INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Cardinal Point provides personally tailored investment management services for clients with U.S. and Canadian investment accounts. Investment strategies are customized to our clients’ risk tolerance and goals and then we work to fully integrate them into their tax, financial and estate planning initiatives.
Professionally Managed
The firm’s Investment Philosophy is molded by the Cardinal Point Investment Committee, a group of five investment professionals with over 100 years of combined investment management experience. Committee members hold numerous industry credentials, including CFA, CFP, CIM, CIWM, and FSCI designations. The Committee meets formally on a quarterly basis to review all aspects of the investment management process.
Investment Philosophy
Our Investment philosophy guides an investment management process comprised of three key components: Discovery of your risk tolerance & capacity, formation of a customized asset allocation, and implementation of that allocation across multiple currencies and jurisdictions.
A Transparent Investment Strategy
Cardinal Point adheres to a transparent and conflict-free investment philosophy in which our clients’ interests are always put first. As a fee-only firm, we do not invest our clients’ assets in investment products that directly compensate our firm through hidden commissions, trailer fees or 12b-1 fees, and we do not offer proprietary products for investment. We feel these products can create a conflict of interest between the advisor and client. Instead, our investment committee puts an emphasis on investment process and researching best-in-class investment solutions for our clients. To help further protect our clients’ assets, all investment accounts are held and safeguarded through third-party custodians.
Managing Money Across Borders
Cardinal Point has the unique registrations and ability to manage integrated investment portfolios that include accounts in Canada and the U.S. Many of our clients have lived and worked in Canada and the U.S. and have accumulated assets and investment accounts in both countries. It can be very difficult to locate an advisor that can oversee these investment accounts in the two countries, and many have had to work with an advisor on each side of the border. At Cardinal Point, we create and oversee integrated cross-border investment portfolios that include all types of accounts in both Canada and the U.S.
OUR RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Cross-Border Implications of Holding a 529 Plan
529 plans are a popular U.S. higher education savings option. However, if you have any intention to move back to Canada in the future or think your child might choose to attend a college or university outside the U.S., you should consider the possible tax implications before investing in a 529 plan. Learn more about how these plans work and cross-border tax considerations in this article.
Moving Across the Border and Leaving Your Aging Parents Behind
The senior population—defined as those age 65 and older—is exploding in both the U.S. and Canada. If you’re planning a move across the border for work or retirement, it’s likely you have an aging family member or two to consider. In this article, we’ll explore the documents you need to have in order as well as other steps to take before you relocate away from the senior citizens you love.
Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption & Qualified Small Business Corporation
The Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (“LCGE”) is a once-in-a-lifetime tax deduction that is available for every Canadian resident individual on up to $883,384 CAD (2020, and indexed to inflation on an annual basis) of capital gains realized on the sale of Qualified Small Business Corporation (“QSBC”) shares and certain other capital properties. In order to claim the LCGE, the capital gain must be realized by an individual, trust, or partnership (with the gain allocated to an individual) with an available LCGE balance.