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Getting your financial affairs in order is critical, no matter your age. 

But estate planning becomes even more important as soon as you have kids.

If you’re in the process of getting your financial affairs in order, you be wondering what estate planning actually is and if you need it. That’s exactly what I’m going to cover in this post.

Keep reading for a story about my mom’s estate planning dilemma and why the emotional side of estate planning matters as much as the tactical side.

It’s critical to understand your money mindset because it will influence all your decisions around money, whether you’re aware of it or not.

Your money mindset is made up of your cornerstone beliefs about money.

It influences everything you do and don’t do with money, such as spending, saving, building up debt, buying a home, and investing. 

Keep reading to find out the 11 key strategies you can use to improve your money mindset.

Money blocks usually develop when you are young and impressionable. They are things you learn and subconsciously take for granted. You believe them to be an absolute truth. 

I’ve been obsessed with the concept of limiting beliefs since I was a kid.

I would observe how different people would react to the same situation. I was curious why some people seemed programmed to respond a certain way while others were not.

I didn’t know the concept of “limiting beliefs,” but I could recognize patterns in people’s reactions based on their life experiences.

It wasn’t until I started meditating that I understood my own limiting beliefs and started to…

If you have minor children and are without an estate plan, the court decides who becomes the legal guardian of your children.

Are you a skeptic when it comes to manifesting?

It seems that with manifesting, you’re either a believer or a non-believer—there’s no inbetween.

I’ve found that manifesting is an excellent tool for practical, actionable items. But, if you only manifest and don’t act or look at your own limiting beliefs, you probably won’t get what you want.

The key is to work on your subconscious and your conscious mind together.

Keep reading to discover my method for manifesting as well as some of the research around manifesting and mindset.

In general, the CRA doesn’t consider money or assets you inherited as taxable income, which means that you don’t have to report it.

If you received $100,000 cash from your grandmother after she passed away, you don’t need to add this to your tax return that year and report it as income. This is because your grandmother’s estate is responsible for paying any taxes owed before the estate goes to beneficiaries. 

You can think of this money from your grandmother as a gift given after her estate’s final tax return is filed. As an individual in Canada, your taxable income is income you as an individual earned.

Keep reading to learn more about how your inheritance will be taxed in Canada.

BC does not have an inheritance tax, so you do not personally pay tax just for receiving money or assets.

However, this doesn’t mean taxes aren’t a significant factor when inheriting.  

Keep reading to learn more about how your estate and inheritance will actually be taxed if you live in BC.

There is no official inheritance tax in British Columbia or anywhere in Canada.

That means if you receive an inheritance, you generally don’t pay tax on what you receive.

However, this doesn’t mean there is no tax at death in BC.

When someone passes away, it is treated as if they sold everything they owned right before they died. This is called a deemed disposition, and it can trigger tax on any gains built up over time.

Be sure to read the case study at the end of this post for an example of how estate planning can help you preserve the things you care about and avoid family stress.

Whether you inherit a large amount or something more modest, the first step is the same: slow down and get clear on your goals before making any big decisions.

When people inherit money or other assets, they often miss the opportunity to plan properly right at the start.

It can feel like a gift, and the excitement can take over. 

But this is when thoughtful planning matters most. 

If you invest part of your inheritance, you have the opportunity to grow what you have been given over time.

Read more to find out what steps to take when you inherit money in Canada.

Use this quick BC probate calculator to find out what your estate may be paying in probate fees.

Is there a limit to how much you can inherit tax-free in Canada?

Many people sigh with relief when they learn that Canada doesn’t have an inheritance tax.  

This means as a beneficiary there is no dollar limit on what you can receive before paying taxes on the inheritance. How is this possible? This is because in Canada, taxes are typically paid by the estate before assets are distributed.

In Canada, when you pass away, there is what is called a deemed disposition.

This means it is as if you sold all your capital assets at fair market value (FMV) right before your death, and any resulting capital gain is reportable.

In addition, there are probate and estate administration fees in most provinces.

But while there may not be an inheritance tax, that doesn’t mean there is NO tax. Keep reading to find out how taxes work upon death in Canada.

Can a trust reduce “death taxes” for high-net-worth Canadians? Yes, trusts can be used strategically to help defer and plan for taxes at death for higher-net-worth families.

Certain assets have built-in tax advantages or direct beneficiary designations, and adding a trust can alter or cancel those benefits. 

For example, registered accounts like RRSPs and TFSAs, life insurance policies with named beneficiaries, vehicles, and pensions are not the ideal fit for a trust. In addition, if you put your home in a trust, it may limit the principal residence exemption if the trust doesn’t meet certain rules.  

To find out more about trusts in Canada, keep reading.