Home Columnists Akua Carmichael
Akua Carmichael
Tax & Estate Planning

Akua Carmichael

Akua Carmichael, LL.B, J.D., TEP, is director, tax and estate planning services, with Empire Life. Akua.Carmichael@empire.ca

When a person dies leaving a will in Ontario, it isn’t uncommon for the executor of the estate to apply for a certificate of appointment of estate trustee with a will, a legal process where courts confirm the validity of the deceased’s will, and the executor’s authority to act on behalf of the estate. An […]

  • October 1, 2009 June 16, 2018
  • 14:33

When advising clients on making a will, it isn’t uncommon to discover they have assets in foreign jurisdictions. That being the case, advisors need to know how to deal with issues that may arise from having overseas wealth. Consider the following scenario. Mary is a Canadian citizen who lives in Ottawa but spends her winters […]

  • September 1, 2009 June 16, 2018
  • 12:36

More columnists

Tax & Estate Planning

Curtis Davis

The gift of homeownership

Tax tips when tapping the Bank of Mom and Dad

  • March 31, 2023 March 29, 2023
  • 10:00

Inflation will affect tax brackets

Indexing helps your clients’ after-tax income keep pace

  • November 7, 2022 November 4, 2022
  • 10:30

Tax-loss selling: investing’s moral victory

Help clients turn investment losses into a tax win

  • November 3, 2022 November 3, 2022
  • 12:17

Estate planning with TFSAs

Avoid the tax consequences of not distributing a TFSA quickly after the account holder dies

  • May 9, 2022 May 5, 2022
  • 10:00
Tax & Estate Planning

Jamie Golombek

Advisor learns the hard way that TFSAs are not for frequent trading

A Tax Court case led to a hefty tax bill

  • March 31, 2023 March 24, 2023
  • 10:00

TFSA overcontributions still a problem

Federal Court case is the latest reminder of the costs

  • November 7, 2022 November 4, 2022
  • 10:30

CRA can use ‘arbitrary assessments’ to fill a filing void

A Tax Court case offers a warning about missing corporate returns

  • May 9, 2022 May 5, 2022
  • 10:00

No court relief for accidental RRSP overcontribution

A lack of understanding about spousal RRSP limits was no excuse

  • March 14, 2022 March 10, 2022
  • 10:00

This isn’t an obituary

The demise of the financial advice industry has been predicted frequently over the past quarter century. But you’re still here — and so are we.

  • March 31, 2023 March 31, 2023
  • 10:00

The financial industry wants you — to mentor

The advice channel’s survival depends on seasoned veterans who are willing to impart knowledge

  • March 14, 2022 March 10, 2022
  • 10:00

Racial justice, one year later

Editorial: Financial firms still have work to do in acknowledging their role in systemic racism

  • May 11, 2021 May 11, 2021
  • 09:30

What financial firms are doing to fight systemic racism

Advisor's Edge asked 20 banks, asset managers, insurers and advisory firms how they are addressing anti-Black racism

  • July 16, 2020 July 17, 2020
  • 10:23
Investments

Mark Rosen

Should advisors ride the coattails of activist investors?

Lack of long-term gains might mean it’s time to exit a stock instead

  • March 31, 2023 March 29, 2023
  • 10:00

Should advisors buy shares with inferior voting rights?

Better to focus on whether a company is evolving or stagnating

  • November 7, 2022 November 4, 2022
  • 10:30
Tax & Estate Planning

Wilmot George

Selling real estate? The CRA is (still) watching

Transactions, including property flipping, require proper tax reporting

  • January 6, 2023 January 6, 2023
  • 13:43

What happens to non-residents’ RRSPs and RRIFs when they die?

A client scenario illustrates whether withholding taxes apply

  • August 15, 2022 August 15, 2022
  • 16:33

Love and taxes, Part II: Tax and estate planning for two spouses

Tax rules offer flexibility when a client has both a spouse and a common-law partner

