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The Citizen, 2019-02-14, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019. PAGE 11. NC –Whether retiring is part of your five-year plan or something of a longer-term dream, it’s never too early or late to start thinking about how to pay for the lifestyle you want. In fact, the number one financial concern that Canadians have is saving for retirement. According to a recent survey by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, 59 per cent of Canadians believe they are either not on track or don’t know if they are on track to retire. To steer yourself in the right direction, check out these helpful tips: • Map your finances:Many people believe retirement income should be based on your pre- retirement income. But really the only thing you need to gauge your desired golden years’ income on are your planned expenses. If you want to travel the world and live lavishly, you’ll obviously need more. But don’t forget you’ll have fewer of certain other expenses in retirement, too. Things like day care, commuting and saving for retirement won’t eat up your income like they do now. • Trim the luxuries:Some expenses are essential, like your mortgage, food and even your kids’ education. But look for little luxuries you can eliminate, like your daily latte or pricey gym membership you don’t use enough anyway. Bigger treats can also have a big impact — the same survey found that of those who hadn’t set aside enough funds for retirement, 73 per cent cut down on travel and 62 per cent cut down on entertainment. • Work with a pro:Over 60 per cent of Canadians have not spoken to a financial advisor about saving for retirement in the last five years. But a financial advisor can help you guide your investments to make the most of your savings. They’ll even help you determine the right level of risk for you, depending on how far away your retirement is on the horizon. A chartered professional accountant can look at your spending and find areas for improvement. “Income taxes are a major expense in our lives, so figuring out how to legitimately minimize them is an important goal in planning for retirement,” says Blair East, a CPA. “I have worked with many individuals and families over a number of years, often with their investment advisors, and we have been successful in achieving lower income taxes and greater savings for retirement.” Find more information and resources to get on a path of long- term financial health at cpacanada.ca/financialwellness. Ensure you have enough for retirement NC –We’ve all received one: a telephone call with a pre-recorded message demanding some type of action or information, either to avoid a penalty or to win a prize. Robocalls use an automatic dialer to reach large numbers of people. They can be used for telemarketing and political campaigns and scams. Seniors can be more vulnerable to robocalls and other phone scams. You can help protect your elderly parents from fraudsters hoping to steal their money or financial information by sharing these tips: Know that reputable organizations rarely ask for your personal information through unsolicited phone, email or text contact. Let communications from unknown callers go to voicemail. Avoid providing your personal information over the phone, via text message, email or the internet. Take time to verify the story, whether it’s someone claiming to be from the CRA or a “grandchild” needing money in an emergency. Scammers are counting on you wanting to act quickly based on fear, not facts. Be suspicious if someone asks for copies of your passport, driver's license and social insurance number or birth date, especially if you don't know the person making the request. You might get a call from someone claiming that you have a virus on your computer, or that you owe taxes or there’s been fraudulent activity in your bank accounts. Know that legitimate financial organizations will very rarely call you directly. Don’t take a chance. Hang up and call the organization yourself using the number from a trustworthy source, such as the phone book, their website, or even invoices and account statements. Find more information at www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/fraud Protect yourself from robocalls Planning ahead Ensuring you have enough for your retirement comes down to planning for the future and there are many ways you can guarantee your future, no matter your income bracket. (NC photo) Continued from page 10 Eventually, farming can pave the way for development, including roads, markets, shipping services, exporting and many other sectors. Agriculture is an important economic building block. An especially important sector, the agricultural industry, when supported, can contribute greatly to sustained economic growth. Ag. means growth Many people plan for life events such as weddings and vacations well in advance, but many people do not plan for something that is certain to happen, their funeral. The primary advantages of pre-arranging your funeral is to relieve the burden on your loved ones in an already emotional time, and to ensure your funeral is carried out according to your wishes. Pre-planning and pre- paying your funeral is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give to your family. Pre-payment also protects you and your family from inflation, and the growth is non-taxable. Pre-Planning... One of the best gifts you can give your family is the gift of a pre-planned funeral. Start today. Benefits of Pre-Planning • Between 70 and 75 decisions are made within the first 24-48 hours of death. It’s difficult to think rationally while making so many decisions within days of losing someone, pre-planning gives yourself, family and friends peace of mind. Pre-planning gives your loved ones direction of your wants and desires. • It’s easy. Anyone can do it, and you can change your mind at any time. Don't wait! Start Your Pre-Plan Today 401 Albert Street, Box 340 , Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 Phone: 519-887-6336 Fax: 519-887-6438 www.riversidefuneralhome.ca ABC Investments is a broker for more than 30 financial institutions We do not charge any fees for our services. All investments are eligible for deposit insurance. Give us a call or stop in for rates on RSP’s, RIF’s & TFSA’s (We will pay the transfer fee charged to you by another financial institution up to $100.) 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