Blog and Articles

As cross-border financial and tax advisors, we are constantly being asked by clients as to where it is better to retire – Canada or the U.S.? Further, if Canada or the U.S., which provinces or states should be considered? This decision has endless personal factors, such as where your family and friends are located, accessibility [...]

US citizens who renounce citizenship or Green Card Holders who surrender their Green Cards may be subject to US Expatriation Tax. If you are considering this, it might be wise to seek advice about questions around citizenship, long-term residency, and Covered Expatriate status, as well as the required forms, applicable rules, and tests surrounding this tax. Cardinal Point has the answers to these complex issues and offers advice specific to your unique circumstances.

For Canadians owning property in the US but with no residency or tax ties there, the question of how to pass such property on to their heirs is much more complex than they may think. A seemingly generous but in reality ill-advised decision can have massive negative financial implications. Relevant Canadian and US tax regulations, forms, and exemptions frequently change. Cross-border financial and tax expertise is needed to navigate here, and at Cardinal Point, we specialize in precisely these areas.

Few financial advisors are licensed or equipped to provide investment advice for American and Canadian cross-border clients, and there is a lot of bad counsel circulating at present. The best advice usually leads to a choice from three main options, but which one? Cardinal Point is an advisor firm that specializes in this area as it meets the highest industry standards and is licensed to manage investments in both countries.

While currency exchange is not recommended for speculation, many clients will need a different currency in the future. For them, fluctuations in currency exchange markets create opportunities to time conversions that need to be made eventually. However, there are numerous factors to consider beforehand, such as when the need will be, capital gains tax questions, historical averages, conversion costs, and availability of investment opportunities.

The Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption (LCGE) is available to all Canadian residents and Americans living in Canada as a tax deduction on the sale of a Qualified Small Business Corporation (QSBC). It is indexed to inflation, and it can be used in part. Three tests must be met to claim an LCGE, and there are complicated regulations governing each of these. There are implications regarding succession planning, and its benefits can be multiplied through use of family trusts. An LCGE can be a significant deduction, and Canadian or dual Canada/US tax residents need professional help devising a tax-efficient strategy.

Administrative challenges inherent in the IRS and CRA create serious roadblocks to efficient tax filing for cross-border taxpayers. This is particularly true for Canadians claiming foreign tax credits on Canadian returns; they are often asked via a Review Letter from the CRA for a U.S. Tax Account Transcript. Because of severe IRA backlogs, obtaining this document can be difficult in the extreme, but Cardinal Point has had success arranging CRA filing extensions, thus avoiding undue tax and penalties.

Many Canadians move for career opportunities to the U.S., work and raise families, and then plan to relocate back to Canada. A qualified tuition and educational savings plan for children (a 529 plan) is exempt from taxation in the U.S., in most cases even when a child attends a Canadian university. If you are a Canadian who is considering such a plan, and especially for anyone with an investment in a 529 plan who is moving back to Canada, clear expert advice from a cross-border financial specialist is a very prudent step.

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.

Financial service providers who accept commission based on the investment vehicles they recommend are inherently conflicted. Cardinal Point’s only revenue source is fees directly paid by clients which places their interests ahead of our own. Cardinal Point advocates tighter regulation generally for investment advisors. There are also good reasons supporting proposed congressional bills to ban U.S. legislators from trading individual stocks. Existing laws are inadequate, and temptation to use nonpublic information for personal gain is high.

If you have moved from Canada to the U.S., the normal intricacies of tax issues become particularly complicated in certain circumstances.

Getting the most from your retirement requires nonfinancial as well as financial planning. You can use Positive Psychology concepts to help put in place goals and structures tailored just for you.

Few financial advisors are licensed or equipped to provide investment advice for American and Canadian cross-border clients, and there is a lot of bad counsel circulating at present. The best advice usually leads to a choice from three main options, but which one?

One of the many ways for employers to compensate employees beyond salaries is via an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Ensuring that you maximize the benefit of an ESPP while minimizing the tax burden is particularly important in cross-border tax situations.

In this article, we will focus on Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) granted to key employees. In an era of remote employment, a firm understanding of the tax implications is critical where cross-border circumstances exist.

Kris Rossignoli, Cardinal Point’s Private Tax Manager, was recently featured in an article about using trusts to protect wealth in the Financial Post. Check out the highlights in this blog post.

Thorough retirement planning is about more than just finances. Sure, it’s important to have a large enough nest egg to support your desired lifestyle during those golden years. But where do you want to live? What do you want to do? Who do you want to do it with? In this blog post, I’ll help you explore the other details you need to consider before you make the transition from worker to retiree.

Cardinal Point’s CIO Matt Carvalho was recently featured in an article in Citywire. Check out the highlights in this blog post.

If you’re a non-resident of Canada but are planning to rent out or sell a home you own within the country, you’ll face certain tax consequences. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the most common tax obligations associated with both rental and sale of a Canadian principal residence.

Good news on the tax front as the IRS lengthens life expectancies for its RMDs. The result of this may be an effective tax cut for you. If you are a US citizen or expat living in Canada, Cardinal Point Wealth Management can assist with complicated cross-border financial and tax planning.

If you’re a non-resident of Canada but receive income from sources within the country, you may still have Canadian tax obligations. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at Part XIII and Part I tax laws and how they may apply to your situation.

Cardinal Point’s Vice President Terry Ritchie was recently featured in an article on MDRT, the website for the premier association of financial professionals. Check out the highlights in this blog post.

Financial planning doesn’t come with a crystal ball. No one—not even the best investment consultant—can say with absolute certainty how the market will move over a given period of time. We can, however, make predictions based on historical trends while diversifying the portfolios we manage in such a way as to capitalize on possible growth and mitigate potential loss. Learn more about how we do so in this article and explore our vision for the coming year.

