What We Think – Surround Wealth Advisors

Photo of two young boys wearing Canada shirts. One boy is smiling the other is sticking hi tongue out at the camera.

The Surroundup

WHAT TRADE WAR?

Here we are—already the end of July. I could’ve sworn summer just started, then I blinked and suddenly everyone’s talking about their end-of-summer plans. Where does the time go? It feels like just yesterday I was advising clients to keep their expectations in check heading into 2025… and now analysts are already looking ahead to...

July 29, 2025

A young boy wearing red heart shaped sunglasses floats in a pool on an inner tube while wearing floaties.

The Surroundup

B-SIDE – INSURANCE: A LIFE STORY IN 3 PARTS

Where exactly does insurance fit into a life well lived? I mean, isn’t it a bit of a third rail, morbid, snoozer of a topic after all? This kid here, does he really look like he’s worried about insurance? Heck no. Well you’ve got me. Despite being an immensely important way to protect just about...

June 27, 2025

The Surroundup, Videos

THE TRUTH ABOUT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT FEES: WHY CHEAPEST ISN’T ALWAYS BEST

Let’s get something straight: Investment management fees are not the enemy. They’re the cost of accessing expertise, strategic guidance, and opportunities to grow your wealth in alignment with your goals. Yet, in a landscape where robo-advisors, DIY platforms, and fee-for-service models have exploded, there’s more confusion than ever about what you’re actually paying for —...

June 27, 2025

Six wooden blocks are lined up in a row. A finger from out of frame presses down on top of one that has a pause button symbol on the front face. The other blocks each have a single letter on the front face spelling out Pause.

The Surroundup

TAKE A BREAK FROM YOUR RRIF IN 2025?

The Liberals’ victory in the recent federal election in April has a few important campaign measures which will now need to be formally presented via a ways and means motion to enable the proposed changes. One of those changes is the potential to reduce mandatory RRIF Minimums for one year (2025) by 25%. The proposal...

May 29, 2025

Image showing a man with his back to the viewer. He has his hands holding his head, looking stressed. His head is surrounded by an assortment of frantic looking arrows and dollar signs.

The Surroundup

INFORMATION OVERLOAD

“Hearing everyone’s thoughts 24/7 is the worst thing to happen to society since the mosquito.” – Michael Antonelli In an age where data is endless and our screens never sleep, the investing world has become both more accessible and more overwhelming. Economic reports, breaking financial news, algorithmic trading signals, and thousands of voices on social...

April 29, 2025

Computer screen showing Gillian in a video call for a podcast.

The Surroundup

BEHIND THE MIC (NEW!)

This month Gillian appeared as a guest on The Hole Shebang, a brazen and unashamed podcast that shines a light on the gaps in our knowledge to help empower us to be healthier, wealthier and wiser. Click here to listen on Apple, and here on Spotify.

March 26, 2025

Man wearing headphones sits at desk looking over papers.

The Surroundup

B-SIDE: UPCOMING EVENTS

Wealth Matters Webcast–April 23, 2025 Wealth Matters events are designed to provide Assante clients and their families with timely investment, wealth planning and lifestyle information. Your expert hosts Dilmini Bonas, TEP, LL.B., and John Christenson CPA, CA, TEP, CFP, from CI Assante Wealth Management as the explore Wealth Planning for recreational property. The webcast...

March 26, 2025

The Surroundup, Videos

MONEY WITH MEANING: WHY YOUR VALUES MATTER IN WEALTH BUILDING

Friends, let’s talk about money—not just earning it, but making it work for you in a way that actually aligns with who you are. Too often, financial advice comes at us like a soulless math problem: earn, save, invest, repeat. And for some people, it feels like using tools and instruments that don’t quite seem...

March 26, 2025

Yellow sign in front of a blue sky that reads Market Volatility.

Blog

ASSANTE MARKET UPDATE: MAKE VOLATILITY GREAT AGAIN

Assante Friends and Family, Over the past few weeks, I’ve had several conversations with clients, friends and family who are understandably frustrated, annoyed and nervous about the recent tariff noise and are concerned about the potential implications. These conversations almost always end with some form of “Trump is such a…” I’m not saying I disagree,...

March 11, 2025

Image of a calendar with the 30th day circled in red with the words taxes due inside. A Government of Canada document is seen in the bottom right corner.

The Surroundup

TAX TIME! LET’S GO!

It’s that time of year again! You got it… tax time! First things first… The RSP deadline is March 3, 2025 – that is the last day to make eligible contributions for the 2024 tax year. If you constantly struggle to get your RSP maxed out each year… consider moving contributions to a monthly...

February 26, 2025