  • March 30, 2022 March 30, 2022
  • 11:35

Love and taxes: What the CRA needs to know about your intimate relationships

Completing the T1’s marital status isn’t always straightforward

  • November 30, 2021 November 30, 2021
  • 16:33
Tax & Estate Planning

Lea Koiv

How inflation affects OAS timing

Three case studies to help clients choose when to begin their benefits

  • January 5, 2023 January 5, 2023
  • 14:34

Consider inflation when deciding when to begin CPP

The higher the inflation rate, the bigger the benefit of waiting

  • June 28, 2022 June 22, 2022
  • 09:00

CRA issues newsletter for registered pension plan contracts

The additional guidance reduces the risk of purchasing a non-compliant annuity

  • August 4, 2020 July 31, 2020
  • 06:00

Understanding maximum transfer value rules

What clients need to know when commuting a DB pension

  • December 15, 2017 September 9, 2018
  • 12:03
Tax & Estate Planning

Keith Masterman

A cautionary tale about executors and clearance certificates

Court decision serves as a warning about property distribution, executor renunciation

  • December 9, 2022 December 9, 2022
  • 15:00

Help clients claim tax credits for charitable donations

A sample scenario illustrates the savings

  • September 14, 2022 September 19, 2022
  • 15:58

All about eligible medical expenses

Help your client claim these non-refundable tax credits

  • March 23, 2022 March 23, 2022
  • 11:14

Help your client plan for income when a spouse dies

A sample case illustrates the impacts for the surviving spouse

  • November 22, 2021 November 22, 2021
  • 14:11
Tax & Estate Planning

Akua Carmichael

Common gaps when appointing an attorney for property and personal care

A case study explains the challenges

  • November 10, 2022 November 10, 2022
  • 16:59

Power of attorney and incapacity planning: Do you have a plan?

Addressing estate planning’s ignored middle child

  • September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022
  • 15:47

How to avoid succession battles with the family cottage

Keeping it in the family and maintaining harmony

  • November 2, 2021 November 2, 2021
  • 12:30

Avoiding a dependant’s relief claim

A recent court case illustrates the risks that come with longer lives

  • February 7, 2020 February 6, 2020
  • 09:30

Time for advisors to rethink ‘retirement’

The traditional idea is increasingly outdated

  • November 7, 2022 November 4, 2022
  • 10:30

Adventures in personality testing

What I learned from taking four firms’ personality or behavioural assessments

  • May 9, 2022 May 9, 2022
  • 10:00

Efficient work isn’t always the most effective

Building trust remotely is still a challenge

  • February 4, 2022 February 3, 2022
  • 15:00

An unlikely confession about commuting

The loss of that loathsome ritual may be contributing to stress

  • November 2, 2021 November 2, 2021
  • 12:30
Investments

Mark Yamada

Inflation and the 60/40 portfolio

Some good news — but mostly bad

  • November 7, 2022 November 4, 2022
  • 10:30

An inconvenient truth about ESG investing

Widespread awareness has not translated into widespread impact

  • May 9, 2022 May 9, 2022
  • 10:00

Energy ETFs face a low-carbon future

New risks and rewards from Canada’s second-largest sector

  • March 14, 2022 March 10, 2022
  • 10:00

Beware of post-pandemic globalization

Things are about to get (more) complicated for investors

  • February 4, 2022 February 3, 2022
  • 15:00
Tax & Estate Planning

Vivek Bansal

What to know about the new intergenerational transfer rules

Business owners planning for succession must meet certain criteria

  • August 23, 2022 August 23, 2022
  • 15:42

What your clients should know about real estate renos and repairs

For the best tax treatment, distinguish between current and capital expenses

  • May 2, 2022 May 2, 2022
  • 15:04

Unintended tax consequences of joint tenancy with a right of survivorship

A client scenario with a family cottage shows the importance of planning

  • December 3, 2021 December 3, 2021
  • 14:23

Potential tax implications from renting a principal residence

A change in use could result in a deemed disposition

  • July 22, 2021 July 22, 2021
  • 14:16
Tax & Estate Planning

Jacqueline Power

Estate planning with trusts

Help your client benefit from these important tools

  • August 12, 2022 November 22, 2022
  • 13:56

Programs and incentives to help first-time homebuyers

These initiatives can help clients enter the housing market

  • March 31, 2022 March 31, 2022
  • 14:32

Help your client with tax-efficient charitable giving

Use these tips to make the most of a donation tax credit

  • November 23, 2021 November 23, 2021
  • 16:18

Avoid cross-border pitfalls with TFSAs

U.S. tax rules can lead to TFSA troubles

  • July 9, 2021 July 9, 2021
  • 15:11

Do corporate spinoffs reward shareholders?

Creating value by shrinking

  • May 9, 2022 May 16, 2022
  • 10:00

When stock frauds go beyond gaming the numbers

Claims of novel technology are at the centre of many collapses

  • March 14, 2022 March 10, 2022
  • 10:00

Finding the tipping point of stock collapses

When does accounting become important?

