What’s New at Advocis

As we enter spring, things have continued to heat up at Advocis! A few highlights include:

• To assist us in our journey to becoming a more equitable organization for our members and future members, Advocis has partnered with Strasity Inc. to address diversity and inclusion in a more fundamental way.
• The launch of DigiCat by our Tech Task Force. Check out these best-in-class options for all of your digital needs as an advisor, including CRM, calendarization, and financial planning software.
• Interested in reading, personal and professional development, and taking part in a community of like-minded advisors across Canada? Join the Advocis Book Club, a new benefit exclusively for members.
• Update 2021 is now available through your local Chapter. Earn six CE credits (includes one ethics credit) for full-day participation plus additional credits are earned upon successful completion of the Advanced Learning Modules.
• Advocis Coffee Talks brews brand new espresso-sized webinars throughout 2021. Exclusive to Advocis members these 30-minute webinars provide CE accreditation

Tax Filing in the Age of COVID

By Jamie Golombek and Debbie Pearl-Weinberg
April 7, 2021

As of mid-March 2021, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has not announced any extension to the normal 2020 tax filing deadlines. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are, however, some considerations that are specific to this year’s tax season.[..] Read more

Attracting Tomorrow’s Client

By Erin Bury
April 7, 2021

It’s no secret that technology has drastically changed the way younger generations handle their finances. From robo-advisors to direct-to-consumer investing platforms, Millennial and Gen Z consumers have never been more equipped to DIY, while at the same time there has been a mindset shift around the role professionals play in their financial lives.[..] Read more

The Benefit of Lifetime Benefit Trusts

By Kevin Wark
April 7, 2021

After a year of writing, editing, and more editing, the first edition of The Essential Canadian Guide to Estate Planning was published in April 2017. Shortly after its launch, the federal government announced a review of the tax rules governing private corporations, many of which were enacted in 2018. At the same time, our neighbours down south undertook the largest overhaul of the U.S. tax code in over three decades. This quickly led to the release of a second edition in May 2018.[..] Read more

Supporting Employees with Young Children

By Kelly Maxwell

April 7, 2021

I consider myself one of the lucky working parents, as I spent the first six months of the pandemic on maternity leave. When I returned to work this past September, I braced myself for sick days, quarantines, lockdowns, and chaos.

I’ve worked out of my home office for the past decade, so I was already familiar with virtual meetings, ergonomic office design, and the importance of scheduling in stretching or exercise throughout the day. It’s easy to develop bad habits when you are on your own.[..] Read more

3 Habits to Improve Your Networking Follow-up

By Mia and Andy Torr
April 7, 2021

If you’ve ever felt awkward or disorganized about following up, you aren’t alone. It’s the No. 1 concern that business networkers share with us. In fact, in our experience hosting thousands of networking events, only a tiny fraction of attendees follow up with us, and an even smaller number follow up well.

There’s good news: this single skill can dramatically increase your results if you improve by even a small margin. Here are three simple habits that can help you feel more organized, reliable, and memorable as you follow up.[..] Read more

Advocating for Fair Treatment for Family Businesses

By Guy Legault and Kevin Wark
April 7, 2021

Spirits were lifted in the tax advisory and small business communities this March when progress was made to address current inequities in the tax treatment of family business transfers. The Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU) has been actively advocating on this issue on behalf of members of CALU and Advocis starting in 2016 with its 2017 pre-budget submission to the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Finance (FINA).[..] Read more