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Local Culture
4 Ways Epp Law Office Can help your Company’s Business Development & Growth
BY EPP LAW OFFICE
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Running your business and managing the day-to-day operations is already challenging. Add in legal jargon and issues that can be impossible to navigate without expert help, turning to the experience of Epp Law Office makes sense. No two businesses are identical, and a cookie cutter approach won’t cut it with the endless rules and ever-changing regulations. Obtaining legal advice from Westman based Epp Law Office is the ideal way to figure out what you can and can’t do. Corporate law can be broad. When it comes down to it, their role is to help business owners understand their rights, how to function efficiently and to avoid any foreseeable legal issues. Epp Law Office’s experience lies in advising corporations on their legal duties, facilitating partnerships, working with businesses to ensure the legality of commercial transactions and taking a proactive approach with their clients to avoid getting caught up in legal disputes.
Consider these four crucial ways Epp Law Office will help your business establish a solid foundation and generate long-term growth.
1. SUPPORT BUSINESS OPERATIONS As any business owner can tell you, there’s already not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to get done. With the help of an experienced
corporate lawyer, they can take care of the piles of administrative legal paperwork that most businesses encounter. This way, you can focus on sett ing up your company and spend vital time working on other areas, such as product development or marketing. In addition, commercial lawyers play an essential role in the incorporation of new businesses. From important tasks like the preparation of complicated documents, establishing a legal structure that best suits your business direction, corporate lawyers can also help source investors and generate a forward-thinking corporate structure.
2. REVIEWING LEGAL DOCUMENTS Small and medium-sized businesses regularly have to sign new contracts with clients, suppliers, employees and investors, among many other parties. Making sure these documents are legally sound is something you can’t ignore. Backed by a commercial lawyer who understands your industry, you can ensure your business isn’t slowed down by needless contractual disputes.
A corporate lawyer will review these deals to ensure your business is protecting itself. From reviewing documents or commercial property agreements, a corporate law fi rm is the simplest way to ensure the smooth operation of your business.
3. ADVICE ON LEGAL MATTERS In a perfect world, your business will run smoothly with no issues arising. Having a legal expert by your side is always going to be an advantage to help your business ensure your compliance the various areas related to the growth and success of your business. Professional commercial lawyers are great for anticipating potential issues in the future, while they will provide imperative advice when you have to weigh up the potential risks and benefi ts of a deal. Keeping up to date with the latest regulatory changes is a daunting task and talking regularly to a corporate lawyer will mean that you stay in the loop on how any of these may aff ect your business. While you might be too busy to keep on top of how the local government is shifting regulations, a dedicated legal advisor will have a precise understanding of how these developments will impact your business going forward. 4. SETTLING DISPUTES Encountering a dispute that requires legal assistance can be unsett ling and fortunately, a corporate law fi rm can off er comprehensive advice no matt er what kind of disagreement you face. Whether you take the problem to court or decide to sett le, a corporate lawyer can handle these problematic events so you can get back to business. Don’t let your new or growing business get dragged down by avoidable commercial problems. Contact Epp Law Offi ce for your essential legal support. We have the expertise to fi nd a suitable solution to any kind of legal issue. Run your business with confi dence with our professional legal advice.
Epp Law Office 642 18th Street, Unit A Brandon, MB 204-717-3775 reception@epplawoffice.ca
It’s time for some
INVESTMENT INTROSPECTION
BY MICHAEL VAN LIEROP, PRESIDENT OF NEW OUTLOOK WEALTH INC.
The new year brings most people a sense of renewal and hope. In the world of wealth management, the last year was a roller-coaster but ultimately one that saw enormous market returns for most portfolios. Indeed, even poorly managed investments did well in 2021! That being said, good returns are really good at masking underlying problems, and complacency can cost you dearly – especially when the next market correction occurs.
There are key metrics you should still use to evaluate the performance and suitability of the advice and service you’re paying for – be it from a bank branch advisor, an independent broker, or a financial planner. The lack of clarity and transparency with investments statements continues to haunt the mutual fund industry, for example, so many investors struggle to understand what their portfolios are actually doing. This seems absurd in this day and age, but it remains a big problem despite socalled client-focused reforms in the mutual fund industry.