Moving to Canada from the U.S. or any other country will have tax implications, which are often quite complex. Learn more about the way tax liability in Canada is determined and how this may impact you in this article.

Moving to the U.S. from Canada or any other country will have tax implications, which are often quite complex. Learn more about the way tax liability in the U.S. is determined and how this may impact you in this article.

Here we are again! We are almost at the end of the year and Congress is debating and tweaking a bill that would significantly change tax law. If implemented, these changes would have important implications for future tax years and there is planning that would need to be executed now for certain taxpayers. In this case, the year is 2021, and the bill is the 2,135 page Build Back Better Act (BBBA). The effective dates of the various tax measures are mostly for years starting after December 31, 2021.

Tax law in Canada was fairly stable in 2021 but Tax Brackets continue to creep up since they are indexed to inflation. The inflation factor was actually only 1% for 2021, so the changes to the brackets were minimal. The federal tax rates themselves did not change substantially.

If you are a U.S. citizen living in Canada, you probably know that one of the responsibilities attached to United States citizenship is to file an annual income tax return reporting your worldwide income, unless you are under the filing threshold. You will also pay U.S. income taxes, to the extent they are not offset by foreign tax credits for taxes legally paid or payable to Canada – your country of Tax Residence.

When our clients move from Canada to the U.S. or vice versa, they often leave real estate behind. While some choose to sell their former residence, others want to convert it into a rental property. Whichever action they take, tax considerations must be made. Learn more about the Canadian ‘change of use’ rules that should influence these decisions in this article.

Cardinal Point’s Vice President Terry Ritchie was recently featured in an article in the Vancouver Sun. Check out the highlights in this blog post.

Cardinal Point’s founder Jeff Sheldon was recently featured in InvestmentNews. Check out the highlights in this blog post.

Cardinal Point Wealth Management’s own Matt Carvalho, Chief Investment Officer, was recently featured in a CityWire Canada article titled, “It’s not always this good: Advisors make the case for fixed income.” View the article

The answer is a resounding yes. If you’re 72 years of age or older and need to meet the minimum distribution requirements for your qualified retirement plans each year, several factors need to be considered when determining the best time to do so. Learn more about them in this blog post.

Focus Financial Partners Inc. (NASDAQ: FOCS) (“Focus”), a leading partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms, announced today that Cardinal Point Capital Management Inc. and Cardinal Point Wealth Management, LLC (together, “Cardinal Point”) have entered into a definitive agreement to join the Focus partnership. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the receipt of regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.

If you’ve been living in the US or elsewhere abroad and plan to purchase property in British Columbia in the future, you are going to encounter the SVT or BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax. Designed to address real estate affordability, the tax is imposed annually based on factors including residency status and where you derive and report your income. Learn more about the SVT and its complex cross-border implications in this article.

If you have been paying any attention to economic news lately, you’ve likely been inundated with articles about inflation. While some economic media outlets are predicting sustained inflation over 3%, it is truly impossible for anyone to know what the future may hold. That is why our Investment Committee continuously meets to review market conditions and discuss any additions that may provide value to our client portfolios. Learn more about how we combat inflation risk with diversification in this article.

Home equity in Canada has significantly increased, and some Canadians are now thinking about purchasing vacation homes. Thanks to a favorable Canadian-to-U.S. dollar exchange rate, many of them are also considering the U.S. as the possible location of such vacation property. If you are among them, you need to consider your wealth structuring options before you make a purchase. Learn more in this article.

From dangerous assumptions and differing tax rules to inadequate health coverage and life insurance considerations, there are several common traps U.S. retirees moving to Canada may face without the guidance of a cross-border wealth manager. Terry Ritchie recently shared his insight into these traps with ThinkAdvisor, an online resource for financial and investment advisors.

Everyone should save for retirement and rainy days. However, once you’ve established an emergency fund in a basic savings account, the decisions you’ll need to make about how to invest your money become more complex. This is doubly so if you’re moving from the U.S. to Canada or living cross-border. In this article, we’ll take a look at why health savings accounts (HSAs), which are tax friendly in the U.S., may not be as tax friendly in Canada.

With so many factors to consider when planning a move across the Canada/U.S. border, it is easy to neglect researching the history and ethnic diversity of the neighborhoods in which you may want to buy your new home. Learn more about why these details matter in this firsthand account of one family’s experience.

With recent headlines touting hidden bond risks, you may be wondering if you should be concerned about your bond holdings. In this piece we’ll take a look at why Cardinal Point views bonds as a means to provide stability in client portfolios and not an area of dramatic long-term risk.

Whether you’re planning your own retirement or helping an older relative with his or her later-life decisions, a continuing care retirement community may be a good housing option. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the definition of continuing care, the various levels available, and other considerations to make when evaluating facilities.

Would you like to align your investments with your personal views? If so, ESG investing—also known as socially responsible investing or impact investing—may be for you. In this blog post, we’ll take a brief look at recent growth in this investing model as well as the various factors evaluated within it.

At present, only Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada are permitted to enter the country. If you’re planning to move to Canada during this pandemic, you’ll need dual citizenship or to travel as the immediate or extended family member of a Canadian citizen. You’ll also have to follow specific protocols before and after entry into the country

Scott and Marie McFarland lived and worked in Canada for many years as well as in the U.S. for a time. They eventually retired to the United States, choosing the Sun Belt as their home. The McFarlands are not wealthy. However, they will gladly tell you that they feel rich.

