Harmer Wealth Management I Financial Planning I Insurance I Mortgages

07/17/2026

You're not behind. You're just planning with your parents' playbook.

Buy young, pay it off fast, retire at 65 with a pension. That playbook worked — in an economy that no longer exists.

Today's version looks different: later starts, bigger mortgages, no pension, longer retirements. Comparing your chapter 3 to their chapter 12 will always feel like losing.

The fix isn't working harder. It's running a plan written for your era, not theirs.

Visit HarmerWealth.com to book a consultation.

07/03/2026

Live-Out Allowance: Is Yours Actually Working For You?

More Canadians than ever are collecting a Live-Out Allowance (LOA) — trades on remote projects, healthcare travellers, mining, energy, infrastructure, and executives commuting to a job site well outside their home community.

Handled well, an LOA can quietly become one of the most powerful wealth-building tools in your household. Handled casually, it disappears into hotels, takeout, and truck payments.

Here is the playbook we walk our clients through:

1. Understand what your LOA actually is
An LOA is typically meant to reimburse board, lodging and travel while you work at a special work site or remote location away from your principal residence. Under the right conditions, it can be received tax-free. Step one is confirming with your accountant that your situation genuinely qualifies.

2. Keep your principal residence… actually principal
Your family home stays your family home. That is the whole basis of the allowance. We help clients make sure the paper trail (utilities, insurance, address of record, family location, driver's licence, tax filings) is consistent and defensible.

3. Fund the "away" side properly
If the project is 6, 12, 24 months, we look at whether it makes more sense to:
• Rent near the job site (simple, flexible, fully covered by the LOA)
• Or, in longer-term postings, acquire a modest second residence near the work site.

4. Plan for the day the LOA stops
Every LOA has an expiry date — the project ends, the posting changes, the role changes. The families who win are the ones who used the LOA years to become mortgage-free (or close to it) and to build an investment base that keeps paying them long after the site work is done.

5. Coordinate the whole picture
This is exactly where most people leave money on the table. The accountant handles the tax return. The realtor handles the house. The mortgage broker handles the loan. Nobody is looking at all three at once.

That is exactly what we do.

Harmer Wealth Management + The Harmer Group sit under one roof — financial planning, mortgage strategy, and real estate. If you are collecting an LOA and living away from home, we will build you a clean, compliant, tax-smart plan that turns that allowance into a paid-off house, a real investment portfolio, and options for your family.

Book an LOA Planning Call → theharmergroup.ca | 905.622.0821

06/18/2026

Most Canadians don't realize their RRSP comes with a built-in tax bomb. 💣

Every dollar you've saved is fully taxable the moment it's withdrawn — and if you don't have a plan, the CRA can take up to a massive share of your hard-earned retirement savings.

There's a better way. It's called the RSP Meltdown: a strategy to draw down your RRSP intentionally, minimize the tax hit, and create steady, flexible income in retirement.

If you have an RRSP and you're within 10–15 years of retirement, this is a conversation worth having now — not later.

👉 Send us a message or book a complimentary strategy call to see what your number could look like.

Harmer Wealth Management — helping Canadians keep more of what they've built.

06/15/2026

The honest answer no one wants to hear: getting rich isn't a hot tip — it's a plan. 💭

Every week, someone asks me: "What should I invest in to actually get rich?" Here's the truth most people don't want to hear — getting wealthy isn't about picking the right stock. It's about having a real plan, one where every piece of your financial life talks to the others.

Your investments. Your mortgage. Your taxes. Your insurance. Your real estate. Your estate. They all connect. That's what real wealth management looks like — not a hot tip, a plan.

On the investment side, we use a simple framework called Core & Explore:

🔹 Core — the boring part (and it should be). Broad-market index funds, dividend payers, and quality companies you can own for decades. It compounds quietly in the background while you live your life.

🔹 Explore — a smaller sleeve focused on growth. Right now we're watching areas like healthcare, nuclear energy, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and a small crypto position. Every portfolio is different.

🔹 Alternatives — real estate, infrastructure, and options that are less correlated to the markets to round the whole thing out.

The plan comes first. Always.

Want help building yours? 📩 Send us a DM — let's start the conversation.

This content is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security or to adopt any investment strategy. All investments carry risk, including possible loss of principal, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Please consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions. Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Investia Financial Services Inc. Insurance products are provided through separate dealerships.

06/04/2026

Principal Residence to Rental Conversion: What You Should Know Before You Make the Switch

Thinking about turning your home into a rental?
In Canada, converting your principal residence into a rental property can trigger tax implications — even if you do not actually sell the home.

