Our Success Stories
We’re on a
mission to
take the fear out of finances
We specialize in helping newly wealthy Canadians in their 30s to 60s manage the emotional weight of financial change.
No jargon. No pressure. Just a clear path forward.
Case Clients: Jim & Pauline
Occupation: Business Owner
Age: 75
Primary goal: Most business owners don’t realize they’re potentially leaving hundreds of thousands on the table for the CRA. Jim and Pauline almost made that exact mistake.
The Situation
This retired couple had built a successful business and accumulated $3 million in personal and $1 million in company assets. At 75, they weren’t worried about retirement income — they wanted to maximize what they’d leave their kids and grandkids while minimizing taxes.
Here's the problem we uncovered: Their $1 million corporate investment account would grow to $1.5 million over 14 years. But when their kids eventually accessed that money, over $600,000 would disappear in taxes. That's nearly half!
The Approach
We repositioned their corporate investments into a specially-designed life insurance policy. Here's why this worked so well:
- Tax-Free Growth: The policy's investments grew sheltered from taxes
- Tax-Free Payout: $915,000 could be distributed to their kids tax-free
- Better Returns: The policy delivered a 9.5% return - better than traditional investments
The Results
The results spoke for themselves:
- Original plan: Kids receive $880,000 after taxes
- New strategy: Kids receive $1,326,000
- Total family benefit: +$446,000
The best part? This wasn't some exotic scheme. It used straightforward insurance principles available to any incorporated business owner with surplus funds. The key was structuring it properly to unlock these tax advantages.
This case shows how proactive planning can dramatically impact what stays in your family versus going to taxes. For business owners with corporate investments, these strategies can be game-changers.
Want to see if your business assets could work harder for your family?
Let’s talk – you might be surprised what’s possible.
Note: Results vary based on individual circumstances. Investing involves risk including potential loss of principal.
Case Clients: Josh & Stacey
Occupation: Farming couple / Business owners
Age: 45
Primary goal: Josh and Stacey boosted their retirement savings by $900,000 by shifting idle corporate cash into smarter, tax-efficient investments—reaching their $4.5M goal with room to spare.
The Situation
Most business owners don't realize they're leaving thousands on the table by keeping corporate cash in low-interest accounts. Josh and Stacey were no different - until we optimized their strategy.
This hardworking farming couple (both 45) had built a successful business near Hamilton. They were saving $10,000 monthly in their corporation – but that money was just sitting in a savings account earning minimal interest. Their goal? Retire at 65 with $4.5 million to sustain their desired lifestyle.
Here's what we've uncovered:
- Tax Drag: Ordinary corporate investments lose about 2% annually to taxes
- Missed Growth: Their current approach would leave them $600K short of their goal
- Inefficient Structure: They weren't maximizing their corporate tax advantage
The Approach
We implemented three key changes to help Josh and Stacey maximize the value of their corporate savings:
- Shifted to Tax-Efficient Corporate Class Investments: Instead of leaving their monthly $10,000 savings in a low-interest corporate account, we redirected those funds into corporate class investments. These are specially structured to defer and reduce taxes on investment income within a corporation—leading to more compounding and faster growth over time.
- Balanced Corporate and Personal Savings: We restructured how they were saving by introducing a mix of corporate and personal investment accounts. This allowed us to reduce future tax liabilities, optimize withdrawal strategies in retirement, and make better use of their available contribution room across both account types.
- Maintained a Low 12.2% Corporate Tax Rate: By carefully managing their corporate investment strategy and expenses, we ensured they stayed within the small business tax bracket. That meant more after-tax income available to invest and grow—without pushing them into a higher tax tier.
The Results
Smarter Planning, Bigger Wealth
- Original projection: $3.9 million at retirement
- Optimized approach: $4.8 million
- Total gain: +$900,000
This isn’t magic — it’s smart financial planning.
By understanding corporate investment rules and using the right tools, we helped Josh and Stacey:
- Comfortably reach their retirement goal
- Slash annual investment taxes
- Keep more money growing for their future
The Key Takeaway
Business owners have unique advantages — but only if used strategically.
A few smart moves today could mean hundreds of thousands more tomorrow.
Want to see if your business savings could work harder?
Let’s talk — your future self will thank you.
Note: Results vary based on individual circumstances. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.
Case Clients: Dave
Occupation: Business Owner
Age: 56
Primary goal: Discover how Dave, a 56-year-old business owner, saved $500K in taxes and secured his family’s future — all through one smart financial move. See how strategic restructuring and a family trust turned his business exit into a legacy.
The Situation
Dave was a hands-on business owner – the kind of guy who built his $2,000,000 company from scratch. At, 56, he was ready to retire, but there was a problem. Without realizing it, Dave was about to hand over nearly $500,000 of his hard-earned money to the CRA when selling his business. Worse? His retirement plan had a hidden time bomb: at his current spending rate, he’d run out of money in his 70s.
Discover below how we fixed it.
Dave’s business was his golden ticket — but it wasn’t set up properly.
He had $500,000 sitting in corporate GICs, which disqualified him from the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption — a $315,000 tax break available to Ontario business owners.
And it didn’t stop there:
- His investments weren’t structured to support his $200,000/year retirement lifestyle.
- Without changes, he risked burning through his nest egg, potentially selling his home and leaving little for his children.
The Approach
Two key moves saved him:
- "Purifying" His Business: We reorganized his company’s assets to meet CRA rules, ensuring he qualified for the $1.25 million capital gains exemption. (No more GICs gumming up the works!).
- Leveraging His Kids’ Exemptions: By setting up a family trust, we used one of his children’s unused exemptions to shelter another $750,000 of the sale — making the entire $2 million sale virtually tax-free.
The Results
The Outcome: Tax Savings, Security & Legacy
- $500,000 Saved in Taxes
Dave kept half a million in his pocket — not the government’s. - A Retirement Built to Last
His $200K/year lifestyle is now secure, with a preserved inheritance for his children. - Peace of Mind Achieved
He exited his business with confidence, knowing his future was optimized — no regrets.
The Lesson for Business Owners
Many business owners underestimate how much tax they’ll owe when they sell — and often miss simple strategies that could save them hundreds of thousands.
Dave’s story isn’t rare — but with the right planning, his ending doesn’t have to be yours.
Want to make sure your exit plan is tax-smart?
Let’s talk. A few smart moves today could save you a fortune tomorrow.
Note: Results vary based on individual circumstances. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.
Interested in becoming a client?
Tell us a bit about yourself and we’ll take it from there.