Canada Non-Resident Planning: A Guide to Unlocking Your Retirement Account
Are you a former Canadian resident with a Canada-based retirement account or pension? If so, and you’ve permanently departed the country, you may be able to unlock these retirement savings. In this blog post, we’ll explore the various provincial rules surrounding this opportunity.

What You Need to Know About the Canada and U.S. Tax Treaty
Are you considered a taxpayer in both the U.S. and Canada? If so, a better understanding of the two countries’ income tax treaty—established in 1980—may help you minimize your tax burden. In this blog post, we dissect several examples of residency and the treaty’s implications.

From insurance policies to checking and saving accounts, loan payments, and other monthly bills, who will handle your assets and obligations should you die unexpectedly? If 2020 has taught us anything it’s that unpleasant surprises are always possible. Meeting annually with your spouse, significant other, or a trusted family member or friend to go over your financial and personal wishes can give you peace of mind in an otherwise uncertain world. Learn more about the details you should review in this article.

Do you have assets in two or more countries? If so, you’ll want to read this blog post about managing the different currencies in your portfolio. In it, you’ll learn more about Cardinal Point’s philosophy on currency hedging including considering your future income needs.

If you’re a Canadian living in the U.S. or elsewhere in Canada and planning a return to your home province of Quebec, there are a number of factors you’ll need to consider including the ramifications of such a move on your current estate plan. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at differences between Common Law and Civil Law and how they relate to estate planning.

There are notable instances where having a non-U.S. citizen spouse results in complications when it comes to tax and estate planning.  For example, there is no estate tax marital deduction when the donee spouse is not a U.S. citizen unless a QDOT, a form of qualified domestic trust, is used.  This QDOT structure is not an ideal planning structure in many situations.

It is estimated that over $11 trillion USD is indexed or benchmarked to the S&P 500 index, or what many investors consider ‘the market.’ However, while that index does capture a good chunk of the public stock market capitalization in the U.S., it omits the rest of the globe. The criteria by which companies are included—which involve a secret selection committee and very general guidelines—are also somewhat murky.

Matt Carvalho, CIO, was recently interviewed by ETF.com and discussed an ETF addition to our core broad market allocation. As a new year approaches, it’s a natural time to review your investments and make any necessary changes. If you think this may include adding additional ETFs to your portfolio, this article on the picks of […]

As a result of COVID-19 and numerous other economic factors, the fiscal climate going into 2021 is relatively uncertain. Canada and the U.S., along with essentially every other country in the world, have significant government deficits to repay. There has been much talk about how this will be accomplished, and an increase to capital gain tax rates is a commonly referenced possible solution. The below outlines the current tax treatment of capital gains in Canada and the U.S., the appetite for change in each country, and a few questions to ask your financial planner about realizing capital gains before December 31, 2020.

BNN Bloomberg recently featured the expertise of Cardinal Point’s Partner and Director of Cross Border Wealth Services, Terry Ritchie, in an article on the costs and conveniences of sending money between the U.S. and Canada. Regularly splitting his time between Calgary and Phoenix, Arizona, Terry has decades of first-hand experience in cross border transfers. Topics [...]

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.

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.

Thanks to COVID-19, fleeing Canada’s winter will be impossible for many snowbirds this year. But what should you do with your U.S. vacation home when you’re unable to visit? From renting to selling, Cardinal Point Wealth Management’s Vice President, Terry Ritchie, shares his insight into associated tax implications in an article for The Globe and Mail.

Minimizing liability when paying income taxes can be complicated for the nearly 1 million American citizens living in Canada. Terry Ritchie, Cardinal Point Wealth Management Vice President, recently shared his expertise on this topic with Financial Planning for Canadian Business Owners podcast host Jason Pereira. From the tax definition of U.S. resident and income tax filing requirements [...]

Have you been working from home as a result of a stay-at-home order in your area during the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, you may be able to deduct related expenses from your 2020 Canadian personal income tax return. In this article, we will discuss specific qualifying conditions that must be met as well as eligible expenses and necessary supporting documentation.

As the old saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. While the past month has brought the steepest stock market correction in history along with unprecedented volatility, it has also created a number of positive opportunities for Cardinal Point clients. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few metaphorical silver linings including why our current economic environment is prime time for tax-loss harvesting, mortgage refinancing, and currency conversion.

Snap Projections, a financial planning software company, recently featured Cardinal Point’s Partner and Director of Cross Border Wealth Services, Terry Ritchie, on their Growing Your Financial Advisory Practice podcast. Given Terry’s more than 30 years of experience in cross-border financial, investment, tax, and estate planning, it’s no surprise that Snap Projections chose to tap into his insight for this primer directed at financial planners who want to serve US-Canada clients.

On December 20, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 – better known as the SECURE Act – was signed into law. This is the most extensive piece of retirement planning legislation passed in U.S. history.  And although the legislation is not as broad as the U.S. income tax changes of [...]

In today’s increasingly mobile society, it’s not that unusual for people to give up residency in their nation of birth in order to work or retire in another country. In fact, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, there were an estimated 271,642,105 ex-pats around the world in 2019. But what does this globetrotting mean for the financial professionals who advise them?

We all know politics is an uncomfortable topic for many people. In fact, a recent research paper from the University of Nebraska found that politics was making Americans physically sick. According to the study, nearly 40% of Americans reported that they were stressed out by politics, while 20% said they were losing sleep over politics. In recent conversations with clients, politics is certainly on many people’s mind and is hard to avoid.

