The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Have You Used Your Capital Gains Exemption Yet? This year, the Federal Budget eliminated the $100,000 personal Capital Gains Exemption. Depending on your circumstances, this could cost you as much as $40,000 In extra tax down the road. Don't panic! At BDO, we believe that sensible tax planning NOW will save you significant tax dollars later. To learn more about how the elimination of the Capital Gains Exem- ption will affect you, contact your professional advisor. BDO DUNWOODY WARD MALLETTE 38 Toronto St. N., UXBRIDGE, Ont. 852-9714 Chartered Accountants Investment planning, a road map to your financial goals Few people would embark on a long car trip without mapping out their basic route, and check- ing to see that their car is up to the trip. Why is it then that so many don't map out their finan- cial future and select invest- ment vehicles that falter on the road to prosperity? To many Canadians, finan- Robert J. Gow Quality Advice Invest your time before you invest your money... NESBITT BURNS « BANK OF MONTREAL - UNCERTAIN ABOUT YOUR INVESTMENT OPTIONS? | Want clear conservative options? Invest your time before you invest your money... World Class Service Plan Your RRSP NOW! ROBERT J. GOW 434-7156 or 1-800-267-1522 RICHARDSON GREENSHIELDS Investment advisors to Canadian enterprise and enterprising Canadians 111 Simcoe St. N., Oshawa, Ontario L1G 4S4 If you are over 50 years of age with accumulated retirement and investment holdings...plan to attend these complimentary Retirement and Investment Planning Seminars John A. Grove: Mr. Grove is a Senior Investment Advisor at Nesbitt Burns, Canada's largest investment firm, 100% owned by the Bank of Montreal. As an advisor, Mr. Grove works with individuals planning prudent investment strategies. John A. Grove is a resident of Stouffville RETIREMENT & INVESTMENT TOPICS * RSP Investments * How to Choose the Right Investments * Investment Planning o Estate Planning » How to Reduce Your Taxes 7:00-8:30pm 7:00-8:30pm "Stables of Greystone" 2130 Shirley Road February 1, February 2 7:00-8:30pm "The Briars" 55 Hedge Road January 18, January 19, February 16 "Maples of Ballantrae Lodge & Golf Club" Hwy 48 - 1 mile north of Bloomington Road Complimentary S8andwiches and Sweets January 24, January 26, February 156 Complimentary Sandwiches and Sweets JACKSON'S POINT DATES Complimentary Sandwiches and Sweets WHO SHOULD ATTEND THESE SEMINARS * Those desiring a second opinion on RSP and investment planning strategies * Those without effective investment strategies * Individuals wishing to reduce quarterly tax payments * Those who want to maximize their RSP investment returns Admission is Complimentary - Seating is Limited Call (416) 586-1035 (Collect) or (905) 642-6557 to Reserve cial success is considered to be a matter of chance, or luck. And, in the absence of good financial planning, there's a lot of truth to that statement. Sadly, many people who trust their financial fate to chance don't have good luck. Certainly you cannot count on govern- ment or company pensions to al- low you to live as you wish when you retire. Currently, nearly half of Canada's senior citizens qualify for the government's Guaranteed Income Supple- ment. That means they live at the minimum subsistence level defined by North American standards. Many people fail to plan for retirement merely because they don't know where to start, How- ever, financial planning doesn't have to be complicated, espe- cially if you have the help of a professional investment man- ager. To create a financial plan for your retirement you must follow five steps: . eSpecify your needs: How - much you need to save for re- tirement will depend on how you want to spend it. So first you must give some thought to your desired lifestyle and poten- tial personal commitments (such as financial assistance for your children). Estimate your income re- quirements: As a rule of thumb, you'll need between 65-70 per cent of your last working year's income to keep up your stan- dard of living. In totalling your income needs, you should take into account the four major costs of food, shelter, clothing and transportation, but also ex- penditures such as insurance, taxes and recreational expens- es. * Analyze your resources: To find how you will stand when you retire, total your employ- ment benefits (including pen- sions and retiring allowances), and the value of your existing investments. Then project the depletion of your net worth from one-time expenditures and inflation to see if your re- sources will exceed or fall short of your requirements. * Select your investments and accumulate: Keeping in mind your specific tax and financial circumstances, choose invest- ments that are tailored to pro- duce your estimated required Income. For instance, profes- sional money managers provide a wide choice of mutual funds with different risk, tax and earning characteristics to fit in- vestors' individual needs. *Do an annual financial fire drill: Check each year to see you are firmly on course towards your financial objectives. By consulting with an independent Investment professional you will receive a detailed outline of where you need to be -- and how your present position measures up. Following these five steps will help you map out a route to reach the type of retirement you want to enjoy -- without run- mngout of gas along the way. Courtesy of, Bob Gow, Richardson Greenshields, Oshawa ~ - EE | EE LE. "TE, TE Te re -