IS YOUR BALANCED PORTFOLIO TRULY BALANCED?

Recently, we have seen a lot of so-called “balanced portfolios” from prospective investors with one of two concerns.  Either they have a typical 40%-50% weighting in bonds that earns meagre returns, or in search of higher returns, they have 70%-80% of the portfolio invested in equities. It’s rare to see a cash weighting above 5%. For different reasons, these strategies represent more risk than many people realize or are comfortable with.

These risk and return factors are why we think the industry standard model of a “balanced portfolio” of 60% equities/40% bonds is broken. You’re forced to choose between low returns or high risk and it’s a no-win solution for investors wanting a balanced approached. Here’s why and what you can do about it:

Exempt Markets Help Avoid 4 Costly Investing Mistakes

Here is a great educational video on how the exempt markets can help you avoid some fairly common investment mistakes. The first one the 60/40 stock/bond split is the most common with investors in bank mutual funds. 

Investing in Private Markets (Exempt Market)

This video discusses some of the differences between investing in Private Markets vs Public Markets. It aims at educating investors on what the Private Markets are, and why they are important to your long term wealth plan.

Happy New Year

As the holiday season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and those who have helped to shape our business.

It's been quite a year for us all!

We hope that 2016 has been just as memorable for you, your colleagues and your loved ones.

We look forward to working with you in the years to come.

Accountants are you hungry for CPE Credits?

If you're hungry for 15 hours of CPE Credits, I'm serving up one more live course of Profit Mastery before we move to Vernon. Contact me today about the January workshops details and join business owners while they learn how to communicate with you more effectively.

The key financial management concepts taught in Profit Mastery can be the cornerstone of the consultation side of your practice, providing you and your clients with a common language when discussing their business. 

"Dynamite presentation; as a CPA I attend many seminars each year for professional education; Profit Mastery is one of the few that provides value to my practice and my clients." - Charles Mattern, CPA

Profit Mastery Workshop Series starting January 19th for Business Owners

In our hands-on workshops you'll learn to understand your financials, learn how to manage your business to increase profitability, and strengthen your relationship with your lender. Discover how to actively manage YOUR business and accomplish YOUR goals.

Alongside other business owners and managers, you will analyze real-world business problems and uncover how to:

Overcome common business problems
Understand your financial position
Use tools to take active control of your finances
Make effective pricing decisions
Evaluate and manage cost patterns
Make your business bankable
Avoid cash crunches

This 4 part workshop starts Thursday, January 19, 2017 , contact me for complete details. 

Merry Christmas

At the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. 

It is in this spirit we say ...  thank you and best wishes for the holidays  and a happy new year

What do you know about Private Equity

As an ex-banker and mutual fund rep. I bought into the belief that bank mutual fund products were a safe place to build my wealth. I think like many of you, I chose to put my faith in banks. 

I have recently been introduced to the private equity markets and its opened my eyes to the compelling case for each of us to learn more about the exempt markets. Here are some highlights:

The factors that drive returns in public equity markets have little or no impact on private equity, by following the smart money one can enhance your asset diversification and reduce the volatility that sees portfolios spike wildly in both directions. 

Private ownership enables long-term strategic focus as opposed to the public market's focus on quarterly earnings. This “patient” perspective has the potential to generate significant return on investment.

As a whole, private equity has exhibited attractive performance on both a risk-adjusted and an absolute basis.

Innovation Village - a Community of Care

INNOVATION VILLAGE – WestStone’s current design is to create three distinct develop-able parcels with the two western parcels accommodating two 6-storey wood frame buildings totaling approximately 220,000 square feet ideally destined for senior’s independent living or dedicated rental buildings.  Given the exceptional location, on the doorstep of Surrey Health Campus, it can be expected that demand will be high.

If your tired of the volatility of the stock market and looking for a real estate investment with great long term returns look no further than Innovation Village. I invite you to an exclusive wine and cheese mixer to find out more about the investment opportunity for a new care model that allows seniors to age together even with different levels of care. 

Contact me for your e-book on this project and invitation to the next investor presentation. 

We're moving to Kelowna

Yes Folks, the rumours are true Jennifer and I are planning on moving to the Okanagan Valley. 

I've loved living and working in the Coquitlam Area for almost 22 years. Its been my pleasure to serve on the board of the local Chamber of Commerce, Access Youth Outreach Services Society and Community Venture Society.  

We've both decided its time for a change in lifestyle and look forward to reestablishing our business somewhere in the Kelowna - Vernon corridor. 