Terry Ritchie, Director of Cross-Border Wealth Services, and Matt Carvalho, CIO, recently sat down with Lara Crigger at ETF.com and discussed some of the tricky aspects of moving abroad. When your expenses are in a different currency from your income, currency hedges and dollar-cost-averaging are normal ways to deal with uncertainties in global markets. But […]

My typical days the last 16 years may involve some combination of reading the latest academic research paper, running different scenarios of minor adjustments to a model portfolio or keeping tabs on the newest investment vehicles available to clients- all in the hopes of trying to eek out a few extra basis points of return. When this far in the weeds, it can be easy to forget the reasons we invest our money in the first place.

One of the most important considerations for Canadians moving to the U.S. is health insurance. Coverage in the U.S. can be expensive, especially for those with pre-exisiting conditions. Find out how long it would take you to qualify for Medicare and what some of your other health care options are in the U.S.

Many Canadians and Americans face the reality of a career that spans both sides of the 49th parallel. Amidst an era of globalization, it is common for promotions to create cross border opportunities and for company restructurings to force a long-term cross border move. The result of having a career on both sides of the […]

Where do you see the exchange rate going? This is a common question amongst our client base, many of whom enjoy a cross border lifestyle.  In fact, as Americans living in Canada may have noticed, the exchange rate is right up there with hockey and the weather in Canada’s national conversation. The trouble is, accurately […]

Calling all eligible benefit holders of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Canadian Old Age Security (OAS) and U.S. Social Security (SS)… Does your or your spouse’s story narrate a history of employment in both Canada and the U.S.? If so, you may have the privilege of drawing from SS, OAS and CPP. The confusion lies […]

In past years, with a strong Canadian dollar, Canadian Snowbirds were able to pick up investment properties or vacation homes in popular locations such as Arizona, California and Florida. With a softer Canadian dollar, snowbirds are finding some competition for these types of homes. Cardinal Point Capital Management’s Terry Ritchie discusses the current state of […]

For Canadians looking to move to the U.S. permanently, one increasingly popular option is the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. This program, created by Congress in 1990, is known as the “million dollar green card” and offers a green card and a path to citizenship for an investment of between $500,000 and $1 million USD. Conditions […]

“How do I move my financial life to another country?” It’s a question we hear from many clients as they begin making a cross-border transition. When you are making the move to the U.S., you want to transition your finances smoothly and seamlessly while saving time, headaches, and every dollar you possibly can. Much like […]

Canadians become permanent residents of the U.S. for many personal and professional reasons. Prior to a move, it’s important to be organized and understand that significant differences exist between Canada and the U.S. when it comes to cross-border financial planning and investment matters. The following actionable items should be considered when cross-border transition planning from […]

As we approach the end of the year, it’s natural to take stock of how everything in our life is going: family, health, wealth and more. But when we reflect back, we may find that our wealth, at least that part which is tied to the stocks markets, probably hasn’t performed all that well in […]

An RCA is perhaps the most effective and misunderstood tax deferment opportunity that exists in Canada today. It may be used for a wide range of situations, including small business owners, athletes, incorporated professionals, highly paid executives receiving yearly bonuses, and those approaching retirement. In 1986 it was recognized by the CRA that individuals not […]

Cardinal Point was founded with the idea of delivering an exceptional client experience and world class expertise to clients with Canada-U.S. cross-border financial planning considerations. Cardinal Point is dedicated to meeting the needs of our clients in the areas of capital preservation, tax planning, risk management, and delivery of long-term investment returns through varying economic […]

While many people are drawn to Florida for its endless sunshine and warm nights, when examining the tax environment between Canada and Florida, the argument in favor of moving south becomes even more compelling. In this blog, we will examine the tax rates for a Canadian province (Ontario) and a sunshine state (Florida) from the […]

As mentioned in a previous article, many banks and brokerage firms are informing U.S. non-resident clients that they are no longer able to service their accounts and that their accounts have been restricted or even closed.  In that same article, we outlined the following: U.S. citizens and Green Card holders who reside in Canada or […]

Diversification is the most important concept in investing, but also perhaps the least exciting. If anyone knew for sure exactly which one company or country would have the highest return in the coming year,- there would be no reason to hold anything else. But while being able to predict markets with any certainty sounds great in theory,- in practice nobody has been able to consistently outsmart the market. So what do you do if you can’t predict be the best performing stock or sector in the coming year? You diversify.

It’s common to hear about the long-term investment averages that we’ve all become accustomed to. Conventional wisdom says that over the long run stocks should earn something like 10% per year. And in that regard, the conventional wisdom is actually pretty good. Over the last 30 years through the end of 2017, the annualized return […]

Terry Ritchie gives his insights and tips when dealing with foreign exchange options. From the Globe and Mail article: “I’m not a big fan of the banks,” said Terry Ritchie, a financial adviser who works both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. “They’re great for convenience. But if you can take the time and wait a […]

While most people know that alimony is normally taxable income to the recipient and tax deductible by the payer, in the case of cross-border taxes, alimony can be received tax free while the payer still gets a tax deduction. Let’s look at an example where this would apply. Sarah is a U.S. Citizen who has […]

As noted by several articles that have been published, many banks and brokerage firms, including Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Fidelity, and others, are informing U.S. non-resident clients that they are no longer able to service their accounts and that their accounts have been restricted or even closed. In this case, the term “non-resident” is not […]

Your whole life you have done things correctly: worked hard, saved and prudently invested your money. Then one day, out of the blue, you receive a letter from your U.S. investment management firm saying they no longer want to work with you because you reside outside of the U.S. Worse yet, they give you 90 […]

As we discussed in a previous article, many Canadians are shocked to learn that California taxes their RRSPs. Canadians are often also surprised and dismayed to learn that their Canadian trust could be subject, inadvertently, to the long arm of California’s tax system. Even just having a beneficiary – think trust fund baby – of […]

