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As a Financial Advisor, I often get asked variations of the following questions: When can I retire? How much do I need to save for retirement? What is my magic number?   Although I deal with these questions regularly, there is no simple answer. Instead, my role as a Financial Advisor is to help guide my clients through all the potential variables and build a plan that focuses on their specific goals. A holistic planning approach will look at your values and goals and take into consideration both qualitative and quantitative measures. Some of the initial questions I approach clients with include:   When would you like to retire?   Having a time in mind will allow your Financial Advisor to implement realistic savings strategies. If you are looking to retire at 55, then you will need to take a more aggressive savings approach or be willing to minimize your expenses in retirement. If you plan to retire at age 65 or 70, we can likely take a more balanced approach to savings. For a married couple, does retirement happen at the same time? Do you wait until your children are out of high school?   Where will you live in retirement? Housing can play a major factor in your retirement plan. Do you plan to stay in your current house forever? Will you need to do any renovations in retirement? Will you need to downsize from a two-storey house to a bungalow? Is it realistic to expect an influx of cash when you downsize or will the value of the homes be similar. Are you currently renting and would you like to continue renting in retirement? What about a cottage or travel?   What government pensions will you have? Are you currently earning a salary and paying into the Canada Pension Plan? Are you on track to get the maximum CPP or only a portion of it? For 2025, the maximum monthly CPP payment for a 65-year-old is $1,433. Is this realistic based on your situation? The average 65-year-old only receives $899.67 monthly in CPP. By logging into your My Service Canada account, you can see your statement of contributions and pull your CPP pension amount estimate.   Another source of income to consider is your Old Age Security (OAS). Have you lived in Canada your entire life? Do you know that Old Age Security is considered a social benefit, the government provides this payment for low- and middle-income Canadians. If your net income exceeds $90,997, you will start to see a portion of the OAS clawed back and when your net income exceeds $148,451, you will lose your entire OAS for the year.   Do you have a workplace pension plan, group RRSP or personal investments? In the past many employers provided their employees with the benefit of a defined benefit pension plan. A defined benefit pension plan provides a scheduled monthly payment in retirement based on your age, income, and the number of years you worked. As defined benefit pension plans can be very costly and hard to manage for an employer, many employers have switched to defined contribution pension plan (DCPP). With a DCPP there is a set contribution by both the employee and the employer, and the monthly payment in retirement is based on investment returns and not guaranteed. Is your workplace pension enough to support you in retirement? Is it a fully funded plan or is it at risk of being reduced? For those without a pension plan, are you contributing to a group registered retirement savings plan or a personal registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) or a tax-free savings account (TFSA)?   What debts will you have in retirement? What debts are you currently carrying and will they be paid off before you enter retirement? Going into retirement with a balance on your mortgage or with credit card debt can significantly impact your ability to fund your day-to-day retirement expenses. If your retirement is in 17 years, but you have 20 years left on your mortgage, what strategies can you implement to have it paid off before retirement?   These five main questions can help kick start the financial planning process. There are so many more variables to consider and bring together to build your unique plan. Do not be afraid of the process, sit with your Financial Advisor and work through the questions, identify your goals and begin implementing strategies for retirement. There is no cookie-cutter approach to retirement planning. No simple calculation. Every individual and every family is unique.   Let the Financial Advisors at O’Farrell Wealth and Estate Planning of Assante Capital Management Ltd. build your plan. Book a complimentary meeting today.   Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/payment-amounts.html Sarah Chisholm is a Financial Advisor with Assante Capital Management Ltd. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Assante Capital Management Ltd. Please contact her at 613-774-2456 or visit ofarrellwealth.com to discuss your particular circumstances prior to acting on the information above. Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. Insurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc.

