Mark McDonald
277 Lakeshore Road E., Suite 401 L6J 1H9 Oakville, ON, Canada

Today is #BellLetsTalk day. If someone you know is struggling with their mental health, your support could make a difference in their recovery. Get some tips to help you reach out and start a conversation about mental health on Lumino Health: https://bit.ly/BellLetsTalk2

Hey folks, here’s a quick and interesting read into Benjamin Tal’s economic/stock market forecast for 2022. He’s got good insights into inflation and how it will affect interest rates in this country.

Do any of these scenarios resonate with you? You have debt. You have people who depend on you. You own a business.... You want to pay for final expenses. You want to grow your wealth. You want to lock in coverage while you’re young and healthy. You want to leave a legacy. If you’re single but any of these are important to you, then life insurance could be for you. If you want to learn more about the importance of life insurance, I’m happy to answer your questions. Just reach out to me today.

According a recent Reader's Digest poll, Sun Life remains the most trusted brand in Canada when it comes to life insurance, as well as for health and dental insurance. If you're in the market for any of these products, I'd be happy to talk to you about what Sun Life can offer you. Feel free to get in touch with me through this page, or at 905-617-1930. #lifeinsurance #sunlife

Could practicing mindfulness help you reduce stress and build a better financial strategy? The inspiring, and perhaps surprising answer is yes! No time to read? That’s okay. Have a listen instead! https://bit.ly/11mindfulness1

A home with a rental unit sounds amazing. The extra income can go towards paying down your mortgage quicker, so you become debt free faster. But it might not be legal. Make sure you do your research before putting in an offer. #rental #rentalunit #incomeproperty

As Covid-19 vaccines gradually become more available, and as more of us are starting to get vaccinated, I’ve been asked a few times if life insurance policies will still be valid if somebody dies from their vaccine shot. I’d answer the question but I don’t need to. The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association has answered it for all of us. If the link below doesn’t work, I’ve pasted the gist of the CLHIA’s statement underneath.... https://www.clhia.ca//CFFB22AA8524D58385258692004DDFFC!Ope Contrary to misinformation being shared on-line, receiving a Covid-19 vaccine will have no effect on the ability to obtain coverage or benefits from life insurance or supplementary health insurance. The statement continued by saying that Canada’s life and health insurers stress that vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others from serious illness and death from Covid-19.

If you have a mortgage, or young children, or a spouse, term life insurance can help ensure your financial obligations will be taken care in the event if your death. If I’ve described you above and you’d like to know more, this video explains this type of coverage in more detail.

Here’s a recap of what we saw in global financial markets over the summer, and a forecast of what could be in store.

Give yourself peace of mind that if you become ill with a critical illness and can’t work, your finances will remain intact. Contact me if you’d like to know more.

Do you own or run a business that offers an employee benefits plan? Have you ever wondered if your business is getting as much as it can from that plan? Or have you ever wondered what it might cost to start offering a plan to your employees? With a no-obligation chat, I can help you with either of these questions. Feel free to message me here, or give me a call at 905-617-1930.

I've had this question from a few clients lately: "What happens if I set up an RESP for my kid and he/she enrolls in an apprentice program instead of university or college? What happens to the money?" Here's an article that answers that question.

When it comes to saving for your future are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you have an advisor? Or have you not started saving yet? This story below shows how working with an advisor provides a number of benefits.

I normally write a little preamble to any article I share, but I don't think I need to here. Other than to say if you have any questions about life insurance, why one might want it or how much it costs to protect your family, I can answer them :)

I'm jumping the gun by 12 hours or so, but Happy Canada Day all!

Even though face-to-face meetings might take a while to be the norm again, Zoom has proven to be a really effective way to connect with clients during COVID. This article covers how these meetings work (and why it’s important to still have them, especially during a pandemic).

