Search found 16228 matches

by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 23:49
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

the cold-shoulder this is getting from people here OK, here is a selection of quotes from the G&M , with my temperature measurement in brackets: “It's a far cry from what they were talking about with the capital gains,” said Jeff Rubin, chief economist and chief strategist at CIBC World Markets....[Freezing.] The new shelter for investors is “a very different animal,” said economist Douglas Porter of BMO Nesbitt Burns.[No temperature.] “The one surprise in this budget was the Tax-Free Savings Account,” said Nancy Hughes Anthony, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Bankers Association. “And from our point of view we think it's pretty positive,” Ms. Hughes Anthony said.[Hot, baby!] “We are disappointed as an industry th...
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 23:31
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

in case your future MTR goes up (as would be likely with clawbacks)
I don't think that scenario will affect that many people.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 23:17
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

their complementary nature
Another way to look at it is

TFSA=RRSP*k where

k=(1-mean_tax_rate_out)/(1-mean_tax_rate_in)

It the MTR's are equal there is no difference.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 22:42
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

a lot of bitterness from the old guys on this board.
Not in the least. But other things could have been done that were better.

Many people here are exalting over something that isn't that big - and may well be changed before it gets that big.

If you had your wishes, there were - and are - better things. Something may well be better than nothing - but there are many things that could have been better than this. Raising the personal exemption, for example. Or eliminating the top bracket.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 22:13
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

lets not get too excited
Suppose you are a retiree - like me - and try to keep yourself in the bottom tax bracket by using capital gains and dividends along with more-heavily-taxed income. Next year, you place $5K in a TFSA (old name: TPSP) and put it in a GIC that pays 4.5%. You are an Alberta resident and have a marginal tax rate of 25%. Your tax savings are $5000*0.045*0.25=$56.25.

Whoopie shit.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 21:51
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

this a great thing!
TPSPs were debated at great length on a predecessor forum. The advantage vs. RRSPs is modest for most people. Steve's calculations show that.

People in high income brackets now and lower income brackets at retirement will be better off with RRSPs. They have the money to save in non-registered plans; these will offer modest - not great - benefits that will need a very long time to become significant - unless the rules are changed first. People in low income brackets could theoretically benefit more than with RRSPs but don't have the money to save.

Like I said - smoke and mirrors. Putting back the $1K interest deduction would have been simpler.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 21:28
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

It's added complexity with relatively little benefit. Smoke and mirrors.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 20:12
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

When I applied a 35% tax rate it came out to around 350K or a 220K difference due to the tax sheltering.
An RRSP is already 100% sheltered on the net contribution as long as the mean tax rate on withdrawal is less than or equal to the mean tax rate on contribution.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 19:38
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

There was extensive debate about the TPSP earlier.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 18:29
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Canada Federal Budget for 2008
Replies: 288
Views: 18535

The budget in a nutshell:
Image
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 18:13
Forum: Now Hear This!
Topic: When Something Breaks ...
Replies: 199
Views: 26225

I had very slow access this morning, with most attempts timing out. I also had to re-login. Eventually, it speeded up, although I don't know if it was fiddling I did here (including resetting the DNS servers in the modem) or a hardware problem with the hosting service.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 13:29
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Cheap Computers - 2008
Replies: 58
Views: 154

Thinkpad help wrote:- If you primarily use your computer with the ac adapter attached and only infrequently use battery power, battery deterioration may occur faster when the battery is constantly charged at 100%.
Or, as I said, pull the battery. :wink:

A lot of people use laptops as "portables" and leave them plugged in all the time. Pulling the battery is the best approach in that situation.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 13:15
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: You are the Federal Finance Minster ……
Replies: 136
Views: 10214

This FREE money might make some people stay around instead of jumping ship to other countries.
If they need FREE money to stay around, why do the rest of us want them? :shock:

Whatever happened to "Ask not what your country can do for you..."?
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 12:33
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Cheap Computers - 2008
Replies: 58
Views: 154