When a property changes from personal use to rental use, CRA may treat it as though you sold the property at fair market value and immediately bought it back at that same value. This is called a change in use or deemed disposition.

Simply put: there may be tax reporting required, and potentially tax consequences, even though no sale took place.

A few key things to consider before making the switch:
• What is the fair market value of the property on the date of conversion?
• Will the principal residence exemption shelter some or all of the gain?
• Should a subsection 45(2) election be considered?
• Will you be buying or designating another principal residence?
• How will rental income and expenses be tracked and reported?
• Should you avoid claiming CCA/depreciation?
• Is the property being used as a long-term rental or short-term rental?

One of the biggest planning points is the possible 45(2) election, which may allow you to defer the deemed disposition and, in certain cases, continue treating the property as your principal residence for up to four additional years.

But — and this is the important part — these rules are highly fact-specific. The right strategy depends on your timeline, future plans, property value, rental structure, ownership, and whether you may eventually move back in or sell.

Before converting a principal residence into a rental, always connect with a qualified tax advisor or accountant. A small decision today can have a meaningful impact later.
Smart planning before the switch can save a very expensive “oops” down the road.

Find out more at HarmerWealth.com

06/03/2026

When a mortgage feels impossible, the right team makes all the difference. 🏡

Nothing means more to us than hearing how we helped a family finally cross the finish line — especially on a deal that others couldn't make work.

Here's what A.B. had to say:

"We had a very complicated mortgage situation that we'd been trying unsuccessfully to get sorted prior to working with them. From the second we spoke with Chad, he seemed confident he could make the deal work. They checked in constantly and made us feel comfortable throughout the entire process. They secured the mortgage we needed and we couldn't be happier. Jordan handled the back and forth and was there every single time we needed her. If anyone is looking for a team that can help with all their mortgage needs, I couldn't recommend these guys enough. 5 stars doesn't feel like enough." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Complicated situation? That's exactly where we do our best work. Whether it's your first mortgage, a refinance, or a deal that's been turned down elsewhere — let's talk.

📞 1.800.723.2138
📧 [email protected]
🌐 HarmerWealth.com

Complete Financial Planning For A Secure Future.

05/13/2026

We spend decades building wealth so we can enjoy the life we've worked for. But none of it matters if our health can't keep up.

Healthcare in Canada is world-class — but it's reactive. You wait until something goes wrong.

What if you didn't have to?

Through our insurance and benefits offerings, Harmer Wealth has partnered with leading private medical providers to give our clients access to a different kind of care. The proactive kind. The kind that looks for what's coming before it arrives.

Who is this for?
🍁 Retirees losing their employer health benefits and wondering "what now?"
🍁 Pre-retirees who want a private layer of care built into their plan
🍁 Business owners and professionals without group coverage
🍁 Families who want faster answers, deeper screening, and continuity of care
🍁 Anyone who values their health the way they value their portfolio

What's included:
🍁 Comprehensive annual health assessments — dozens of screenings and 100+ biomarkers reviewed in a single day, with same-day results and a personalized action plan
🍁 Early detection focus — catching the things that matter (cancer, heart disease, diabetes) before symptoms arrive
🍁 Specialist visits + advanced diagnostics like MRI, CT, and PET scans
🍁 Expert second opinions from internationally renowned physicians — no deductible
🍁 Concierge-style navigation through every appointment and referral
🍁 Worldwide provider choice — apply up to age 75, renewable beyond
🍁 A preferred client rate negotiated exclusively for Harmer Wealth clients

This isn't about replacing OHIP. It's about adding a proactive layer to it — so your health plan finally matches the rest of your financial plan.

Because a strong portfolio means nothing without the health to enjoy it.

Send us a DM with "ACCESS," call 1.800.723.2138, or visit harmerwealth.com to book a complimentary 15-minute conversation. We'll walk you through the program and unlock your preferred Harmer Wealth client pricing.

✉️ [email protected]

05/07/2026

Most incorporated business owners in Canada are sitting on a number their accountant rarely talks about — and it could pay them tax-free. 👇

It's called the Capital Dividend Account (CDA) — and no, it's not a loophole. It's written right into the Income Tax Act.

Here's the part that surprises people:

Not all dollars inside your corporation are taxed the same on the way out to you.

Some can flow to shareholders 100% tax-free — when the structure is right.

So what is the CDA?

Think of it as a notional "tax-free bucket" the CRA lets your private corporation track. It doesn't sit in a bank account. It lives on paper. But when there's a positive balance, your corporation can declare a capital dividend — and that money lands in the shareholder's hands without a single dollar of personal tax.

What can build up CDA balance?

