British farmers’ interest in moving to Canada is rising in the wake of the U.K.’s June vote to leave the European Union. The Economist, a British newsweekly, reported that the urge to move somewhere else among all residents of the United Kingdom is at “an all-time high,” spiking dramatically as it became obvious that Britain’s […] Read more
Guarding Wealth: Heading to the colonies
After Brexit, some Brits may be taking a look at Canadian farmland
Guarding Wealth: Owning a piece of the business
Roller coaster or reliable investment? Consider both sides of the stock market
It is a fact of life that we need money to grease the wheels of commerce, to buy seed, machinery, trucks to move the grain, and so on. It is also a fact of life that the people wanting to do all of this stuff don’t have the money. How they get it is the […] Read more
Guarding Wealth: Are bonds the best bet for you?
Four secrets to buying bonds for your portfolio
Stocks flourish on good company news, a bit of inflation to push up prices, moderate growth in corporate earnings, and the optimism of investors looking forward to rising incomes and climbing profits. Bonds, on the other hand, are for pessimists. As economic growth slows, the demand for loans declines. Inflation subsides. In this atmosphere, bonds […] Read more
Farm Financial Planner: Manage assets for farm transition
Asset management solves the risk of heavy tax when couple shifts ownership to their son
In western Manitoba, a couple we’ll call Ezra, 58, and Lucy, 56, operate a third generation family farm with 1,280 acres of feed grains, oilseeds and a herd of 60 beef cows. The farm, with a value of $1.25 million plus $100,000 for the farm house, is profitable, but its future is clouded by the […] Read more
Farm Financial Planner: Building up those off-farm assets
With a big farm and few takers from the next generation, a couple focuses on off-farm assets
On a 4,000 acre farm in southWestern Manitoba, a couple we’ll call Herb, 56, and Lorie, 45, grow grains and raise 600 head of cattle. They have been successful over the years with Herb and his brother buying the family farm in equal shares. That buyout provided Herb’s parents with a retirement income and gave […] Read more
Guarding Wealth: Investments for long-term growth
The global slowdown is serious and widespread. Risk aversion is the new investment trend
Stock markets around the world have been tumbling almost in unison. The customary instruction from financial planners — stay invested and wait for the inevitable recovery — is tough to accept when, every day seemingly without let up, stock averages lose several per cent. The heartache will stop and the tumble from grace will end […] Read more
Farm Financial Planner: Transition: two children, one farm
Sam and Ursula wan to pass the farm onto their son, but share the wealth with their daughter
A farmer we’ll call Sam, 62, and his wife Ursula, 59, farm 10 quarters of grain in central Saskatchewan. Helped by their son, Ernie, and his wife, Maria, both 35, they have developed a very successful operation. The farm generates an average of $175,000 a year and the couple operates equipment for roadwork, snow plowing […] Read more
Farm Financial Planner: Moving to corporate structures
Bumper crops and bulging silos can make a move to corporate structure essential
In central Manitoba, a couple we’ll call Nick, 38, and Mary, 37, farm 1,500 acres. They inherited Nick’s family farm eight years ago after his parents died. The farm began with the parents’ two sections. When the parents passed away, the home quarter and associated buildings went to Nick with the neighbouring quarter section going […] Read more
Learn to read the market signs
Guarding Wealth: Two distinct schools of stock market price prediction are taken on faith
It is said that the future is written in the past. For investors, that means looking backward to see where the future lies. On the one hand, it seems silly. After all, if you are driving down the road, looking backward is downright hazardous. But if you are an investor, you have to look to […] Read more
Farm Financial Planner: Retiring farmer selling off the farm
With no spouse and a disabled nephew, this Saskatchewan farmer is ready to close up shop
In northwestern Sask-atchewan, a 63-year old farmer we’ll call Rorie runs a mixed grain and cattle operation on 12 quarters of land. Helped by Sam, his 43-year old nephew, Rorie, who has never been married, keeps five quarters in wheat and oilseeds and grazes 80 cows on the remaining seven quarters. Rorie has a lot […] Read more
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