Harding Financial Inc.

Should you save, invest or pay down debt? The honest answer: it depends.

High-interest debt may deserve immediate attention, while lower-interest debt can sometimes be managed alongside retirement savings and other goals. You also need enough accessible savings to handle an unexpected expense without relying on credit.

The best strategy is rarely “all or nothing.” It’s about finding the right balance for your income, interest rates, timeline and priorities.

A financial plan can help you decide where your next dollar will have the greatest impact.

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

Today, we honour the Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities, and remember the children who never returned home. May we take time to listen, learn and reflect on the role each of us has in advancing meaningful reconciliation.

Every Child Matters. 🧡

Life insurance isn’t really about you—it’s about the people who would have to carry on without you. And if your family, income, mortgage or responsibilities have changed, it may be time for a review.

It can help your family:

• Replace lost income
• Pay the mortgage and household expenses
• Cover education costs
• Manage debts and final expenses
• Protect the future you worked hard to build

The right coverage should reflect your life today—not the life you had when you first purchased the policy.

Fall is a natural time to reset—not just your routines, but your finances too. 🍂

Before the busy holiday season begins, take a few minutes to review:

✔️ Your monthly spending
✔️ Your savings goals
✔️ Any high-interest debt
✔️ Your insurance coverage
✔️ Your retirement contributions
✔️ The beneficiaries listed on your accounts

Small adjustments now can make a meaningful difference by year-end.

Not sure where to begin? We can help you turn your financial to-do list into a clear, manageable plan.

TAX TIP TUESDAY 💡

Did you know your medical-expense claim doesn’t have to follow the calendar year?

You can generally claim eligible medical expenses paid during any 12-month period ending within the tax year, provided they haven’t already been claimed. This may allow you to group larger expenses together and maximize the credit.

For couples, it may also be more beneficial for the spouse or common-law partner with the lower net income to make the claim.

Keep your receipts, check which expenses qualify and consider the most advantageous 12-month period before filing.

Tax situations vary. Speak with a qualified professional about your circumstances.

Will you take CPP at 60, 65 or 70? The difference can be significant! 🇨🇦

Start at 60 → Get your CPP sooner, but receive a permanently reduced monthly payment.

Start at 65 → Receive your standard CPP pension amount.

Wait until 70 → Delay your CPP, but receive a permanently higher monthly payment.

So which one puts you further ahead? That depends.

Your health, life expectancy, savings, investments, taxes, other retirement income and whether you’re still working can all change the answer.

That’s why choosing when to take CPP shouldn’t be an automatic decision.

📩 Not sure which option makes the most sense for you? Talk to Harding Financial. We can look at the numbers in the context of your complete retirement plan and help you make an informed decision.

Because the goal isn’t simply to start CPP at the “right” age.

It’s to make your retirement income work as hard as possible for you.

TAX TIP TUESDAY 🇨🇦

Working from home? Don't wait until tax season to figure out your expenses. If you're eligible to claim home-office expenses, good records make tax time MUCH easier.

Your action item ➡ Create a folder today and start keeping eligible receipts and bills that may be relevant to your claim.

Think:

✓ Electricity
✓ Heat
✓ Water
✓ Internet access fees
✓ Rent, if applicable
✓ Eligible maintenance expenses

And keep track of how much of your home is actually used for work. Ten minutes of organization now can save hours of searching later.

Not sure what you can claim—or worried you're leaving money on the table? Don't wait until tax season to find out.

📩 Message Harding Financial today and let’s make sure you know exactly what to track, what to keep and what questions to ask before it’s time to file.

Sounds obvious? But it's surprisingly easy to build a lifestyle around your gross income instead of the money you actually have available.

Before that salary becomes spending money, there's:

→ Income tax
→ CPP & EI
→ Housing
→ Transportation
→ Insurance
→ Groceries
→ Debt payments
→ Savings

And suddenly, $100K can feel very different.

Here's the bigger point:

Income ≠ wealth.

Someone earning $80K, living comfortably within their means and consistently investing can be in a stronger financial position than someone earning $150K and spending nearly all of it.

Don't measure your financial progress by your salary.

Look at what you keep—and what you're building.

Happy Labour Day! 🇨🇦

Today, we celebrate the hard work, dedication and contributions of people across our communities who help keep businesses growing and our communities strong.

From all of us at Harding & Associates, we wish our clients, colleagues, families and friends a safe and relaxing Labour Day long weekend.

Enjoy the well-deserved break!

No wrong answers—but your choices might tell you a lot about what you actually value.

Would you rather...

💵 $10,000 today OR $20,000 in 5 years?

🏡 A mortgage-free home OR $1 million invested?

🚗 A brand-new car OR keep your current car + an extra $800/month?

✈️ A $5,000 vacation every year OR retire 5 years earlier?

💼 A much higher salary + 60-hour weeks OR less money + more free time?

Financial planning isn't always about choosing the option that leaves you with the biggest number.

It's about figuring out what you want your money to do for your life.

👇 Which one was hardest to answer?