Wealth Your Way

Thinking about starting your own business? One of the first things to consider is what form of business structure best suits your interests. CIBC Private Wealth US Senior Wealth Strategists, Ryan Coulson and Halsey Schreier, walk through the features and benefits of sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies (LLC).

Converting traditional IRAs (individual retirement accounts) into Roth IRAs has been a hot topic of conversation for people of all ages in recent years. Whether taking advantage of the current low income tax rates, or making the smartest choices in estate planning, many investors are turning to Roth conversions when planning their retirements. Ryan and Halsey discuss how this move can minimize the taxes owed on your retirement savings and maximize the money for both you and your inheritors.

An administration change typically leads to a change in our nation's tax laws. But the legislative process for this is complex, and may lead to less sweeping changes than expected. Ryan and Halsey explore this process together and discuss what to look out for when it comes to your personal finances.

In the past year, cryptocurrency has been all the buzz. But what exactly is it? And more importantly, is it worth adding to your investment portfolio? This exciting but volatile market is still fairly new, and there's still much to learn. So join us as we pose these questions to CIBC Private Wealth Management's Chief Investment Officer Dave Donabedian, and get some insight on the crypto mystery!

As the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be in its final phase, the world in its wake is a much different place. How will this affect our investments moving forward? ESG factors are helping companies adapt to a tumultuous year. Environmental and health-conscious business models are the new norm, and diversity in leadership and representation has begun to dominate corporate priorities.

Will the trials of 2020 lead to sustainable change? Or do the grand gestures of today fade away to "business as usual" tomorrow? We're joined by the Head of ESG and Impact Investing John Tennaro to discuss.

When investing, you want your money to grow. Active management and passive management are two distinct options available to you as an investor. Generally speaking, passive investing tends to be cheaper and easier, with portfolios frequently matching the ups and downs of the overall market. Actively managed portfolios are maintained by money managers who make decisions to allocate funds with the goal of a higher rate of return.

If you choose to invest your funds in an actively managed portfolio, what considerations should keep in mind when choosing your money manager?

We discuss this and more with Managing Director Kishore Setty, CFA.

When it comes to taxes, it pays to plan ahead. Don’t wait until the end of the year to start thinking about your income tax. You have the potential to save on your tax bill by understanding what your tax situation is likely to be ahead of time and identifying strategies for deductions.

If there are causes you feel strongly about that you wish to support financially, charitable giving is likely an important consideration when setting your near- and long-term financial goals. While donating money to your favorite charities can be as simple as writing a check, there are various other options available to you for making charitable contributions that may reduce your current and future tax obligations and create a legacy of philanthropic giving.

Although giving and receiving gifts is a tradition that most people have participated in their entire lives, you may not often think about how gifting can be beneficial from a financial planning perspective.

Emails, files, photos, social media feeds, cloud storage... and the list goes on. Discussing a plan for digital assets is an integral part of estate management.