News & Updates (page 3)

The Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) is a national outreach program run in collaboration between the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and community organizations in each province. The CVITP volunteers prepare basic income tax returns for low income individuals (with individual incomes under $30,000 or family incomes under $35,000) whom are unable to do so themselves. This enables low income individuals to file for benefits they otherwise would not receive. As well, many senior centres across the province offer special clinics for income tax preparation.

If you work in the health care industry, you know how critical it is that everyone has access to a doctor for illnesses and preventive care for matters like cancer and heart disease. However, many health problems are influenced by our environment and personal living circumstances. Canadians need to stop thinking of health as something that just comes from the doctor’s office.

According to Canada’s Department of Justice, seven per cent of seniors report some form of emotional or financial abuse. As our population ages, elder abuse has become a serious and growing concern.

Elder abuse exists in many forms, including physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse and neglect. The perpetrators are often family members, caregivers or friends. Constable Trevor Zwarich from the Winnipeg Police Service says some of the warning signs of abuse include a sudden change in behavior or appearance, such as deterioration in personal hygiene, untreated bedsores or a sudden onset of physical injuries or repeated ‘accidents’ causing injuries.  There could also be a change in banking activities and legal documents, or a lack of money to pay for rent, utility bills or food.

Emotion and psychology affect everything we do. Decisions we make about money are no exception, and how we choose to invest, save, and spend can all be affected by our beliefs, feelings and state of mind.

For instance, although stock market changes are generally consistent with valuations, investors rarely act as rationally. Investors that hear positive reports about a particular investment will flock to drive up the stock price beyond what it’s likely worth, while negative news can considerably devalue the price as investors quickly flee elsewhere.

As adults involved in the lives of our children, we have the opportunity to help them learn about managing money and set them on a track for future financial success. According to the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, 78 per cent of parents have tried to teach their children about money and two thirds of them do not feel that they have been successful at it. Trying to start a conversation about money may seem daunting, but it’s not as difficult as you might think, and you can get the conversation started through three key steps: modeling, guiding and practicing.

Critical illness insurance pays a tax-free lump sum benefit upon the diagnosis of a critical illness after the survival period has been satisfied. In most cases, the survival period is 30 days. A basic policy typically covers heart attacks, life-threatening cancer, and strokes. You can also add coverage for other conditions or illnesses, including Alzheimer’s disease, loss of independent existence or multiple sclerosis, to name a few. Some companies also offer critical illness coverage for children to cover childhood-related critical conditions such as cystic fibrosis or cerebral palsy.