paperwork. This, combined with high tax rates, can be challenging at best and demoralizing at worst. We can assist in a variety of ways. Before coming to Canada, we can provide a preliminary assessment of the family…

We design and implement executive compensation programs. This entails advising on the optimal forms of compensation, taxable and non-taxable benefits, tax-effective retirement plans, stock option programs, and insurance and disability plans. We have written extensively on stock options and share ownership programs and can assist with tax-reporting issues. We have also designed and implemented carried…

Certain international tax strategies can be effective for high-net-worth families, especially if they have non-resident members. However, the offshore world is complex, confusing, and fraught with difficulties for the uninitiated. The Canadian tax legislation in the international area is extremely complicated. In addition, it can be difficult to find reliable people in foreign jurisdictions to…

We provide a financial planning service to enable people to determine their expected level of income and the related tax liability in retirement. We develop financial models based upon expected rates of return and can advise, in general terms, on investment strategies and the use of life insurance. We frequently advise on the tax consequences…