When the market is hot, like it is right now, a question I often get asked by potential buyers is “Should I skip the home inspection to make my offer more competitive?” Most often, the answer is a resounding “No!” Home inspections are a crucial checkpoint that should not be overlooked. This step is more than a mere formality; it’s your key to unlocking the secrets that may be hidden within your potential new home. Skipping the inspection is very risky and could result in financial and even legal burdens down the road.
There have been a lot of headlines recently about Ottawa’s proposal to establish a national sovereign wealth fund. It’s natural to wonder what it means for your portfolio. Our advice for now: take a breath, avoid reacting to speculation, and wait for the facts.
New investment vehicles often generate significant media attention—and that attention can make them feel like must-have additions to a portfolio. But the right question to ask about any investment opportunity is always how it fits within your individual strategy and goals, not how much it’s being talked about.
Canada’s sovereign wealth fund is still a proposal, not an established policy. That distinction matters. The details investors need to evaluate it properly remain undefined: how the fund would be governed, what safeguards would exist against political influence, what the liquidity terms and any lockup periods would look like, and what risk and return investors should reasonably expect.
Some types of sovereign wealth funds already exist around the world. One of the most well-known and largest is Norway’s state-run fund. Ottawa’s proposed fund appears different in a significant way: it would invest domestically and include a retail investor component. Norwegian citizens cannot invest directly in Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, and that fund invests globally. That distinction is significant.
As with any eligible investment opportunity, appropriate due diligence is essential. Until greater clarity emerges around structure, cost, governance, and decision-making, it’s premature to draw firm conclusions or form any view on its suitability for future investment decisions.
As more information becomes available about the proposed fund, the key factors to evaluate will include transparency around governance and decision-making, clarity on how investment choices will be made and what role—if any—political considerations might play, and specifics on liquidity, cost, risk, and expected returns. Those are the factors that will ultimately determine whether and how this fund could fit into a well-constructed financial plan.
In the meantime, if you have questions about how this proposal might relate to your financial plan, speak with your financial advisor before making any changes to your portfolio.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Garet‘s many years of experience as a business owner has allowed him to be of valued service to his clients who may have complex needs and will benefit from long-term solutions based planning. Garet aspires to know his clients on a level where he truly understand their needs, and uses an established process to help them achieve their financial goals.
]]>Our wildfire season started right on schedule again, this spring. Over a month of heavy rains protected large swaths of our forests, yet enough land was left un-drenched to maintain over 100 regional fires at any one time. Now, with climbing temperatures and daily precipitation tapering off to small storms and showers, we’re back in the thick of it.
This trend is not only predictable, it is necessary for agricultural crops to grow and ripen in time for harvest, and for hay crops to mature and be cut. Our neighbours are again complaining for the third year in a row about cross-border smoke, but what are we to do? It seems lost on them that if they are suffering, we probably have it worse.
We have always had fires each summer, and with the horrific conflagrations of the past 20 years, we are burning up those long collected fuel reserves to the points where they should have been all along. The heavy rains from late May to early July have ensured that we won’t have a brown summer as we had three years ago, but burn the forests will.
Provinces, territories and US states have multiple mutual aid agreements to tackle blazes that become too large for local efforts, despite all the political rhetoric from those trying to score cheap points against forces fully engaged in responding. Let’s get behind our natural resource heroes and support them in the ways they deserve.
]]>This week’s ‘Leduc in a flash’ comes from Cindy Danyluk-Boisvert and captures a Golden-Eye Female and her ducklings, on Telford Lake, July 5.
Do you have a photo showing off the city? Send it to DGiancola@postmedia.com for your chance to be featured in the Rep.
]]>Summer has arrived in Leduc and Beaumont! While it started off a little rainy, the recent warm weather has helped dry things out and brought plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. On Canada Day, I started the morning at the Alberta Legislature serving pancakes before heading to Leduc and Beaumont to join the celebrations with residents from across the region. It was a pleasure to take in the many family-friendly festivities and connect with so many people through some great conversations. It was a wonderful reminder of what makes Canada, and the communities of Leduc and Beaumont, so special.
The same spirit of strong communities and opportunity is reflected in the work being done to keep Alberta growing and affordable. United Conservatives have advanced one of the most significant opportunities in a generation – a new west coast pipeline that will connect Alberta energy to the world. We also launched applications for the Alberta Energy Rebate and added more support for complex classrooms.
