Detailed Service Category: Specialized Trust & Estate Services

Estate Freezes and Succession Planning: When Might An Estate Freeze Make Sense?

Older couple discussing estate and succession planning with an advisor.

If you own a successful private company, there’s a good chance a significant portion of your wealth is tied up in the business. As that business grows, so does the value of your shares. That can be great while you’re building the company, but it can also create a larger… Read more

Corporate Wills in B.C.: Could a Second Will Simplify Your Estate?

Business owner discussing succession and estate planning beside farm equipment.

If you own a private company, your shares may be one of the most valuable assets you’ll eventually leave behind. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they need to be handled in the same way as your home, investments, and other personal assets when you die. For some B.C. business owners,… Read more

Beyond the Traditional Sale: Two Succession Options You May Not Have Considered

Business owner discussing succession planning with two members of her management team.

When you start thinking about stepping back from your business, the most obvious succession options may be passing it to family or selling to an outside buyer. But what if the next owners are potentially already working for you? For some business owners, selling to the people who already know… Read more

Avoiding a Forced Sale: Using Life Insurance to Fund Taxes at Death

Two men, one older and one younger, walking outdoors together and smiling, representing intergenerational business succession and estate planning.

For many incorporated business owners, a large portion of their wealth is tied up in their company, a real estate portfolio, or long-term investments held inside a corporation. On paper, the value can be significant. In practice, much of that wealth may not be easily converted to cash. That distinction… Read more

Prescribed Rate Drops to 3%: A Tax Planning Opportunity

Three people meeting in a modern office to review financial documents, smiling and engaged in discussion.

As of July 1, 2025, the CRA’s prescribed interest rate has dropped from 4% to 3%, its lowest level since December 2022. While that may seem like a minor adjustment, this change presents meaningful tax planning opportunities—especially for families with investment assets looking to split income, or for those funding… Read more

Make a Will Week: Death, Taxes, and the Value of a CPA

A middle aged couple sits at a desk with several papers and pens on the table. They smile at their financial advisor, who sits at the desk in the foreground of the image with his back to the camera.

UPDATE (September 5, 2025): This article has been updated to reflect changes in legislation, regulations, and accounting practices since the original date of publication (October 6, 2024). October 20-26 marks Make a Will Week 2025 in B.C.—an important reminder to take care of your loved ones by creating or updating… Read more

Buying Beyond the Border: Purchasing and Owning Foreign Property as a Canadian

A middle-aged black man dressed professionally sits at an airport gate lounge, facing out the window. He is talking on his cellphone and smiling, while also looking at a laptop screen. A laptop bag sits on the chair beside him in the foreground.

Owning foreign property can be an exciting and lucrative venture, but it also comes with unique challenges and obligations—especially for Canadian individuals and corporations. Whether you’re purchasing property for personal use or as an investment, it’s essential to understand the various tax and reporting requirements that come with foreign property… Read more

Keeping Up With Trust Reporting: New 2023 Trust Reporting Rules

A photo of a Government of Canada building with blue skies in the background.

This article was originally published September 21, 2021 and has been updated to align with the new coming into force date set out in Bill C-32 (Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022). Under the revised legislation, the implementation of these trust reporting rules was delayed one year. There are new tax return… Read more

AMT Overhaul: A Guide to the New Alternative Minimum Tax Rules

A young businessman sits at a desk looking over company documents and tax files.

The 2023 federal budget announced significant changes to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) regime to better target high-income individuals. On August 4, 2023, the Department of Finance released draft legislative proposals to modify the AMT regime, effective for taxation years beginning after 2023. The proposed changes would be the most… Read more

Underused Housing Tax (UHT): File for 2022 by April 30, 2024

A small toy house sits on a desk with an accountant explaining the Underused Housing Tax to his client in the background.

This article was originally published on September 15, 2023, and has been updated as of November 1, 2023 to reflect the extended UHT filing deadline announced by the CRA on October 31, 2023. In February we provided an in-depth guide to the new federal Underused Housing Tax (UHT), which is… Read more