Heat is why Shakes suggests you not keep a recharged battery in an AC-powered notebook
No it isn't. Rechargable batteries left on permanent charge tend to lose their ability to hold charge (one possible reason is growth of dendrites from the cathode to the anode, which gives an internal short). The battery should either be allowed to go through charge/discharge cycles or removed.
NO! NO! NO! Not with DDR2 RAM.
My Inspiron 1100, which has DDR RAM, allows the SODIMMs to be different sizes.
by Shakespeare
26 Feb 2008 10:36
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Cheap Computers - 2008
Replies: 58
Views: 154

My laptop computer is several years old and uses more power than newer models. It has a 65WH battery. Check Dell's help (the question mark next to batteries) to see how long that model will last. Mine will only last about 2 hours on full.
by Shakespeare
25 Feb 2008 18:57
Forum: Stocks, Bonds, ETFs, Funds, REITS and More
Topic: Labour-sponsored venture capital funds
Replies: 299
Views: 83277

http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet ... iness/home

Most targets settle in Crocus suit
[A] settlement in principle will see audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP pay $6-million, the provincial government and the Manitoba Securities Commission pay $2.75-million, directors and officers of the fund contribute $3.15-million, and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. pay $100,000.
by Shakespeare
25 Feb 2008 18:30
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Cheap Computers - 2008
Replies: 58
Views: 154

You also need to decide if you are going to use it as a laptop (i.e. on battery) or as a portable (plugged in). If the former, consider a larger battery and/or a second battery. If you intend to leave it plugged in, one battery will suffice - but don't leave it in the computer.

I use mine as a portable. Once I get to my hotel, I plug it in and pull the battery unless it is nearly discharged, in which case I recharge it and then pull it.
by Shakespeare
25 Feb 2008 18:13
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Cheap Computers - 2008
Replies: 58
Views: 154

1G is OK for XP and light use - it's what I have, but the 2G price is good. Wireless g is sufficient IMO. If you want Vista more memory is needed.

I think I would get XP, 2G, and the dual-core.
by Shakespeare
25 Feb 2008 11:46
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Ufile
Replies: 310
Views: 38190

Maybe that choice could turn out to be a disadvantage some time in the future if you have a loss or something.
Exactly. If you elect CG treatment, losses will only be credited at 50% and only against capital gains.
by Shakespeare
25 Feb 2008 10:34
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Harper's capital gains promise fades from view
Replies: 51
Views: 4793

...already linked upthread.... :wink:
by Shakespeare
24 Feb 2008 23:08
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: Harper's capital gains promise fades from view
Replies: 51
Views: 4793

Tories expected to give investors a tax break
Options they expect Ottawa has been studying include:

--Allowing investors to put capital gains, or some capital gains, tax-free into their registered retirement savings plans.

--A tax prepaid savings account that works like an RRSP – in that contributions accumulate tax free, but there is no tax credit when funds are invested.

--A capital gains deferral account that gives investors a tax exemption on funds reinvested within a specified account, to a specified lifetime limit.
by Shakespeare
24 Feb 2008 20:26
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Ufile
Replies: 310
Views: 38190

You may get a capital gain or loss on sales. Income, which is what will be reported on a T5, will be taxed at the same tax rate as interest. The rules for the contract you traded should be consulted to see if it qualifies for capital gains or losses.
by Shakespeare
24 Feb 2008 19:06
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Ufile
Replies: 310
Views: 38190

Use interest income for estimating the tax.
by Shakespeare
24 Feb 2008 18:59
Forum: Financial News, Policy and Economics
Topic: You are the Federal Finance Minster ……
Replies: 136
Views: 10214

if there were 12 computers in the entire world in 1943, I would be surprised
Does that count the bombe, which was an electromechanical computer?
by Shakespeare
24 Feb 2008 18:56
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Ufile
Replies: 310
Views: 38190

Investment income is on T5.