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The ON Advantage


As a full-service wealth management team, we endeavour to always act as a trusted partner in each and every interaction with our clients, providing personalized financial advice and strategies to help preserve, grow, and effectively manage their wealth over the long term.

Our guiding principals:

  • Client goals are our top priority, and we prioritize those needs above all else.
  • Our focus is on providing well-founded advice, enabling clients to make profitable decisions, rather than selling investment products.
  • Our independence allows us to offer clients a multitude of investments or corporate solutions that are not tied to one brand.
  • As a licensed entity, we offer a comprehensive range of suitable investment options.
  • Our recommendations are carefully tailored, taking into account your objectives, preferences, and risk tolerance (refer to Working with You).

The ON Advantage of Experience


We have successfully managed our clients’ investments through all types of markets and many economic challenges. We both bring diverse financial expertise having been in the industry since the mid 1980’s.

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Orser Neuhaus & Associates works with private corporations and enterprises to take them public or secure private capital through Ventum or other suitable resources.

We can also help our clients with all their major financial decisions, recommending ways to save on taxes, helping them with retirement or succession planning, providing life insurance solutions* and advising on financial strategies that help them achieve their goals.

We know you have worked hard for what you have, so our first goal is to help you keep it.


Depending on your needs and wishes, we work with you to build wealth in your portfolio and reach other objectives, such as planning for retirement or financing a new project. Learn more about our wide-ranging and diverse services on our “Services” page.

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Our Services


With your investments and our expertise, together, we will go far. We provide services much like a family office – connecting accountants, attorneys and estate advisors.

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Our People


With many years of experience in all types of markets, our  team has successfully managed clients’ investments through boom times and adversity. 

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Working With Us


We build long-term relationships with each of our clients to be sure that our approach to managing investments is aligned with your needs and wishes.

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We know it can be hard to find the right wealth management firm. That is why we offer all new clients an in-depth consultation. 


We will talk about your portfolio, your goals and build the portofolio that meets your needs. 

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The ON Blog

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TIP: Download your 2023 Income Tax Reporting Guide here, and read our articles on taxes in our Blog section.