Alberta’s energy future took a major step forward with the submission of the west coast oil pipeline proposal to the federal Major Projects Office for designation as a project of national interest. This bold, nation-building project would move more than one million barrels of oil per day to the west coast, opening the door to Asian markets and helping Canada become an energy superpower. Working with Trans Mountain Corporation, Pembina Pipeline, and Indigenous partners, this project will create thousands of jobs, generate revenues that support public services, strengthen Canada’s energy security, and support economic growth across the country – all while helping Alberta produce some of the lowest-emissions heavy oil in the world through the Pathways carbon capture initiative.
Everyday costs are still putting pressure on many Alberta families, and a little extra help can go a long way. That’s why our government has opened applications for the one-time Alberta Energy Rebate, which provides $100 to eligible Albertans. The rebate can be used however families need it most – whether that’s groceries, gas, utility bills, or other expenses. Eligible Albertans can apply online from July 1 to September 30 by visiting energyrebate.alberta.ca, while those receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit, AISH, ADAP, or Income Support will be automatically enrolled. By putting money directly into Albertans’ pockets, United Conservatives are delivering practical support where families need it most.
Students learn best when classrooms are safe, supportive, and focused on learning. That is why United Conservatives are investing $100 million to help schools manage increasingly complex classroom needs from kindergarten to Grade 12. This funding will help hire more teachers, educational assistants, and specialized support staff, including 221 new complexity teams across the province. These teams work directly with schools facing behavioural and safety challenges, with new help for students in grades 7 to 12 and additional support for kindergarten to Grade 6 classrooms. The funding also includes training for teachers and school staff, along with better access to specialized services in rural and remote communities, giving teachers the tools and support they need to help every student succeed.
Building a stronger Alberta means looking ahead while continuing to support families today. The decisions government makes should lead to real improvements in people’s lives. Whether it’s creating jobs through major infrastructure projects, helping families with rising costs, or supporting teachers and students, United Conservatives are focused on delivering results that strengthen Alberta today and create opportunities for tomorrow.
I always welcome the opportunity to hear from residents about the issues that matter most to them. If you have any questions, would like to book a meeting, or simply want to grab a coffee and chat, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 780-929-3290 or by email at Leduc.Beaumont@assembly.ab.ca. I look forward to connecting with you.
]]>Most Canadians would say they want to feel better about their finances. Fewer have taken the step most likely to get them there.
A financial plan is a consistent factor separating Canadians who feel in control of their financial lives from those who don’t. That’s the central finding of a major new study by Gallup and Edward Jones, which surveyed 2,117 Canadian adults earlier this year. And the data makes a compelling case that planning is a good strategy to move the needle.
The numbers tell a clear story. Among Canadians who feel genuinely fulfilled in their financial lives, 97 per cent have emergency savings and 83 per cent have a retirement plan. Among those experiencing financial stress, those same figures fall to 41 and 30 per cent respectively. Having funds set aside for major life expenses shows a similar divide. These aren’t just correlations — the research found that planning behaviours are strongly and independently associated with fulfillment, even after accounting for income and net worth.
That last point is worth dwelling on. Two Canadians with identical incomes and identical debt loads can experience their financial lives in completely different ways, depending on whether one has a clear plan and the other doesn’t. Once fulfillment is factored in, net worth alone has no independent effect on overall life satisfaction. A plan, in other words, does something that money by itself cannot: it creates the confidence and clarity that make financial life feel manageable.
The difference between financially fulfilled and financially stressed Canadians is striking when it comes to confidence. Among financially fulfilled Canadians, 92 per cent report feeling confident in their ability to manage their current financial needs. Among those who are financially stressed, that figure is 3 per cent. More than half of financially stressed Canadians say their finances control their life, while just 2 per cent of financially fulfilled Canadians feel the same way. A plan shifts that dynamic — it puts the person back in charge.
Equally important is what a plan protects against. Regardless of their level of fulfillment, many Canadians remain vulnerable to unexpected financial changes. Half of Canadians say they can pay “very little” or “not at all” toward an unexpected $10,000 expense.
Financially stressed adults are more than twice as likely to have faced a large, unplanned expense in the past year, indicating that significant financial shifts can be deeply impactful to one’s financial state.