Question: I am looking to move to the U.S. and am not sure if I will sell my home before I leave Canada. Could you please outline the tax ramifications if I were to sell it before departing Canada versus selling while a tax resident of the U.S.? Answer: You have requested that we provide […]

Starting a new chapter in your life by relocating north of the border can be exciting. However, there are many financial and tax implications to take into consideration before you embark on this path. Whether you are an American citizen, a Green Card holder, or otherwise a U.S. resident taxpayer, you may have built up […]

“We’re in a business of trying to do the right thing for the client” This quote came from David Butler, Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), on a recent interview he did with Bloomberg Radio host Barry Ritholtz. This sentiment is core to what we believe at Cardinal Point Wealth in working with clients like […]

It probably doesn’t come as a surprise that Amazon, Netflix, Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet and Facebook have been some of the best performing stocks in the first half of this year. But what may be surprising is that those six stocks made up 98% of the S&P 500 Index returns for the first half of 2018 […]

From The Globe and Mail article: Mr. Ritchie says he increasingly receives inquiries from well-to-do Canadian retirees who want to spend even more time at their homes in sunny Florida, California or Arizona than the rules allow… Read the article here

A large number of the clients that we work with are those that move from Canada to the United States. In these cases, we spend quite a bit of time making our clients aware of the income tax implications of leaving Canada and establishing tax residency in the U.S. We have written many publications on […]

From the Insurance & Investment Journal article: Managing cross-border clients is a challenging area for advisors that requires thorough knowledge on how to handle life insurance, investments, taxes and pensions while respecting two countries’ rules and regulations. The Insurance and Investment Journal spoke to U.S-Canada cross-border expert Terry Ritchie, a director at Cardinal Point Wealth […]

Estate planning issues can create family discord, especially in cases in which there is a sizable inheritance and heirs have disparate circumstances and competing interests. “You seem to know people,” says Terry Ritchie, director of cross border wealth services with Cardinal Point Capital Management Inc. in Calgary, “but when someone dies and there’s money [involved], […]

Affluent individuals living in the United States often use a U.S. revocable living trust (RLT) for estate-planning purposes. Such a trust provides confidentiality and flexibility in how assets are managed, as it eliminates the specter of probate. A revocable living trust is transparent for U.S. income, gift and estate-tax purposes. The individual who transfers (settles) […]

The upcoming U.S. presidential election in November has led to much media focus on U.S. citizens looking to move to Canada. So much, in fact, that we prepared an article a few months back entitled, Thinking About Moving to Canada? What You Need to Know. As one moves from Canada to the United States or […]

At Cardinal Point, one of the most frequent inquiries we receive is from prospective clients asking what they should do with their U.S. retirement accounts after a move to Canada. These individuals are often caught off-guard by their U.S.-based financial advisor or institution after learning that their investment accounts must go into restricted status or […]

Irrespective of where you stand politically, the circus currently playing out in the contest for the next President of the United States has a number of Americans—both Democrats and Republicans—looking at options that might include leaving the United States and moving to Canada. Indeed, by midnight of March 1—Super Tuesday in the United States—searches for […]

Over the years, many articles have been written reminding U.S. citizens living in Canada to file a U.S. 1040 tax return annually, in addition to the FinCEN Report 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR). While the U.S. 1040 and FBAR are key documents most U.S. expats must complete, there are other U.S. […]

Are Your 401(K) Contributions Deductible in Canada? You might recognize this situation. You are a Canadian resident working in the USA on a TN visa. Your employer offers a 401(K) plan that includes a matching contribution. You know contributing to the 401(K) plan lowers your taxable income in the US. Does the same hold true […]

When a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien is married to a Canadian spouse who is not a U.S. citizen, then property transfers between the spouses could be taxable in the United States or subject to U.S. gift-tax rules. Most Canadians are not familiar with a gift tax or an estate tax because Canada doesn’t […]

At Cardinal Point Wealth, we come across many situations where former Canadian residents have been working in the United States on an L-1 visa. This type of visa allows a U.S. employer to transfer a manager, executive or someone with “specialized knowledge” from an affiliated Canadian office to one of its U.S. offices. To secure […]

Our previous article discussed the concept of California domicile and the application of California community-property rules to Canadians domiciled in the state. This article is the second installment in our series explaining how California community property laws can impact Canadians. At Cardinal Point, we regularly deal with cross-border couples who maintain cross-border lifestyles due to […]

Canadians find many things in California to be foreign, like the sun, surf and In-N-Out Burgers. But when it comes to Canadians who have family in California, or who spend considerable time in the Golden State, California’s community-property laws make Canadians realize just how foreign the state can be. As we’ve discovered over the years, […]

A lot has been made of the IRS’ onerous foreign-account and property-reporting requirements, and understandably so. But largely overshadowed by that discussion is a similar requirement that the CRA has inflicted on Canadian tax filers. As part of its efforts to address tax noncompliance involving foreign property, CRA, in 2013, introduced a revised Form T1135 […]

Are you a U.S. citizen married to a non-U.S. citizen? Or, are you and your spouse both green card and/or U.S. visa holders living in the United States? If so, then you’ll want to be aware of U.S. estate-tax rules that, without proper planning, can result in an outsized tax bill. Recently, we started working […]

American citizens living in Canada for more than five years face an imposed exit tax on unrealized gains. One of the most common questions we receive from Americans moving to Canada is how to navigate around the Canada Revenue Agency’s five-year deemed disposition rule. Canada assesses an exit tax on any unrealized capital gains inside […]

It’s a good idea for Americans living in Canada to understand which kinds of registered investment accounts they can have without having to confront onerous taxes and paperwork. Two kinds of plans are friendliest for Americans: The Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and the Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF). Effectively, U.S. citizens are simply taxed […]