I get this question all the time - "What's the difference between term life insurance and whole (permanent) life insurance?" This article does a great job of explaining, but the Coles Notes version is that people buy term insurance to be able to have their mortgage paid off, or their children's education paid for, et cetera. Namely, obligations that go away after a certain amount of time. Whole (permanent) life insurance is designed to pay expenses you will always have (i.e...., ones that won't go away). Things like funeral costs, or to offset any tax liability your estate may have when you pass away. If you're still curious about the difference between the two types, have a read of this article. If you think you may need to look further into either type, feel free to reach out and we can have a quick chat about your needs :)

From February 19 to March 23, the TSX Composite Index fell by 37%. The three most well-known U.S. stock market indicators (Dow Jones, S&P 500, NASDAQ) fell by between 30% and 37%. When the bloodletting was at its peak, many were tempted to sell their investments and prevent further losses. What has happened since then? The TSX Composite has risen by 35%. The three US indicators have risen by between 34% and 36%. People who got out of the market at the end of March missed out ...on what has been a considerable rebound. People who stayed the course (as difficult as that may have been) and stayed in the market are likely universally glad they did. And anybody who actually added to their investments during the downturn is feeling even better. Can anybody say there won't be more COVID-19 related volatility in stock markets between now and the "end" of the pandemic? Probably not. But the numbers above reinforce the value of working with an advisor to choose investments that suit your long-term goals, resisting the urge to panic sell, and remembering patience is a virtue Here's a piece that complements what I've said above.

Here's some possible good news regarding your auto insurance. The industry will be providing rebates to customers due to reduced risk of accident during this period. Click through for more info :)

Hi folks, I hope all is well heading into Easter weekend. Just a quick update. Sun Life has announced premiums for certain products (critical illness insurance and some types of permanent life insurance) will be increasing for applications completed AFTER April 19. So if we’ve had a conversation about critical illness for either you or your children (you know who you are ), now’s the time to take action. Note: this does not affect premiums on any insurance policies you alrea...dy have. If you’d like to know more, feel free to get in touch. #staysafe #stayhealthy

Hi folks - the portal through which Canadians can apply for COVID-19 related benefits opens today. Here's more information about how to apply. #staysafe #wewillgetthroughthis

We can get through this together. Join us on Thursday, April 2, for a free webinar on mental wellness during COVID-19.

If your income has been affected by COVID-19, you may qualify for assistance from our federal government. Here's a helpful read on how to take advantage of what's being offered. NOTE: I can’t choose the picture in this item - I wouldn’t be encouraging the use of cash :)

Hi folks...hope you are all doing well and staying healthy. An update - while I'm not meeting with clients face to face right now, I'm always happy to meet virtually, via Zoom. If you've got questions about market volatility, your insurance coverage, or just want to a review of your overall plan, Zoom is a great substitute for an in-person meeting. Feel free to call or message me if you'd like to chat. Thanks :)

This many days left to make an RRSP contribution for 2019. Call me at 905-617-1930 if you need help getting yours in before the deadline. #rrsp #investing

This is how many days you have to make an RRSP contribution for 2019. If you need my help getting yours in before the deadline, just let me know . #rrsp #investing #retirement

Folks...there are 12 days left until the 2019 RRSP contribution deadline. If you're thinking of reducing your 2019 taxable income by making an RRSP or Spousal RRSP contribution, feel free to contact me through this page and I'll be happy to help.

Apparently 25% of Canadians don't know the difference between a TFSA and an RRSP. Which suggests that 75% do know the difference, which is pretty impressive. Anyhow, if you're one of the ones who don't know, this article/video will help. Or, you can always ask me :)

Folks - if you've got investments at different financial institutions and have ever thought it would be nice to consolidate them with one company, Sun Life now gives you a great reason to do that. Until January 31, you can earn up to $500 by bringing your portfolio to Sun Life - and be reimbursed for any transfer fees you incur. For more info, just click the link below or simply drop me a line through this page :) www.sunlife.ca/consolidate

Eight days until Black Friday. This article has some decent tips on how to save money during the madness. Some of them are things you’d have thought of anyway, but #3 and #5 were ones I wouldn’t have considered.

So some people did a study about life insurance in Canada, and whether people in this country have a handle on their situation. Guess what? Most people don’t. In fact, the article I’ve linked to shows that 49% of people surveyed have never purchased life insurance, ever. Are you one of those people who aren’t sure if they have enough? If you want an unbiased opinion on whether your coverage is enough to meet your family’s needs, I’m happy to help. Send me a message and we can talk.