It’s rather easy to sum up 2024. “It exceeded expectations” is the most obvious way to put it. Even the most optimistic projections were well shy of the eye-catching gains investors experienced across equity and fixed income markets in 2024. Positive market surprises shouldn’t come as too much of a shock though, as the markets have a way of making forecasting the year ahead a futile and frustrating exercise. The markets don’t operate on a timeline dictated by forecasts, which is why we prefer to focus on the trends with any forecast, rather than try and hit the bullseye.

Some Canadians are fortunate enough to get great workplace benefits. These often include health and dental coverage, a company pension and company share ownership options. Another common benefit is company life insurance (known in the industry as group life insurance).

Creating a will means making big decisions that will impact your family for years after you’ve gone. While divvying up assets, assigning care for dependants and tax planning will take up most of your will-creating conversation, you’ll also have to consider who should be the executor of your will (or the liquidator in Quebec).