→ The non-taxable half of capital gains
→ Life insurance proceeds (above the policy's ACB) on a corporately-owned policy
→ Capital dividends received from another corporation

Why this matters for business owners:

Most owners default to salary or taxable dividends and stop there. But if your corporation has ever:

• sold an investment at a gain
• sold real estate held inside the corp
• held a corporately-owned life insurance policy
• sold goodwill on the sale of a business

…there may be a CDA balance quietly sitting there — waiting to be used.

Miss it, and those dollars eventually leave the corporation as fully taxable dividends. Use it strategically, and the same dollars come out tax-free.

This is one of the most overlooked tools in Canadian corporate tax planning — and one of the easiest to get wrong if it's filed incorrectly.

If you own an incorporated business, an investment holdco, or a professional corporation, this is worth a 15-minute conversation. We'll tell you what's actually in your CDA — and what it could be worth to your family.

📩 [email protected]
📞 1.800.723.2138
🌐 harmerwealth.com

This post is for educational purposes only and is not tax or legal advice. Speak with a qualified advisor before acting.

05/06/2026

There’s a big difference between getting advice here and there, and having a real plan that grows with you over time.

This testimonial means a great deal to our team because it speaks to exactly what we aim to do every day: help clients connect the dots across their financial life so they can move forward with clarity and confidence.

From student debt, to investing, to buying a first home, to planning for retirement and building long-term wealth — financial decisions rarely happen in isolation. The goal has always been to look at the full picture and help each piece work together.

We’re incredibly grateful for the trust placed in our team over so many important life stages, and for words like these. It’s an honour to be part of that journey.

Thank you for the trust, the kind words, and the opportunity to help build something meaningful.

04/29/2026

I spent the day in Ottawa at Canada Life’s Advisor Roadshow with a great group of investment leaders, portfolio managers, and minds in our industry.

As expected, the major conversations were around AI, gold, Iran, inflation, and interest rates.

Fair enough. Those are the topics most investors are hearing about right now.

AI continues to be one of the more exciting pieces of our future. We are seeing potential applications in biotechnology, new molecule discovery, manufacturing automation, energy grid management, investment modelling, financial planning, and countless other areas.

But the more I learn about AI, the more I come back to the same view I have had for a while.

AI is not replacing the human side of advice. If anything, I believe it gives professionals in many industries more ability to focus on what actually matters.

In finance, health care, planning, and business, that still comes down to the personal relationship. The human connection. Understanding someone’s full picture. Their family, their business, their concerns, their goals, and sometimes simply being able to reassure them when the headlines feel overwhelming.

That part cannot be automated.

On the market side, there is no shortage of noise right now.

Geopolitical tension continues to create volatility. Some days it feels like peace and resolution are a long way off. But my view is that the world’s largest economies still have a strong incentive to find stability. Even the U.S. needs resolution to protect its own economy from burning too hot in the wrong places. Concessions continue to be made, and while nothing is guaranteed, I do believe this can be resolved to the best of everyone’s ability in the near future.

Inflation is the other major concern.

It feels like we just came out of a very hot inflationary period, with central banks around the world raising interest rates to cool things down. We felt that everywhere: mortgages, real estate, business lending, hiring, fuel, groceries, and day-to-day household cash flow.

Now, with oil prices moving higher due to Middle Eastern conflict, it is natural that people are talking about inflation and rates again.

But I think it is important to separate the inflation we saw after COVID from the inflation pressure we are seeing today. COVID created a much stickier inflation problem. Supply chains, labour, stimulus, demand, housing, and consumer behaviour all collided at once.

What we are seeing now has the potential to normalize if conflict settles and energy pressures ease. Not overnight, but over time.

For what it’s worth, central banks are not going to turn around and start hiking rates aggressively without giving the data time to play out.

Gold and precious metals were also a major topic.

I do believe commodities, gold, and hard assets have a place in most portfolios to some degree or another. They can play an important role as a hedge, especially during periods of inflation, uncertainty, or geopolitical stress.

That said, my long-term thesis still leans toward owning strong underlying businesses.

Businesses that provide a real product or service. Businesses with revenue, margins, cash flow, leadership, and the ability to grow value over time.

As a business owner myself, I understand how companies build value, and how that value can ultimately translate into greater value for owners and shareholders.

Gold has had an incredible run. Commodities may continue to matter if deglobalization remains a long-term theme. But for most long-term investors, I still believe the proof is in the pudding when it comes to quality businesses and consistent growth over time.

Not investment advice, just a reflection after a full day of great conversation.

A Bowmanville financial planner reflects on AI, inflation, gold, geopolitical risk and interest rates after Canada Life’s Advisor Roadshow in Ottawa.