Loft Wealth Management Group

A tax decision made today can still be shaping your wealth years from now.

For families with significant or complex wealth, tax planning often involves much more than what happens at filing time.

Decisions around where investments are held, when income or gains are realized, how charitable giving is structured, and how wealth will eventually move to the next generation can all have effects that build over time.

Consider a few examples:

💰 How will different sources of retirement income be drawn down, and in what order?

📈 Are investments being held in the most appropriate accounts or structures for your broader plan?

❤️ Could charitable giving be planned in a way that supports the causes you care about while also complementing your tax and estate strategy?

🏡 What tax implications could arise when significant assets eventually change hands?

When you have more moving pieces, looking several years ahead can uncover planning opportunities that may be difficult (or impossible) to recreate later.

At Loft, we take the long view, bringing your investments, tax considerations, estate plans and broader goals together so the decisions you make today support where you want your wealth to go tomorrow. Let’s talk: https://bit.ly/4w2XTOc

Critical illness insurance and disability insurance sound like they belong in the same bucket. And in some ways, they do.

Both can help protect your financial plan when your health takes an unexpected turn. But they’re designed to do very different jobs.

🩺 Critical illness insurance typically provides a one-time, tax-free lump-sum payment if you’re diagnosed with a covered condition and meet the policy requirements. That money can give you flexibility to manage expenses however you need - from treatment costs and time away from work to household bills or additional support.

💵 Disability insurance is designed to replace a portion of your income if an illness or injury prevents you from working, helping you keep up with ongoing financial commitments while you recover.

So, which one do you need?

For many people, the better question is whether there’s a role for both. Life doesn’t always go to plan. The right protection can help your finances stay resilient when circumstances change.

At Loft, we can help you look at the bigger picture and determine what protection makes sense for your life, income and financial plan. 🤝

🔥🏒 Opening night is here, Firebirds fans!

The puck drops on a brand-new season tonight, and Loft is proud to be cheering on the New Hamburg Firebirds as a team sponsor for the 2026–27 season!

Tonight, the Firebirds hit the ice against the Dorchester Dolphins to officially kick off another season of great Junior C hockey, and we can’t wait to see what this year has in store.

At Loft, supporting our community means showing up for the people, organizations and traditions that bring us together. Local hockey is a pretty great example of that — from the players and coaches on the ice to the volunteers, families and fans who fill the rink and make nights like this possible.

To the entire Firebirds organization: good luck tonight and throughout the season ahead. We’re proud to be along for the ride! 💚

🎟️ Want to cheer them on in person? Find game and ticket information here: https://bit.ly/4AdhVc0

Go Firebirds!

🌟 Team spotlight: Meet Emma Hillier!

For Emma, working in financial services is about so much more than numbers; it's about helping people feel a little more confident about something that touches nearly every part of their lives.

As an Executive Associate at Loft, Emma is focused on making financial planning simpler and more approachable. She brings a genuine desire to help people to her work every day, along with a belief that even small steps can make a meaningful difference over time.

Here’s more about Emma, in her own words.

☕ What’s your go-to coffee (or tea) order?

Day-to-day, I’m a black coffee person. But on the weekends, when I want a treat, it has to be an iced matcha latte with lavender cold foam!

💚 What part of your work gives you the most satisfaction?

Knowing that the work we do can make a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Helping people navigate their finances is incredibly rewarding, especially because financial literacy is such an important (and often undertaught) life skill.

3️⃣ If you had to pick 3 words to describe Loft, what would they be?

Supportive. Simple. Trusted.

💡 What’s one piece of financial advice you think everyone should hear?

Small steps today can help create financial confidence for tomorrow.

⛳ When you’re not working, how do you like to spend your time?

Spending time on the golf course or relaxing by the pool.

⚖️ If you weren’t working in financial services, what’s another career path you could see yourself exploring?

A career as a paralegal or legal assistant, especially in social justice law.

🚶‍♀️ What’s a small daily habit or ritual that helps you recharge?

Grabbing a coffee or tea and going for a walk.

From her belief in the power of small financial steps to her passion for helping people feel more confident about their finances, Emma brings a thoughtful, people-first approach to everything she does. We’re very glad to have her as part of the Loft team!

You can build a great benefits plan. But if your employees don’t understand what’s available to them, how to access it, or why it matters… is it really doing its job? 🤔

The most expensive benefit may be the one nobody uses.

For employers, offering group benefits is only part of the equation. Helping employees understand their coverage can make a big difference in how much value they get from the plan, whether that means knowing they have access to mental health support, paramedical services, prescription coverage or other resources.

And when employees better understand their benefits, the investment can work harder too: supporting your team, strengthening your overall compensation package and helping employees see the value of what you’re providing beyond their paycheque.

At Loft, we help business owners look beyond simply having a benefits plan in place. We can help you make sure it continues to make sense for your business and the people it was designed to support.

✨ Beyond Wealth by Loft

Wealth is about so much more than what’s on a statement. It’s about having the knowledge, relationships and conversations that help you feel confident about the bigger picture.

That thinking inspired Beyond Wealth by Loft, a special evening recently hosted by Jody Cleminson at the beautiful Deer Ridge Golf Club.

Jody brought together a group of women for an evening designed to be equal parts informative, meaningful and fun. Guests heard from lawyer Sarah Mumtaz, who shared her expertise and sparked some great conversation, before heading outside for a putting contest and wrapping up the evening over dinner.

And while the setting was beautiful, it was the people and conversations that made the night.

One note Jody received afterward summed it up perfectly:

“Everything about the night was so thoughtfully done, and it truly was such a wonderful event.”

That’s exactly what Beyond Wealth is about: creating space for conversations and connections that go beyond finances – because there’s a whole lot more to a rich life than money. 💚

A special thank you to Sarah for sharing her time and expertise, and for generously providing raffle prizes for the evening. We're also grateful to Worthy Skin & Beauty Bar for helping make the night extra special with welcome gifts and golf prizes, and to Deer Ridge for the wonderful hospitality.

And of course, thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make Beyond Wealth by Loft such a memorable evening.

⛳ A round of golf for a cause that matters. 💚

Last week, the Marc Hilker Memorial Golf Tournament brought golfers, sponsors and supporters together for a great day on the course, and an even more meaningful reason.
We were proud to be a corporate sponsor of this year’s tournament, including sponsoring a hole and helping support a day dedicated to giving back.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice, two local hospice residences providing compassionate palliative care and support to individuals and families throughout the end-of-life journey.

We didn’t hit the fairways ourselves this time, but we were very happy to play a small part in a tournament that brings our community together in support of two organizations doing incredibly important work.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s tournament possible. Here’s to a great day, a meaningful cause and a community that continues to show up for one another.

🏠 What does it really cost to stay in the home you love as you age?

For many Canadians, aging in place offers comfort, independence and familiarity. But it also comes with unique financial, legal and family considerations.

At first glance, staying in your home may seem like the simpler, more affordable option. But over time, the true costs – from home modifications to in-home care and transportation – can add up quickly. Without a plan, that comfort can come at a cost.

At Loft, we believe aging in place should be a deliberate choice, supported by a strategy that reflects your values, protects your independence, and engages your family in meaningful ways.

In this article, we explore:

➡️ The often-overlooked financial realities of aging in place

➡️ The importance of early, open conversations with family

➡️ The legal and estate planning essentials that offer reassurance for the road ahead

Aging well at home is possible. It just takes the right plan.

📖 Read our take in this article: https://bit.ly/4fpfQRJ