Bucket List

May 09, 2014 | Dian Chaaban


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What do you want to do before you kick the proverbial bucket? I’d like to go sky diving, see the new & old 7 Wonders of the World, fly a plane, drive on the Autobahn, go on a scotch tour in Scotland, conquer a triathlon, be on a reality TV show and go on a Royal African Safari, to name a few.

As an Investment Advisor who goes beyond investment advice to address the wide range of concerns related to my clients’ financial and life goals, the topic of bucket lists comes up frequently - and going on an African safari seems to be on everyone’s list...

So, to help make this dream a reality, I hosted an exclusive lunch yesterday at Stratus (the restaurant high above the clouds) with Partner-Guides Peter Silvester, Julianna Silvester and Malcolm Destro of Royal African Safaris who came all the way from Africa to join us for lunch and share their experience leading people on the most memorable and luxurious safaris imaginable.

I began the lunch by outlining 7 key strategies to pay less tax in retirement to maximize your after-tax retirement income so that you can give less of your money to the CRA and spend it on a Royal African Safari instead. If you missed it, the 7 strategies are as follows:

Strategy #1: Order of asset withdrawal
Strategy #2: Tax-preferred investment income & Strategic account structure
Strategy #3: Pension income splitting
Strategy #4: CPP/QPP sharing
Strategy #5: Spousal Loan Strategy / Family Trusts
Strategy #6: Prescribed life annuity
Strategy #7: Minimum RRIF/LIF/LRIF/PRIF withdrawal planning

After a quick tax talk, Peter mesmerized us with photos, videos and stories about the Royal African bespoke journey. At Royal African Safaris, they believe that the age of exploration is still very much alive and that a safari should be the adventure of a lifetime.

As you’ll be investing considerable time and money in that adventure, you should be able to relax in the knowledge that you’ll be taken to the most beautiful places, in the most capable hands, with the most comfortable accommodation that the bush can offer. The vastness of this continent calls for a particularly flexible, intuitive approach to its exploration. This is a place where life never stands still, where wildlife moves with the sun and the seasons, where ancient cultures thrive in out of the way places.

The location of your camp will become your own little piece of Africa. You will feel the breezes off the plains, marvel at the galaxies overhead. You will hear lions roar at night, feel the head of the pride answer. You will have never felt closer to the Earth, more a part of its life forces.

So, who’s in? If you’d like more information about reducing your taxes or a personal introduction to the who’s who at Royal African, just say the word.

Enjoy the weekend and happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms out there - especially Sue and Tracy.

Enjoy the weekend.

D.

Dian Chaaban

Investment & Wealth Advisor

Chaaban Wealth Management Group

416.842.4234