We'd welcome any business contacts you'd like to share. 

7 Steps To Selling Your Small Business

Selling a small business is a complex venture that involves several considerations. It can require that you enlist a broker, business financial planner and an lawyer as you proceed. Whether you profit will depend on the reason for the sale, the timing of the sale, the strength of the business's operation and its structure. The business sale will also require much of your time and, once the business is sold, you'll need to determine some smart ways to handle the profit. Reviewing these seven considerations can help you build a solid plan and make negotiations a success.

The attached article recommends speaking with a financial professionals.I work with brokers, transition specialists, financial planners, tax experts and legal experts. Contact me about your situation and I would be happy to refer you to the right person to help make your succession more successful.

Imagine… Increasing Your Business Profits, Easily

Imagine if you could automatically and securely analyze your monthly financial statements to learn where your Profit and Cash Flow opportunities lie – and how to act on those opportunities?!

Recognizing the challenges and the many hours needed to calculate all the metrics Financial Soft, in cooperation with Profit Mastery, has built Profit Gap to do the math for you.

See more including sample Profit Gap reports attached. We offer a 30 Day Free Trial and 30 Minute Consult. Providing you with valuable insight into the opportunities to profit in your business. 

Financial Management Workshop for Small Business Owners

Do you own your own family based business?
Do you wonder if you’re as profitable as your competitors?
Are you concerned about running into cash flow shortfalls?
Worried about making payroll or reimbursing vendors?
Does you have stale inventory got you grinding your teeth?
Do you wonder about how much money you'll need to grow your company?
Do you have challenges in getting what you need from lenders?


If you said YES to any or all of the above, you are not going to want to miss this workshop weekend by Tom Lewis from Profit Mastery!

Join us at our Profit Mastery workshop & you'll learn to understand your financials, learn how to manage your business to increase profitability, and strengthen your relationship with your lender. Discover how to actively manage YOUR business and accomplish YOUR goals.

Alongside other business owners and managers, you will analyze real-world business problems and uncover how to:

Overcome common business problems
Understand your financial position
Use tools to take active control of your finances
Make effective pricing decisions
Evaluate and manage cost patterns
Make your business bankable
Avoid cash crunches
Plan for transition
Strengthen your lender relationship

Location: Garage Door Depot Head Office
Time: June 25th & 26th from 9 to 5:30 both days
Investment: $970 goto www.profitmastery.ca to register on line or Call Tom Lewis @ 778-846-1554 make sure Profit Mastery is a good fit for your company.

Wedding Just Around the Corner

That's right folks; it’s too late to run.

My wedding to Jennifer Windsor is quickly approaching. We have things organized but it still seems surreal . We took some time of last week to relax and enjoy some alone time.

The next 6 weeks are going to pass with family arriving from all over BC and California. Photo shoots, flowers to select, finalize menus, music and more.

5 Tips to Getting Small Business Financing

It’s no secret that small businesses can have a hard time getting financing. So before you approach lenders, make sure you ask yourself:

Am I bankable?

Am I Prepared?

How can I maximize my chances of getting credit approval?

Here are five simple things you can do to up the odds of getting your funding approved.

Achieving Life's Goals

It's been 6 years but the memories of this trip remind me how fortunate I've been to be able to achieve some incredible goals. Acsending to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro was an amazing experience which took planning, training and required a ton of support from a whole bunch of friends and followers.

As I approach my 2nd wedding, I'm finding that its taking an equal amount of planning and preparation. I'm excited about the possibilities of growing my relationship with Jennifer which has already been an adventure.  I've come to realize that this journey is just beginning with plenty of hard work ahead. Like my past trek this one will have peaks and valleys, excitements and challenges but most of all a labour of love, 

Take Me Out To The Ball Game?

You may not know, but I have played Slo-Pitch since I was 21 and still play in a South Memorial Men's Slo-Pitch League in Vancouver. The league caters to experienced players, many of whom are past provincial champs and how have travelled to National Championship accross Canada. We have a great time playing the game we love and in one of the most beautiful little ball parks in the Metro Vancouver area. 

So, if you're 40ish or 50ish and looking to continue playing Slo-Pitch in a fun and semi-competitive league during the week or weekends. We have teams looking for players and new teams are welcome. Field facilities include club house, kitchen and bar. How does it get any better?

