9th LINE KITE FESTIVAL

Photos of the 2011 Toronto Windfest Courtesy of Event organizer Dave Meslin

September 18th & 19th from Noon -5pm Just outside of Markdale, ON www.9thline.ca

Are you looking for something to do this September?

Are you feeling the itch to head out of the city and head to a truly unique event out in the country?

The 9th Line Kite Festival is happening on September 18th & 19th in the heart of beautiful Grey County. This magical event will include kites of all shapes, sizes and colours, including some of the largest kites in the country!

You can bring your own kite, or just come to watch, either way this event is completely FREE to attend. The event is from noon until 5pm both days.

A scenic 2-hour country drive from Long Branch. Don't forget to check out the quaint towns of Flesherton, Markdale, Kimberley & Eugenia along the way!

For more information check out their website 9thline.ca

Planning for your children’s future? Get a head start with a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). RESP’s are designed to help you plan early and invest in your child’s education tax-free.

Here are just some of the ways setting up an RESP account when your child is young can benefit you and your family:

The government also contributes

Trying to save for your child’s post-secondary education can be daunting, especially as tuition rates in Canada continue to rise. When you open an RESP, you are immediately given a boost on your investment through the Canada Education Savings Grant. This federal government program will automatically contribute a grant of 20% — which is an extra $500 on your maximum contribution of $2,500 per year. Lower-income households are given an additional grant through the Canada Learning Bond, which contributes up to $2,000 per eligible child.

Your savings are tax-free

RESP is considered a tax-advance account, which allows Canadians to receive tax breaks while saving for higher education. RESP savings allow for tax-free growth of your investment earnings for however long you decide to stay within the savings plan, allowing your savings to grow faster. However, an RESP becomes taxable once the money is withdrawn and used. Once your child enrolls in a post-secondary institution, the money accrued from the RESP will be processed through educational assistance payments (EAP). This program allows the RESP to be shifted from the contributor to the beneficiary. Taxes will then be based on the student’s income, rather than the parents’, which can result in them paying very little if nothing at all.

It offers flexibility

You can choose a variety of investment options in an RESP depending on your risk level, including mutual funds and GICs. RESP accounts can remain open for up to 36 years, should your child choose to delay their post-secondary education. Family plans also allow contributors to designate several children as beneficiaries and the ability to reallocate funds to another account like an RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan). It is important to note that should your RESP be withdrawn to another account, it will be considered taxable and may face additional penalties.

A Registered Education Savings Plan is a practical way to contribute to your child’s education and positively impact their financial future. At Moya Financial, our RESP accounts are designed to maximize your savings and help you achieve your financial goals. To learn more about starting an RESP, contact us today!

This article is not intended to provide financial or financial planning advice, please call or email Moya Financial and they will be more than happy to chat with you!

MOYA FINANCIAL

747 Brown’s Line, Toronto, ON M8W 3V7 Call: 416.255.1742 Email: main@moyafinancial.ca

HOW ITEX BARTER CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS & YOUR LIFE

Yes, it’s true. The concept of bartering has never been more valuable and the trend is growing. The largest barter company in Canada, ITEX, has its head office in Etobicoke. What is a well-known, 1-on-1 practice in theory now operates within a modern, sophisticated network of people who use barter credits known as ITEX dollars as a means to conduct transactions without the use of traditional currency, but instead leverage idle stock, capacity in schedules, empty tables and hotel rooms, and more. Let’s answers some questions so we can see if it’s good for your business.

Q: HOW DOES THE ITEX MARKETPLACE WORK?

A: Member businesses buy and sell products and services with one another utilizing the unique medium of the ITEX dollar, instead of cash. You can buy from, and sell to, any of our thousands of member businesses here in Toronto, Ontario, across Canada and even across the US. The top ITEX office in North America is the head office for Canada, here in Etobicoke.

Q: HOW WILL ITEX BARTER EXCHANGE HELP MY BUSINESS?

A: ITEX members enjoy many benefits, but here are the 3 primary benefits: 1. New business/sales opportunities to new customers that otherwise don’t currently exist. 2. Conservation of valuable cash flow by using ITEX dollars instead of cash to buy products and services needed from other members of the ITEX Marketplace. 3. Increased buying power, trade against the cost of your goods and services buy buying other goods and services at a tremendously discounted rate with ITEX dollars.

Q: HOW DO I REGISTER WITH ITEX?

A: Simply “Sign Up” on itex.com. There are association fees and a nominal transaction fee of 6%. A local ITEX broker will contact you to get you started. As part of the online registration process, you will be prompted to enter contact information and a description of your business.

Q: WHAT BUSINESSES IN THE ETOBICOKE AREA ARE ON ITEX NOW?

Here are just a few examples: Branding Centres, Office146, Classic Tan, Dariva Jewellery, FP Dry Cleaning, Ford Performance Centre, Para-Mass, Osmow’s Restaurant, Total Tint, Mottacom, The Pod Plant, Evanov Radio Group, and many more!