The encouraging part of this research is that progress doesn’t require perfection. All forward movement on a fulfillment journey is associated with meaningful improvements in wellbeing. The plan doesn’t have to be complete to start making a difference.
Financial advisors are uniquely positioned to help with this. The study found that working with a financial advisor is the strongest driver of fulfillment of any guidance source tested, outperforming internet research, family advice, social media and artificial intelligence tools. And that relationship holds across all income and age groups.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
Garet‘s many years of experience as a business owner has allowed him to be of valued service to his clients who may have complex needs and will benefit from long-term solutions based planning. Garet aspires to know his clients on a level where he truly understand their needs, and uses an established process to help them achieve their financial goals.
]]>Home staging refers to the process of preparing a property for sale by enhancing its appearance and making it more appealing to potential buyers. This involves creating a welcoming atmosphere, that helps buyers visualize themselves living in the space. Home staging can lead to a quicker sale and potentially even a higher selling price. There are professionals that can help with this task; however, there are also many things the homebuyer can do themselves to showcase the homes best features and stage for success!
It’s been just over a year since my first Karissa’s Kitchen column was published in The Leduc Rep . Can you believe it? Time flies when you’re having fun. I strongly believe that credible information on nutrition should be made accessible to everyone, so believe me when I say these columns have been a passion project of mine. Sadly, my attentions are currently being pulled elsewhere, leading to the end of Karissa’s Kitchen. However, I wanted to write one last column before saying goodbye to Leducites.
Of course, in typical Karissa’s Kitchen fashion, I’d like to leave you with a few lessons in nutrition. So here are the three main messages I hope you took away from my columns over the past year:
The first takeaway is that healthy food should taste good. Every recipe I’ve shared with you has been packed with both nutrients and flavour. This is because I know people stick with habits that they enjoy. If you’re not enjoying vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein, find a way! Whether it’s particular cooking methods, spice combinations, or the ambiance you create at mealtimes, there are strategies you can use to make healthy food satisfying. Hopefully the ideas I’ve provided you with along the way have given you some inspiration to up the satisfaction factor of your meals.
The second message I want you to hear is that there’s always a way to simplify healthy eating. Sure, you can track calories and calculate your macros, or you could use easy rules of thumb to keep an eye on your portion sizes, like Health Canada’s Plate Model or Diabetes Canada’s Handy Portion Guide. Yes, you can set lofty diet and exercise resolutions each year (that you give up on by February), or you could use the S.M.A.R.T goal technique to help you gradually, consistently work towards your wellness targets. The key to healthy eating is simplicity, not complexity – people stick with simple long-term.
This leads me to the third takeaway from Karissa’s Kitchen, which is that it’s worth it to consult a dietitian if you’re curious about nutrition. There is an overwhelming amount of nutrition information online. Though some of it is accurate, much of what you read and hear on the internet isn’t true. Misinformation, at the least, can lead to confusion and, at most, could cause harm. A dietitian uses their knowledge and experience to support you with changing your diet, ensuring your safety and success as you work towards your health goals. There are many ways to access a registered dietitian. You can search for dietitians in private practice in your area or ask your doctor to refer you to a primary care dietitian.
I sincerely hope my columns have motivated you to choose nutritious options, try new recipes, and savour your food. I wish you well on your personal health journey. This is goodbye – at least for now!
]]>We’ve been fortunate to have so much rain in late May and throughout most of June, though some folks have definitely had too much and may beg to differ. The extra precipitation gives us opportunities to build some resiliency into our lives and our fragile ecosystem, after suffering years of drought conditions.
Now is the time to plant trees, shrubs and bushes to take advantage of the extra soil moisture and higher water table. The disturbed sites that were difficult to reclaim are now in optimal emplacement to be tackled with ease in recontouring and reseeding. Dry ponds and dugouts are now wet and wetland features are swelling with the new precipitation, functioning to recharge aquifers and improving water reserves for irrigation, livestock use and wildlife and fisheries enhancement.
Monies saved by not purchasing scarce water resources can be spent on the creation of new collection features such as commercial-sized rain barrels and cisterns, not to mention new stormwater ponds for future use. Hay resources should reach an apex in mid and late summer, and may allow for two cuttings, freeing up money to spend in areas we have neglected for so long.
Let’s not squander the opportunities that this weather cycle has blessed us with, and instead take full advantage where we can.
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