Why does clarity and transparency matter? Wealth management and financial advice is highly regulated in Canada, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to understand. There are fees being charged by those actually managing the money (portfolio management, MERs) fees for holding the money safely (a custodian), and fees for advice (advisory or planning fees). In Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs) for instance, these fees are well laid out and displayed for all to see – they are, by design and by regulation, extremely transparent. By contrast, mutual funds remain - in many instances - a black box. A “black box” isn’t always bad – the pooled investing that comes with mutual funds is attractive in many ways and has introduced millions of small investors to the public markets. Likewise, the Participating Account of a Participating Whole Life insurance policy is routinely viewed as the ultimate in “black boxes” – most regular folks have zero clue what goes on inside them – and yet they have an important role to play in building wealth tax free inside permanent, whole life insurance. That said, unless it’s to record flight data in an airplane, most people don’t like the idea of a “black box” – especially when it comes to their money. Indeed, product design and product choice has never been more advanced and diversified than it is today in The long-argued rebuttal of “you get what you pay for” is nonsense when it comes to managing money. The quality and efficacy of money management cannot be compared to the quality of high priced, high-end furniture, high-end audio equipment, or a luxury car brand.
Canada. The 1980s and 1990s saw the explosion of mutual fund sales in Canada. Today, Canadian investors have vastly more choice in wealth management than ever before. With this choice comes a diversity of product offering, strategy, sectoral and geographic exposure, tax efficiency, cost, and a diversity of performance. While self directed investing and online brokerages have become a very low cost option for those looking to manage their own money in their own way, professionally managed portfolios continue to be home for the bulk of Canadian wealth. How this money is managed and at what price point is not trivial. Why? The long-term ramifications of high fees can be enormous. For example, a 50 year old with a $500,000 investment portfolio generating an average annual return of 7% will turn into $1.5 million in 25 years at an investment fee of 2.5%, $1.7 million at a 2% fee, and $1.9 million in 25 years at a 1.5% investment fee. That 1% difference in fees amounts to $400,000 more for you, your retirement, or your estate. The long-argued rebuttal of “you get what you pay for” is nonsense when it comes to managing money. The quality and efficacy of money management cannot be compared to the quality of high priced, high-end furniture, highend audio equipment, or a luxury car brand. Some of the best ETFs (exchange trade funds) which are passively managed investments and are very cheap, routinely match or outperform the overall markets when highcost, actively managed funds struggle to do the same. Now, high-cost advice? That’s a different metric. Paying your financial planner well is critical to ensuring you’re getting the best advice, strategic direction, and financial coaching. The measure of advice, in some cases, can far exceed the returns of a portfolio. The key message is this: after an investment year like 2021, don’t let amazing returns mask underlying issues in the management of your wealth. Take the time to review your portfolio and ask the tough questions to your financial advisor – what am I paying and to whom? What are you getting paid to manage my money? If you’re not happy with the answer, it’s time to look around for a 2nd opinion – and don’t wait for the next market correction to take action.
You Are Unique. You Are Powerful. Be Confident With Who You Are.
Understanding your strengths unlocks your potential and leads you to greater performance.
BY WENDY HOFFORD, WH STRATEGIC DRIVE
There are 34 talent themes in CliftonStrengths with distinct common traits. They can also look diff erent to individuals depending on their life experiences. This is why doing the CliftonStrengths assessment can help identify what you are naturally gifted at, helping you bett er understand how you are wired to process information and situations.
What are some specific strengths people could learn about themselves from the assessment?
Most people don’t realize that what they take for granted is actually a talent they bring to this world. That what they thought made them so diff erent was actually what makes them unique. This provides clarity to leverage talents to learn, grow, develop and succeed in both personally and professionally lives.
How do you grow your strengths?
It is one thing to know your strengths but what do you do with them takes a bit of intention. Learning how to use your strengths every single day and understanding how they show up for you, when they help you and when they get in your way are keys to discovering more about your talents. Take a look at your top 5 talents, refl ect over the last few days and write down what situations you faced where your talents helped you or maybe even hurt you. Sometimes when we use too much of our talent, it can be in the way of ourselves or others.
When you start your day with your talents and strengths in mind and apply them with positive intention you will begin to strengthen them.
Just like any language, if you don’t use it, you lose it. Learning your strengths and talents can change your life and can change the culture in your workplaces, and personal relationships. Learn what your talents are, embrace them and own them, discover how to apply them and practice them everyday.