The month of March witnessed continued caution by investors ahead of the much-awaited White House announcements on reciprocal tariffs on April 2nd, 2025. The confrontational posturing of the Trump administration towards United States’ trading partners had investors braced for some form of an adverse outcome. Taking cues from the announced objectives of the White House on trade imbalances, investors tried to gauge and discount the extent and magnitude of the tariffs and re-priced risk assets. The S&P 500 Index was down by ~-5.75% and the S&P TSX was down by ~-1.87% during March. The expectation among market participants was that the Trump administration team is working in the background to analyze the tariff and non-tariff barriers of its trading partners (an arduous task), which gave an appearance that the reciprocal tariff policy would be based on sound economic reasoning. Market participants also held on to hopes that lifting the uncertainty could support the markets after the sell-off. To their surprise, the scope and extent of tariffs announced were much larger-than-expected and were based on a simple mathematical formula with questionable logic.  In response to the reality of what these tariffs would imply for corporate profit margins, inflation, and global economic activity, the global markets sell-off accelerated immediately after the announcements. In our previous update, we alluded that for the probability of the market outlook to improve from here, either the Trump administration must capitulate as the adverse market reaction builds pressure and/or the opposition finds its footing and stages a push bask. As of this writing, markets are rallying as the United States President has announced a pause on the tariffs for 90 days on countries willing to negotiate. He also announced a hike of tariffs to 125% on China as it refused to negotiate. We think the adverse market reaction immediately after the announcement of tariffs, or in other words, a severe push back from Mr. Market on the reciprocal tariff policy had the administration thinking about the policy even though they maintained their tough posturing. The recent turbulence in the bond markets after the 10-year yield jumped by ~+60 basis points within a few days (see figure 1) causing industry participants to speculate if any event of substantial stress in the fixed income markets is near. Further, increasing news flow of countries gravitating towards China had made it clear that the actions of the Trump administration could ‘Make China Strong Again’ rather than America. Figure 1: US 10-yr yield jumped up sharply after reciprocal tariffs announcement Source: Bloomberg We think the above factors contributed to an announcement of a pause on Trump’s tariff policy. However, since the tariffs are paused for 90-days and have not been rolled back; and a minimum of 10% tariff is still applicable, we think the case for inflation to increase in the future remains in place. Furthermore, tensions with China will stay elevated. The first-quarter earnings season could shed light on the impact of the uncertain environment on the earnings outlook and could again weigh on the sentiment. We think the case to keep a defensive tilt in portfolios is intact for now.   Vipul Arora is a Portfolio Manager with Assante Capital Management Ltd. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Assante Capital Management Ltd. Please contact him at 613-258-1997 or visit ofarrellwealth.com  to discuss your particular circumstances prior to acting on the information above. Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. Insurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc.

We try to teach our kids to be resilient, to know right from wrong, to stand up for themselves, to be polite and to work hard. Some of us teach our kids about money and finances. How can we ensure that once they are on their own that they will have all the advice that they need to live independently and be financially responsible? I often get asked by clients if I can work with their children. Sometimes because the parents don’t have the knowledge, but more often because much of what kids need to know isn’t taught in schools today. Often, advice from a third party is generally better accepted by youth.  I enjoy collaborating with young clients. I have two children who are just starting out in life, and I see how important it is that they have a good financial foundation. There are many types of accounts today that historically did not exist, and each one has its own set of contribution and withdrawal rules. Navigating these accounts, along with the tax implications of these accounts, shows how vital financial advice is at all stages in life. Financial Advisors can give the right advice and help you plan to ensure your money is working effectively for you as a young person. Aside from the types of accounts and investments, here is a little advice I give all young people on what I call “Money Skills for Youth”. Save Regularly - getting into a habit of saving regularly early on in life will ensure that you have the things you want now, as well as later. Start a Budget – understand your cash flow – income and expenses. The Power of Compound Interest and the Rule of 72! If you start saving at 15 and you earn 8% you need to invest approximately $125 a month to have $1Million at age 65. 72 divided by the interest rate is the number of years it will take you to double your money. Debt – never borrow to buy what you cannot pay off or you cannot resell. Diversification - when you are getting started with investing understand your risk tolerance, time horizon, and choose a diversified portfolio to reduce risk. If you are young and looking for advice or have children getting started with a savings plan, reach out to your Financial Advisor who can help to produce the right plan. A good plan always starts with good advice.   Cynthia Batchelor is a Financial Advisor with Assante Capital Management Ltd. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Assante Capital Management Ltd. Please contact her at 613-935-6254 or visit ofarrellwealth.com to discuss your particular circumstances prior to acting on the information above. Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. Insurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate and Insurance Services Inc.