31 Oct, 2024
For many Canadian families, going to the cottage or cabin each summer is a time-honoured tradition. With real estate prices at all-time highs and property in high demand, planning for a property’s future succession has never been more important. Why Many of us have owned our cottages for a long time and want to keep them in the family for future generations. However, to do this effectively, careful planning is essential. Taxes Are Key One of the biggest problems is that a cottage property is often not considered the principal residence *for tax purposes and any transfer of ownership may result in substantial capital gains taxes. With real estate prices hitting record highs in many markets, cottage properties are no exception. Take, for example, a property with an adjusted cost base of $500,000 that may now be valued at $1million— such an increase in value would not be unusual in today’s markets. Half of the capital gain of $500,000 would potentially be subject to income tax. If you own the cottage when you die, your estate must pay this tax. **Will your estate be able to absorb this tax expense and still be able to look after your intended bequests without selling the property? Transferring ownership to your kids before death does not get around this tax liability since the tax rules say that only transfers to a spouse can be made tax free under the spousal rollover rules. This is not to say such a transfer before death should never be made. There may be a couple of advantages. First, subsequent increases in value will be a matter for the new owners. Second, probate fees, if any, maybe avoided on the value of the cottage. Other solutions involving trusts or other vehicles may also be of assistance. Insurance May Help Coming up with the estate funds to pay the taxes on a cottage transfer can be problematic. Insurance may be one solution. A policy with the death benefit equal to the expected tax bill can be away to fund the potential taxes. The proceeds are typically received tax free and not subject to probate fees (in applicable provinces). You might even arrange it so that the annual premium cost is paid by the eventual beneficiaries. Who Wants the Cottage? Of course, it should first be determined if your children actually want to keep the cottage in the family. Sometimes only one sibling may be interested. Some may not wish to have the obligations of upkeep, especially if they live too far away to use it. In addition, many family disputes can arise from joint ownership of a cottage. Who gets to use it during peak weeks? Who is responsible for cleaning or repairs To avoid such problems, planners often recommend that the cottage be sold on the open market or be left to one child with a provision made for other siblings to receive the equivalent value from the remaining assets of an estate. Seek Advice Passing along the cottage can be a complex matter. If you intend to minimize taxes and avoid family disputes, planning and forethought should be given instructuring the transfer. Needless to say, every family situation is different and it is important to assess your own case carefully. Don’t assume that your situation is not significant. Don’t assume that family will never fight over your assets. Do discuss your intentions and situation with all members of the family. Do seek advice from experienced estate planners and other professionals whom you trust. As we are familiar with your financial situation and investment objectives, we can point you in the right direction and work with professionals in the field. Please don’t hesitate to call for perspectives. *It may sometimes be advantageous to designate a cottage as the principal residence for some or all of the period of ownership if the gain is larger than on another residence. There may also be a mechanism to split the exemption and reduce the gain on both properties. Seek advice from a tax professional. **Except when the cottage is transferred under spousal rollover rules. Disclaimers Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections based on beliefs and assumptions made by author. These statements involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance or results and no assurance can be given that these estimates and expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or projected in such forward-looking statements. The opinions expressed in this report are the opinions of the author and readers should not assume they reflect the opinions or recommendations of Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. or its affiliates. Assumptions, opinions and estimates constitute the author’s judgment as of the date of this material and are subject to change without notice. We do not warrant the completeness or accuracy of this material, and it should not be relied upon as such. Before acting on any recommendation, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and, if necessary, seek professional advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. These estimates and expectations involve risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance or results and no assurance can be given that these estimates and expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or projected in such forward-looking statements. Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
22 Oct, 2024
Planning for the transition of wealth to your children and grandchildren doesn’t have to be a daunting task. It’s important to start discussing this now so you can understand the impact of tax on your estate assets and what steps you can take to plan for the future. Let’s consider some of the tax implications. Upon death, a person is deemed to dispose of all their assets at fair market value which can result in tax (excludes your principle residence). However, there is an exception for assets rolled to a spouse. Assets that pass through the estate before being distributed to your beneficiaries are subject to probate fees. As well, there could be will challenges and known or unknown creditors that could reduce the assets and impact of your estate goal. If you are concerned about the overall impact to your estate and objectives related to the disposition of your assets upon death, a life insurance policy with a named beneficiary can help alleviate many of those concerns. As well, investment assets can be transferred into an exempt life insurance policy and investment growth during your lifetime would not be subject to tax unless funds were withdrawn. This would allow capital to grow in a more effective manner and the insurance proceeds would add to the amount of capital available for your family. Did you know that insurance proceeds are not subject to income tax? In addition, by designating a beneficiary (other than the estate) of the policy, the proceeds pass outside of the estate and therefore are not subject to probate fees. Additional benefits of designating a beneficiary are creditor protection and the beneficiary designation cannot be disputed through a will challenge.  Please note that new rules, coming into effect January 1, 2017, will not offer the same savings as policies issued before 2017 would so it’s important to take action now. Source: Charts are sourced to https://www.thelinkbetween.ca/ The contents of this publication were researched, written and produced by The Link Between (https://www.thelinkbetween.ca/) and are used by Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. for information purposes only. Disclaimers Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. The opinions expressed in this report are the opinions of the author and readers should not assume they reflect the opinions or recommendations of Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. or its affiliates. Assumptions, opinions and estimates constitute the author's judgment as of the date of this material and are subject to change without notice. We do not warrant the completeness or accuracy of this material, and it should not be relied upon as such. Before acting on any recommendation, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and, if necessary, seek professional advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The comments contained herein are general in nature and are not intended to be, nor should be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular individual. Accordingly, individuals should consult their own legal or tax advisors for advice with respect to the tax consequences to them.
10 Oct, 2024
You’ve worked hard throughout your lifetime and this hard work has finally paid off. Perhaps you’ve accumulated assets beyond even those that you may need to enjoy a carefree and relaxed retirement that will eventually be passed on to your heirs. However, some of these assets can result in a tax liability upon your death, or on the death of your spouse. So, what are considered assets? Well, your assets can be divided into three main groups: Assets of a capital nature such as shares in public/private companies or a second home or vacation property. Assets that generally produce income on your death such as registered assets (RRSPs or RRIFs) or assets that are taxed as income such as interest bearing assets (GICs or money market funds). Assets that are either fully tax paid or do not attract tax upon death such as cash and TFSAs, a principal residence, as well as the tax-free proceeds from a life insurance policy. Most people want to keep these assets – their estate – intact in order to pass them on to their family, their loved ones. To do this, it’s important to understand the best way to fund this tax liability post death so that your assets can be passed down without obstacles. There are typically four options when it comes to providing the liquidity that you need to pay your taxes upon death; some of the advantages/disadvantages of these are: Liquidate your assets – business cycles and the state of the markets are critical when it comes to the value of an asset, but you have no way of knowing what this will be at your death. Additionally, the sale of your assets by your estate often signals to the purchaser that there is a degree of urgency, which does not help your estate realize the full value. Borrow funds – usually, this involves using assets as security, which can be a little risky. When it comes to estates, typically the main objective is to distribute the assets to the beneficiaries. Borrowing against the assets, which will likely require pledging them as security, makes this more difficult. Further, it is not possible to predict the market conditions at the time of death; financial institutions go through cycles, as do loan rates. Create a cash reserve – this will require you to save, save, save throughout your lifetime and is not necessarily the most practical option, since you do not know when death will occur and whether there will be ample cash available at that time. Purchase life insurance – this allows you to transfer the risk in advance and remove many of the risks associated with funding the tax liability upon death. The death benefit provides liquidity at exactly the time that you need it, and in Canada, is paid tax-free to your named beneficiary. When planning for your estate, it’s important to assess your current and future tax liabilities to determine the best solution for your situation, ensuring your estate remains intact and can be passed on to your loved ones. Source: Charts are sourced to https://www.thelinkbetween.ca/ The contents of this publication were researched, written and produced by The Link Between (https://www.thelinkbetween.ca/) and are used by Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. for information purposes only. Disclaimers Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. The opinions expressed in this report are the opinions of the author and readers should not assume they reflect the opinions or recommendations of Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. or its affiliates. Assumptions, opinions and estimates constitute the author's judgment as of the date of this material and are subject to change without notice. We do not warrant the completeness or accuracy of this material, and it should not be relied upon as such. Before acting on any recommendation, you should consider whether it is suitable for your particular circumstances and, if necessary, seek professional advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The comments contained herein are general in nature and are not intended to be, nor should be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular individual. Accordingly, individuals should consult their own legal or tax advisors for advice with respect to the tax consequences to them.

Ventum Financial


Orser Neuhaus & Associates operates within Ventum Financial, a leading independent, Canadian-owned and operated private client and capital markets firm. As part of an independent company, Orser Neuhaus & Associates offers unbiased and wide-ranging investment solutions tailored exclusively to meet our client’s needs.


Transparency and plain dealing are the hallmarks of our business. We take pride in getting to know our clients well and being open and direct in all our dealings. In addition, our clients may invest confidently, knowing that Ventum Financial. is a member of IIROC (Investment Industry Regulatory Organization) and CIPF (Canadian Investors Protection Fund).

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