Tom's Business Resource Centre

I've created this list of resources primarily for start-up entreprenuers,  those who are looking for resources to help them find financing or information helpful to financial planning within a family run business.

Small business and start-up tools

How to get inside a lenders head

Business start-up checklist 

Are You Ready to Start a Business?

Small Business Financing Programs

The Canada Small Business Loans Program

Women’s Enterprise Initiative

Small Business Loans for Women from the Women’s Enterprise Centre

Futurpreneur (funding and mentoring for young Entrepreneurs)

Futurpreneur Website

Government Grants

Canada BC Job Grant Video & Information

Industry Canada Benchmarking 

What is the SME Benchmarking Tool?

Find Your NAICS Code

Create Your Benchmark Report

Profit Mastery Planning Tools

Ratio Analysis Scorecard

Business Financial Road Map Analysis

Cash Budget and Cash Flow Worksheet

Financial Gap Calculation Worksheet

Alternative Business Coaching and Training

The Big Picture for Small Business

How to Create a Formal Purchasing Program

If your looking for more resources or advise, please email us at training@profitmastery.ca

Shopping for the Perfect Tux

Here we are with Jennifer's two sons Griffin and Raleigh. They're in town for spring-break so with our wedding quickly approaching, we needed to turn these two strapping young lads into sharp dressed men. Like any good shopping trip, we were in and out of the Tux Store in less than 30 minutes. Perfect!

Fun over Spring Break

Well, its was Spring Break so, Jennifer and I were off to Grand Forks to pick up her 2 sons Raleigh and Griffin. We get them for just the 2 weeks so we like to pack in as much entertainment as we can. 

We took full advantage of the journey to Grand Forks, as an opportunity for some adult relaxation, spending a night at  the Harrison Hot Springs  Resort and then the next night at the Mk'mip Resort in Osoyos. We enjoyed the Winery & then stopped for breakfast at the Copper Eagle Cappuccino & Bakery in Greenwood, a must stop if you're headed for the Kootenays. 

We collected the boys then headed home in a terential downpour of epic porportions, 

In the first week, both boys were sick with cold & flu but we still managed some fun, visiting Granville Island Public Market, shooting each other at Planet Lazer and looing at cool old planes at Canadian Museum of Flight.They also had to see the latest episode of Star Wars.

We had a great day yesterday at the International Auto Sow and then capped it off with an evening at the cinema watching Batman vs Superman with Jennifer Cramer Windsor, Raleigh Windsor and Griffin Windsor.

How Prepared Should Business Owners be When Applying for Bank Funding?

For every business owner who comes in with a plan and quality financial statements, there are many more who come in with a few figures scratched out on the back of an old envelope or with inaccurate financial statements. If you were a banker, which owner would you rather work with? If it was your money in the bank, which one would you rather he or she lend it to? 

Here’s a list of what you should supply at a minimum:

If you need more help contact me for a complimentary consultation.

April 4, 2016 Event - How to Grow Your Business without Blowing It Up?

How to Grow Your Business without Blowing It Up

This is an invitation for entrepreneurs who are poised for a growth phase in their family run business, thinking of acquiring property, expanding existing premises or looking at exciting new sales opportunity.

• Why as my sales go up does my cash go down?
• How can better cash flow management help me grow?
• How much money do I need to borrow to fund the growth of my company?
• Where will I get the money from?

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION

Come and join us on Tuesday evening and learn from Tom Lewis how strategically plan for the growth of your company.

We’re going to review a case study in which you must decide on 1 of 2 scenarios for a growing business. We’ll walk you through the process of ...see more.

Small Business Financing - How to Get it.

Profit Mastery Fiscal Fitness Checklist

It’s no secret that small businesses can have a hard time getting financing. So before you approach lenders, make sure you ask yourself:
1. Am I bankable?
2. Am I Prepared?
3. How can I maximize my chances of getting credit approval?

Here are 5 simple things you can do to up the odds of getting your funding approved.

1. Demonstrate that your business generates steady cash flow.
Planning, some insider knowledge and managing your business as efficiently as possible and being able to demonstrate your numbers know-how and your management ability are keys in that first meeting. Read the....Full Article

Finding Romance at the Arts Club Theatre

Arts Club Theatre Company's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE - Interview with director Sarah Rodgers Video

If your a fan of  Jane Austen's beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice you'll love the Stanley Theatre Company's adaptation of this timeless romantic comedy.

Jennifer and I both loved drama and humour throughout... above is a clip from the cast and crew of Pride and Prejudice.