O'Farrell has been in business for over 25 years, providing wealth and estate planning services to clients throughout Eastern Ontario. HOME SERVICES ADVANTAGE COMMUNITY RESOURCES ABOUT US More CONNECT WITH US Our Team We are proud of our dedicated Team members who provide top-tier services with professionalism every day. Our Team Meet the experienced professionals of the O'Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning Team. Matthew Felker, EPC Financial Advisor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Daren Givoque, CDFA Financial Advisor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Allison Martin Financial Advisor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Kieran Beavis Investment Funds Associate Assante Capital Management Ltd. Brenda Mayhew Administrative Associate to Cynthia Batchelor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Scott Prince Investment Funds Associate Assante Capital Management Ltd. Keeley Patterson, CFP® Financial Advisor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Vipul Arora, CFA Portfolio Manager Assante Capital Management Ltd. Peggy Mathieson Financial Advisor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Taylor Connell Administrative Associate to Peggy Mathieson Assante Capital Management Ltd. Jenna Piché Administrative Associate to Daren Givoque & Cole Seabrook Assante Capital Management Ltd. Hugh O'Neill Insurance Advisor Assante Estate & Insurance Services Inc. Sarah Chisholm Financial Advisor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Cole Seabrook Financial Advisor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Connie Heffernan Administrative Associate to Keeley Patterson Assante Capital Management Ltd. Jennifer Shaddick Administrative Associate to Sarah Chisholm & Hugh O'Neill Assante Capital Management Ltd. Cynthia Batchelor Financial Advisor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Andrew Goetz Financial Advisor Assante Capital Management Ltd. Bonnie Wilson Insurance Advisor Assante Estate & Insurance Services Inc. Haley Hopkins Administrative Associate Assante Capital Management Ltd. Amanda Pratt Administrative Associate to Matthew Felker Assante Capital Management Ltd. The O'Farrell Story Most businesses have a story behind them, and O’Farrell is no different. In 1997, Dermid and Donna Lee O’Farrell founded the company with a belief that when relationships are strong, people will have the confidence to act on their plans. Recognizing that financial planning would be deeply valuable to the people in their community and surrounding area, they set out to build a company that would provide clients with an experience of quality advice, professional discipline, and compassion; something that their clients could believe in, something they can trust. From the beginning, the company has grown steadily each year and has proven that their belief was one that was shared by their clients. While it was not without its challenges and hardships, Dermid and Donna Lee put in the tough work that is required to build any meaningful business. Now, as the company celebrates its’ 28th year in business, they have attracted a Team that shares their commitment to relationship and their desire to help clients plan for their financial future. O'Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning We are regionally located across Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley to serve you. O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning 40 Brock Street, Brockville, ON 613.865.8080 O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning 108 Second Street East, Unit 103, Cornwall, ON 613.935.6254 O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning 292 County Road 44, Kemptville, ON 613.258.1997 O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning 1035 O’Brien Road, Unit 14, Renfrew, ON 343.361.0212 O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning 510 St. Lawrence Street, P.O. Box 518, Winchester, ON 613.774.2456 O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning 613.258.1997 Toll-free: 877.989.1997 Fax: 613.774.0371 Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM ofarrell@assante.com We have five locations in Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley to serve you. By providing your email address, you provide O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning with your express consent to receive Commercial Electronic Messages related to finances and/or investments that may be of interest to you. If you no longer want to receive emails of this nature, you can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting ofarrell@assante.com Name Phone Number City / Town Email Address Prefered Method of Contact Reason for Contacting Us Preferred Office Location Who would you like to connect with? SEND CONTACT REQUEST Thanks for submitting! Keeley & Connie are truly the ‘dynamic duo’. They are highly knowledgeable in their investment strategies, completely professional in their service and sensitive in explaining risk factors and recommending alternative investment options. Regular update meetings throughout the year provide that much needed level of comfort and confidence. Our move to O’Farrell has proven to be the right one and we recommend O’Farrell Financial to our family & friends. Anne & Robert Fraser