Canadian citizens are not subject to capital gains tax when they sell their principal residences. Americans selling their homes in Canada, unfortunately, may have to pay the tax. As Terry Ritchie explains in this Globe and Mail video segment, Americans face the tax whether their home is in the United States or Canada. In most […]

Americans living in Canada face tax-reporting obligations that can be burdensome—even to the point where one might consider renouncing their citizenship. Our advice is to take a step back and think it through. As Terry Ritchie explained recently in this Globe and Mail video segment, renouncing one’s citizenship not only involves administrative hurdles, but can […]

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) has now been in force for about a year now. Its goal: to prevent millions of U.S. taxpayers, and the global financial institutions that serve them, from evading U.S. tax on income and assets held outside the United States. As our Terry Ritchie explains in an article at […]

“The Simpsons” is a funny show, and that’s despite—or maybe because of—the fact that it often tackles the issues that make us most anxious. Take the episode in which Bart terrifies Homer with a campfire story about college costs for Maggie. The scene ends with Homer shrieking, “No! No! Noooo!” I suspect that Homer speaks […]

California residents who hold RRSPs, LIRAs, RRIFs or other Canadian tax-deferred accounts are subject to a unique set of tax planning and reporting requirements. Unlike most states, California does not allow Canadian retirement accounts to grow on a tax-deferred basis. And that can present a serious income-tax problem for residents of California, given the fact […]

The strong U.S. dollar has created new challenges for those moving to the United States from Canada—but understanding these challenges, and your options, can help you to navigate the financial transition as smoothly as possible. Here’s the background. The Canadian dollar is currently valued around 0.80 versus the U.S. dollar, a big departure of 0.90 […]

Imagine if you were to die tomorrow what your email account would provide for your loved ones: access to your contacts, personal and business communications, photos, and memories. While an email account may not be worth anything in terms of an estate, it could have a high emotional value for those closest to you. Now […]

In 2014, investors in Canadian-based equities watched while the majority of actively managed funds failed to meet their benchmarks, let alone outperform their passive counterparts such as index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). According to Standard & Poor’s Dow Jones Indices vs. Active Funds (SPIVA) Canada Scorecard1, only 32% of actively managed mutual funds beat […]

The rate at which energy prices have fallen has caught many by surprise. Oil prices alone are down more than 50% since June 2014. While the drop in oil has lowered the gas bills for many Canadians, there are other impacts affecting households throughout the country. In Alberta for example, there have been layoffs in […]

We were recently engaged by an American citizen who wanted to know if her Canadian spouse can claim her U.S. Social Security spousal and survivor benefits. Both she and her husband reside in Ontario, Canada. U.S. Social Security benefits can be received in Canada free of U.S. tax. In this post, we will explain how, […]

Writing about possible U.S. tax changes for Canadians, Terry Ritchie, Director of Cross-Border Wealth Services, appeared in the January 2015 issue of Advisors Edge. In the “TaxBreak” column, Terry summarized how some of the recently enacted changes at the IRS can affect snowbirds. Though the new U.S. Congress will likely focus its efforts on corporate […]

It is no surprise many Canadians moving to the U.S. choose to rent out, rather than sell, their properties back home. With a strong rental market and housing price valuations in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, the return on investment from keeping and renting the property is attractive. Unfortunately, becoming a non-resident of Canada and […]

Most Canadians who move to the U.S. have a good understanding of their immigration residency status. However, many do struggle to determine their residency status for U.S. income tax purposes. While it is common knowledge that U.S. citizens and green card holders are responsible for filing U.S. tax returns, most people who move to the […]

In this video, Terry Ritchie speaks with InvestmentExecutive.com’s Rudy Mezzetta about what U.S. citizens living abroad need to know when considering renouncing their U.S. citizenship. Though the numbers of expatriations are reaching historical highs, the process is not an easy one. After filing with the Department of Homeland Security, an individual wishing to renounce citizenship […]

A sweeping GOP victory has led to both houses of the U.S. Congress being controlled by Republicans. American voters also chose Republican governors in a majority of states. How do these and other recent changes affect snowbirds? First, there is the so-called “snowbird visa,” which has been held up in the current Senate after passing […]

Terry Ritchie, Director of Cross-Border Wealth Services, was recently featured in an article from Advisor.ca looks at how a recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court opened the door to new planning options for same-sex partners with ties to the U.S. The June decision struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act […]

Canadian hockey players in the NHL who play for American teams have specific planning needs and require the specialized advice of a cross-border financial advisor. This article by Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie looks at what cross-border issues professional athletes may face, including immigration, estate, tax and investment planning considerations. Ritchie first examines the potential immigration […]

Do You Need It? For our Canadian and U.S. clients, cross-border travel includes an array of possibilities, from a weekly commitment to the rare excursion. The question is: do you need travel insurance? In this article, we look at considerations that keep your best interests in mind. Many of Cardinal Point’s clients enjoy the best […]

The IRS has recently expanded the eligibility requirements for streamlined OVDP. If you are a U.S. taxpayer with offshore accounts, the streamlined procedures could be beneficial for you, with some penalties waived. To qualify for the streamlined procedures, you must certify that your conduct (not having reported foreign accounts) was “non-willful.” The IRS defines “non-willful” […]

Are you caring for both children and parents at the same time? If so, you’re part of the “sandwich generation.” Adults in this group have at least one senior parent and are either raising a minor child or supporting a grown child1. As the first wave of baby boomers moves into retirement, the ranks of […]

An individual retirement account (IRA) is a personal savings plan offered in the United States. Similar to the Canadian registered retirement savings plan (RRSP), the IRA offers income tax benefits to individuals who are saving money for retirement. But what are the tax implications when a Canadian citizen inherits a U.S. IRA? Let’s look at […]

