News Releases
WHAT:
Life has been good to many Canadians for the last decade. Markets have performed well, employment has been strong and average annual household incomes hit a high of $63,000 in 2006.* However, this good fortune doesn't necessarily mean that Canadians are immune to a variety of other challenges that, left unaddressed, could erode the quality of life many have come to expect.
Canadians have worked hard to achieve their standard of living and with a little foresight and professional advice, they can help secure this level of lifestyle over the long-term.
WHY:
According to The Strategic Counsel's “State of the Baby Boomer” study released by BMO Financial Group, boomers are anxious about the future as they juggle the needs of their parents and children, while trying to plan for their own retirement.
Yet, Canadian boomers admit that they prefer to spend their time planning other activities, rather than planning for their future. According to a recent BMO / Ipsos Reid survey, 49% of boomers spend more time planning their exercise, 47% planning their diet, 46% planning renovations, 43% planning travel and 33% spend more time planning their car maintenance than planning their retirement.
Even the wealthy are not immune to the challenges of sustaining hard-won lifestyles. According to a recent North American study from The Williams Group, a consultancy for high net worth families in California, the transition of wealth from one generation to the next fails in 70 per cent of cases.
WHO:
Successful life planning requires frank discussions and professional advice. Experts from BMO Investments Inc., BMO InvestorLine, BMO Harris Private Banking and BMO Nesbitt Burns are available across the country to map out the important stages throughout life and discuss the range of financial options available. They can speak about:
- Planning for significant stages in life, including marriage, a first home, children, a new business, retirement and death
- Planning for your needs as well as those of your adult children and elderly parents - how to fit yourself into the planning equation
- Impact of divorce and second marriages on life planning
- How to get out from under the day-to-day priorities to plan for the future - balancing life commitments and lifestyle choices
- Planning beyond your life - leaving a legacy
- Simple steps Canadians can take now to manage their investments to help ensure they don't outlive their money
- Assessing how your lifestyle impacts your financial planning style – from do-it-yourself to full service – what's right for you?
* Fraser Institute. Canadian Consumer Tax Index. Ottawa: 2007
- 30 -