My Planning
The goal is to save as much as possible without giving anything up. Reaching this goal requires good planning.
However, planning is not just about saving money; it's also about knowing what to do with your money. Save it, spend it, borrow it, transfer it, deposit it, invest it or even... donate it.
The best way to do this is still to have well-organized finances. We have several tools that can help you manage your money and stretch your dollar to the max!
My Budget: My Best Planning Tool
A budget will help you plan your affairs well and maybe even save money!
The bulk of the work, when drawing up your budget, is to get all your income and expenses down on paper so that you can get the real picture of your finances in black and white.
The results might come as a shock. If this is the case, it's time to act: cut out the excess, structure your money management and maximize your savings. Basically, start planning!
Get out your pencil, your calculator, your pay stubs and your bills. It's time to get started. To make the job easier, we’ll even supply the budget tables.
Don’t forget! A budget changes with you and your needs so it has to be kept up to date to reflect your needs and to take into account the unexpected.
All My Basic Expenses Are Covered. Now What?
Now that you have a better idea of your income and expenses, it’s time to think of setting some money aside for the unexpected, for retirement, to buy a home, to pay for studies, etc., according to your needs.
Start by setting your goals and determining your life plans. Do you dream of starting a business? What are you planning to do when you retire? Are you planning to pay for your children’s post-secondary education? Buy a home? Pay off your mortgage faster than planned?
The secret to success is not to overlook the small stuff, and most of all, to manage your affairs carefully. Here is our hit parade of common sense tips to get the most out of your extra cash.
| Hit Parade of Common Sense Tips for Your Extra Cash | |
|---|---|
| No. 1 | Pay down your consumer debts (e.g. your credit card balances). |
| No. 2 | Contribute to your RRSP or TFSA or make the minimum payment to your RRSP for money withdrawn through a special program (e.g. the Home Buyers' Plan). |
| No. 3 | Build up a cushion (ideally the equivalent of three to six months' salary). The TFSA is the ideal tool to do it. |
| No. 4 | Contribute to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). |
| No. 5 | Take measures to amortize your mortgage debt faster (goal: to pay it off in full before your retirement). |
| No. 6 | Increase your RRSP contributions or start contributing to a TFSA. |
| No. 7 | Increase your RESP contributions. |
| No. 8 | Make an extra contribution to pay back the money you took out of your RESP through a special program. |
| No. 9 | Invest in unregistered investments (e.g. securities). |
Need help with your personal management plan? Your advisor can enlighten you and, if needed, refer you to one of our financial planners.
Resources from A to Z
Since you have multiple and wide-ranging needs, it may be useful to call on several specialists to put you on the right track. For that very reason, we built a solid team of advisors and financial planners whose combined expertise covers the full spectrum of financial services. They can point you to the finest resources. In fact, you won't find a more loyal or committed ally!
Advisors that truly care!
Feel assured that our advisors are a head above the competition when it comes to finding their way through a maze of credit and investment solutions. Because they keep tabs on the whole financial network, nothing gets past their keen eye to direct you toward the best resources. It won't be long before you develop a close, lasting and proactive relationship with your advisor.
Financial planners1 who are on the ball!
When the situation calls for expert advice, a financial planner is your best option. Your needs, assets, projects, strategies, estate planning, insurance... nothing is left to chance! Our financial planners are brilliant strategists because their advice is based on real data, not speculation. Accordingly, you will receive detailed reports including clear recommendations that can be easily applied. In fact, they spare no expense to get the best results for their clients by using a score of performing tools and state-of-the-art technologies.
These are but a few services available to you:
Budget and financial management
Retirement projection and planning
Credit strategy
Insurance needs management
Investments
Taxation
For advice on preserving and handing down your estate, consult the following pages:
1. The title of Financial Planner is restricted to persons duly registered with the relevant Regulatory Authorities and licensed by the Autorité des marchés financiers. Therefore, only those persons who are registered with LBC Financial Services and holding a license in effect can provide financial planning services.