When it comes to real estate, it’s been said that the three most important words are: location, location, location. For southern-bound Snowbirds, owning a home in the U.S. offers the opportunity to return to a favorite place each year, a home away from home. This allows you the certainty of knowing where you will spend […]

Did you leave your heart in San Francisco? Is the Big Apple calling your name? Perhaps you are bound for Austin, Texas, the “Silicon Valley of the South.” If the U.S. is your destination—and you plan to stay for a while—there are critical steps to take to ensure your short- and long-term financial wellbeing. Canadians […]

For more than two years, we’ve been covering the implementation of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and all its implications. Well, the big day has arrived! FATCA takes effect on July 1st (on Canada Day, interestingly enough), and we’re catching you up on the good, the bad and the ugly by highlighting key […]

July 1, 2014 is supposed to be the celebration of Canada Day!. But on that day, the first phase of the dreaded U.S. legislation known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is to be implemented. For some Americans in Canada, this is not a cause for celebration.   Many Americans in Canada believe that […]

This article from Investment Executive discusses more lenient revisions to the IRS tax amnesty program, and Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie comments on the benefits for Americans living in Canada. The changes are designed to encourage expats to fulfill their tax filing obligations in the U.S. Revisions to the existing amnesty program include the elimination of […]

According to the most recent data from the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States, more than 11,000 Americans moved to Canada in 2008. While some Americans dream of such a move, others view it as an act of treason on the U.S. Regardless of your point of view, immigrating to Canada and pursuing […]

This article from Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie highlights another opportunity for Americans abroad to voluntarily pay their U.S. taxes. The IRS is introducing improvements to two offshore account compliance programs in an effort to get non-filing and non-reporting expats to file U.S. tax returns, foreign bank reports and other IRS compliance forms from previous years. […]

In a recent blog post, we looked at important issues to consider when making a cross-border transition to Canada or the U.S. We touched upon the need to review risk exposure to ensure your current risk management strategies remain appropriate and new strategies are implemented as needed. Risks are a part of everyday life, but […]

Cross-border couples often enjoy the best of both worlds: travelling between the U.S. and Canada, experiencing two distinct cultures and exploring the natural beauty unique to each country. Indeed, Canada and the U.S. are different in many ways. For married homeowners in Canada, one important difference is how the U.S. and Canadian tax systems treat […]

“How do I move my financial life to another country?” It’s a question we hear from many clients as they begin making a cross-border transition. Whether you are making the move to the U.S. or Canada, you want to transition your finances smoothly and seamlessly while saving time, headaches, and every dollar you possibly can. […]

Is your Canadian company considering expanding its presence to the U.S.? Whether setting up an office across the border is your first foray into international expansion or a single aspect of your globalization plan, the complexities of U.S. business regulations require careful planning and meticulous attention to detail. Establishing an international presence is an important […]

This Investment Executive article offers a reminder that a new set of U.S.-Canadian border rules will soon be enforced, which could lead to tax and immigration issues for Canadian snowbirds. It suggests that Canadian financial advisors caution their snowbird clients that overstaying the limit in the U.S. could result in U.S. tax residency status and […]

Spring is in full swing. For many of us, greener surroundings and rising temperatures have already led us to get rid of the dirt and clutter that has collected over the past year. As we scrub and reorganize, it’s easy to overlook another area that could use a good dusting: our financial lives. Like spring […]

If you’re a U.S. citizen living in Canada, you may be wondering about the impact on your U.S. Social Security benefits. Or maybe you’re a Canadian citizen with questions about how your U.S. residency will impact your CPP/OAS benefits. What are the tax implications for these programs when you live across the border? Fortunately, there’s […]

A frequent question we hear from Canadians thinking of a move to the U.S. is this: What will be the tax consequences for my Canadian investments? Let’s look at a case study to see how this plays out. Meet Diane, a Canadian client who is moving to the U.S. for a job opportunity. As we […]

The clock is ticking down for financial institutions as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) takes effect this July. With three months to go until implementation, firms face significant logistical challenges to comply with FACTA. Compliance executives at this week’s OpRisk North America conference point to the challenge for multinational banks with legal entities […]

Avoiding the estate tax when you’re married to a foreign national As cross-border specialists, one of our key concerns in working with each client is the question of citizenship. This is especially true for estate planning, as developing a plan without taking into account citizenship could have dire tax consequences and create hardship for a […]

What’s the quickest way to turn traditional financial planning upside-down? Place a border in the middle of your tax and financial life. Financial, tax and estate planning can be a difficult undertaking for most individuals and couples.  Imagine the added complexities of planning between two countries; it requires proper advice to know where the minefields […]

This article from Institutional Investor features the commentary of Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie and James Sheldon. It highlights why the U.S. is increasingly a low-risk haven for wealthy families seeking to escape turmoil in emerging markets. The U.S. Treasury Department has income tax treaties, protocols and tax information exchange agreements in place with 40 jurisdictions, […]

Qualified individuals in Canada can start a Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) and earn income in a tax-free manner. The TFSA account provides tax benefits for savings where investment income earnings, including capital gains and dividends, are not taxed when withdrawn. However, unlike the Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP), contributions to a TFSA are not […]

Have you recently moved to the United States from Canada and left your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) open? After becoming a U.S. resident, you might be wondering if you have to pay U.S. taxes on withdrawals from your Canadian retirement plan. There is a good chance that Canadians, who moved to the U.S., have […]

The Treasury Department reported that 2,999 Americans renounced their U.S. citizenship in 2013, nearly double the previous record from 2011. Potential reasons for this rising trend include increased awareness of the obligation to file U.S. tax returns by citizens living outside the U.S., the rising burden of complying with U.S. tax laws, and fear of […]