  • February 4, 2022 February 3, 2022
  • 15:00

Heed the warning signs of stock market frauds

Use the fraud triangle to root out problem investments

  • November 2, 2021 November 2, 2021
  • 12:30
Tax & Estate Planning

Jon Hreljac

Buyer beware: Foreign income in a corporation

Help business-owner clients manage foreign dividend investments

  • January 28, 2022 January 28, 2022
  • 12:27
Market Insights

Jim Otar

Inflation lessons from history

It’s time to stress-test client portfolios

  • December 17, 2021 December 17, 2021
  • 11:17

How sustainable is the CPP?

A panoramic view of the next 75 years

  • May 14, 2021 May 14, 2021
  • 13:58

How asset allocation impacts portfolio recovery

Don’t underestimate the behavioural element

  • July 16, 2020 August 13, 2020
  • 13:15

How long until my portfolio recovers from March’s sell-off?

Using historical returns to forecast a recovery

  • June 12, 2020 June 22, 2020
  • 09:00
Tax & Estate Planning

Rebecca Hett

In-trust-for accounts and taxation

Factors to consider when setting aside funds for minors

  • December 9, 2021 December 9, 2021
  • 11:57

What the disability tax credit means for eligible Canadians and their families

Qualification is a gateway to additional tax savings

  • May 14, 2021 June 22, 2021
  • 15:13

How to deduct home office expenses

Here’s what your clients need to know for the 2020 tax year

  • February 4, 2021 February 4, 2021
  • 16:30

Transferring a 401(k) or IRA to Canada

Issues and strategies for Canadians thinking about transferring their U.S.-based retirement plans

  • November 26, 2020 December 21, 2020
  • 14:04
Tax & Estate Planning

David Truong

How to make good use of Monte Carlo projections

Projections are essential for planning but they rely on the quality of the variables used

  • August 4, 2021 August 4, 2021
  • 14:36

How DTC eligibility loss affects RDSPs

This example highlights tax and planning considerations

  • January 30, 2018 May 13, 2019
  • 14:00

Registered plans and lifetime benefit trusts

What to consider regarding the use of LBTs

  • January 9, 2018 September 12, 2018
  • 15:01

DTC eligibility for taxpayers with Type 1 diabetes

Why people living with Type 1 diabetes have been refused the Disability Tax Credit

  • December 20, 2017 September 4, 2018
  • 15:30
Tax & Estate Planning

Frank Di Pietro

Unexpected tax consequences when accessing real estate equity

Interest deductibility may be at stake

  • June 18, 2021 June 18, 2021
  • 14:18

Deducting home office expenses during the pandemic

The rules are restrictive and deductions require the employer’s support

  • June 2, 2020 June 1, 2020
  • 13:00

Sidestepping superficial loss rules

The process of selling losing investments is fairly straightforward

  • April 16, 2020 April 16, 2020
  • 11:00

Second-generation income and TOSI

Find out when your client’s investment income could be subject to the tax on split income

  • February 7, 2020 March 30, 2020
  • 13:30
Tax & Estate Planning

Tim Brisibe

Non-resident executors and posting bond

Clients may need to revise their wills if they’ve named out-of-jurisdiction executors

  • May 11, 2021 May 11, 2021
  • 12:00

Effective beneficiary designations when converting RRSPs to RRIFs

Help your client avoid these estate planning pitfalls

  • October 2, 2020 July 15, 2021
  • 09:00

When does an enduring power of attorney become active?

Knowing the answer will help you and your client prepare for incapacity

  • May 8, 2020 May 12, 2020
  • 15:00

Using the principal residence exemption when transitioning to retirement living

Know the tax implications when moving into care

  • July 26, 2018 September 10, 2018
  • 00:00
Tax & Estate Planning

Doug Carroll

Can a trust avoid tax on a deceased person’s RRSP?

A trustee’s tax liability has limits, a court case suggests

  • March 23, 2021 March 23, 2021
  • 10:14

Chess and retirement planning

The decumulation game requires a dynamic strategy

  • January 22, 2021 January 22, 2021
  • 14:00

Budgeting for 2021 CPP changes — and beyond

Will the pandemic lead to higher future premiums?

  • November 13, 2020 November 13, 2020
  • 11:53

A tax strategy about nothing

What Seinfeld can teach us about the value of staying the course

  • July 2, 2020 July 8, 2020
  • 14:30