Connect with a Team member today and get focused on your future. Contact the O’Farrell Team to start planning a growth strategy for your wealth that you can preserve and pass on. BOOK YOUR FINANCIAL ANALYSIS NOW Meet with an O'Farrell Advisor at one of our five office locations. Feel free to contact us toll-free: 1-877-989-1997 BROCKVILLE 613.865.8080 40 Brock Street, Brockville ON CORNWALL 613.935.6254 108 Second Street East Unit 103 Cornwall ON KEMPTVILLE 613.258.1997 292 County Road 44 Kemptville ON RENFREW 343.361.0212 1035 O'Brien Road Unit 14 Renfrew ON WINCHESTER 613.774.2456 510 St. Lawrence Street P.O. Box 518 Winchester ON Looking for information regarding employee benefits and group pension plans? Visit O’Farrell Financial Services EMPLOYEE BENEFITS & GROUP RRSP *Mortgage products and services are provided by Assante Capital Management Ltd. through its strategic partnership with Bank of Montreal. We collaborate with you and each other to deliver unbiased advice that meets your personal and business needs. Important Disclosures Assante Capital Management Ltd. (“ACM”) is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. Know Your Advisor: Advisor Report | Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (ciro.ca) Assante Financial Management Ltd. (“AFM”) is a member of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (“MFDA”) and MFDA Investor Protection Corporation. www.mfda.ca Stocks, bonds and mutual funds are provided through ACM. Mutual fund products are provided through AFM. Only those services offered through ACM are covered by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund, and only those services offered through AFM are covered by the MFDA Investor Protection Corporation. For more information please visit http://www.assante.com/legal or contact our office for clarification. To research the background, qualifications and disciplinary information on advisors at IIROC regulated firms please generate an IIROC Advisor Report. Employee benefits and pension consulting services, Mortgage lending services, and insurance products and services are provided through O’Farrell Financial Services Inc. (“OFSI”). OFSI is an independent company unrelated to ACM and AFM. For further Assante Wealth Management important legal and compliance disclosure, please visit www.assante.com/legal For more information on our privacy policy, please visit http://www.assante.com/privacy-policy www.cipf.ca https://www.ciro.ca © 2023 | All Rights Reserved

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Our Employee Benefits Division specializes in brokering the best possible solution for your business’ benefits needs. We work with the insurance carriers to build a customized plan at an affordable price. HOME SERVICES ADVANTAGE CARRIERS ABOUT US More CONNECT WITH US Carrier s Group plans are distributed through an insurance carrier. As brokers, we wor k with them to obtain the best plan for your unique business. Perks like Healthcare Benefits and Retirement Savings Plans keep your employees strong, healthy and secure, which is important for your business. Our Employee Benefits Division specializes in brokering the best possible solution for your business’ benefits needs. We work with the insurance carriers to build a customized plan at an affordable price. Insurance Carriers We Partner With Employee Member Log In Plan Administrator Log In Employee Member Log In Plan Administrator Log In Employee Member Log In Plan Administrator Log In Employee Member Log In Plan Administrator Log In Employee Member Log In Plan Administrator Log In Let us make the best plan for you and your employees a reality. Book a consultation today and discover how an employee compensation plan can enhance your business and the lives of your employees. REQUEST YOUR QUOTE NOW We are regionally located across Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley to serve you. Feel free to contact us toll-free: 1.877.989.1997 BROCKVILLE 613.865.8080 40 Brock Street Brockville ON CORNWALL 613.935.6254 108 Second Street East Unit 103 Cornwall ON KEMPTVILLE 613.258.1997 292 County Road 44 Kemptville ON RENFREW 343.361.0212 1035 O'Brien Road Unit 14 Renfrew ON WINCHESTER 613.774.2456 510 St. Lawrence Street P.O. Box 518 Winchester ON Looking for information regarding investments and wealth planning? Visit O’Farrell Wealth & Estate Planning. O'FARRELL WEALTH & ESTATE PLANNING © 2023 | All Rights Reserved We collaborate with you and each other to deliver unbiased advice that meets your personal and business needs. Investments and wealth planning are provided through Assante Capital Management Ltd. (“ACM”). Mutual fund products are provided through Assante Financial Management Ltd. (“AFM”). Employee benefits and pension consulting services, mortgage lending services, and insurance products and services are provided through O’Farrell Financial Services Inc. (“OFSI”). OFSI is an independent company unrelated to ACM and AFM. AFM, ACM, and/or its affiliates are not responsible for any service or product provided through O’Farrell Financial Services Inc. Assante Capital Management Ltd. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. Assante Financial Management Ltd. is a member of the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (“MFDA”) and MFDA Investor Protection Corporation (excluding Quebec).