Canada and the U.S. came to an agreement this week that clears the way for Ottawa to share financial data about Americans living in Canada with the Internal Revenue Service. The deal addresses some of the privacy and hardship concerns Ottawa had with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), the controversial U.S. law targeting […]

This article by Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie and James Sheldon discusses important new rules for U.S. taxpayers who hold Canadian mutual funds in non-registered accounts. The IRS recently released temporary regulations regarding Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFICs). This act impacts nearly all Canadian mutual funds and Canadian-traded ETFs held outside registered accounts. As a result […]

In the second part of this two-part series on advising snowbird clients, Terry Ritchie of Cardinal Point looks at four important items that should be on a snowbird’s checklist as they prepare to head south for the winter. First, get familiar with the residency requirements for healthcare benefits in your jurisdiction; some require specific minimum […]

This article from Investment Executive features Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie and focuses on proposed legislation in the U.S. that would increase how long Canadian “snowbirds” can spend in the U.S. Under the Jobs Originated Through Launching Travel Act, snowbirds could stay in the U.S. up to 240 days per year (the current limit is 180 […]

This article looks at families who are faced with the prospect of a cross-border move and career changes. Featuring the commentary of Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie, it presents a case study to show the potential tax, retirement and estate planning implications of a cross-border move. In the scenario, a hypothetical family from Ottawa is faced […]

In this article, Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie looks at new tax changes that took effect on October 31. The IRS released inflation adjustments for more than 40 tax provisions, including the 2014 tax rate schedules and other rates, exemptions and changes. In particular, advisors with U.S. citizens as clients, or those who help Canadian clients […]

Our very own, Terry Ritchie, recently wrote an article for the website, Advisor.CA. He touches on the latest news surrounding Ted Cruz. Cruz, a U.S. senator, has decided to renounce his dual Canadian citizenship to prevent confusion regarding his political loyalties, experts suspect, because the Republican Party has shortlisted him as a candidate for the […]

Cardinal Point Wealth Management, Inc. announced today that it has acquired Seabank Capital Management Inc. With the addition of Seabank Capital, Cardinal Point continues to establish itself as the leading provider of cross-border wealth management solutions for residents of Canada and the United States. Cardinal Point Wealth Management, Inc. is a Canadian-based, fee-only financial planning […]

Recently, Jeff Sheldon and Terry Ritchie were featured in Advisor.CA to discuss the topic of divorce. Divorce can disrupt even the most solid financial plan, especially when cross-border considerations are involved. We’ve seen many planning cases where one person moves from Canada to the U.S. or vice versa for marriage. For those clients, the tax […]

In this video clip, Terry Ritchie updates Rob Carrick on the IRS crackdown on Americans who live and work in Canada but haven’t been filing their annual tax returns. There is serious documentation required by U.S. tax authorities regarding financial holdings. Last September, a new program was introduced for Americans living and working abroad: the […]

Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie continues his talk with Rob Carrick about U.S. estate taxes; this segment focuses on what they mean to Canadians who own U.S. stocks and ETFs. U.S. shares owned by Canadians are considered U.S. cited, and there could be U.S. estate tax filing requirements if they are valued at more than $60K […]

Cardinal Point’s Terry F. Ritchie talks to Rob Carrick about the latest changes in U.S. estate taxes and what they mean for Canadian snowbirds who own property in the U.S. For many years, snowbirds had to worry about U.S. estate taxes, but it’s not an issue for most anymore, as the threshold is much higher […]

Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie discusses the impact of U.S. PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) tax rules on U.S. citizens living in Canada who hold Canadian mutual funds or ETFs. The challenge is that under U.S. tax law, the earnings and dividends from these PFICs are not taxed the same way in the U.S. as they […]

In this segment for Investment Executive, Terry Ritchie talks about U.S. estate planning issues for Canadians with property in the U.S. Recent estate property tax changes in the U.S. have relieved the burden for many Canadians of what happens upon their death when they own U.S. property. If a Canadian owns property with a worldwide […]

Cardinal Point’s Terry Ritchie looks at new measures to promote longer stays by Canadians in the U.S. The first proposal would let Canadians stay in the U.S. for up to 240 days per year, as long as they are 55 years or older, maintain a Canadian residence, and own/rent property in the U.S. Another provision […]

Cardinal Point Wealth Management Inc. (“Cardinal Point”) is pleased to announce that Terry Ritchie has joined the firm as Director, Cross-Border Wealth Services. With a wealth management career spanning 25 years, Ritchie brings substantial experience in the areas of financial, investment, tax and estate planning. Ritchie specializes in assisting affluent individuals and families with their […]

In this video segment, Terry Ritchie, cross-border tax and estate planning expert, discusses how a new measure in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” could result in a surprise for U.S. citizens living in Canada. Effective for 2013, a 3.8% surtax will be imposed on passive income such as interest, […]

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recently announced in the 2013 budget that it’s tightening foreign reporting requirements. Starting in 2013 and in subsequent tax years, Canadian residents will be required to file Form T1135 with the CRA if they own foreign property. The move appears to align with foreign property requirements in the U.S. Although […]

Our own Jeff Sheldon was recently featured in a Wall Street Journal article, “A Cross-Border Retirement Without Tax Woes.” He shared the story of a couple who retired to the U.S. from Canada. While they sought sunny weather and a simpler life, when it came time to sort out their taxes and streamline their retirement […]

Cross-border opportunities between the U.S. and Canada have been given a boost by the Canada California Business Council and Cardinal Point Wealth Management, who today announced a strategic partnership.