When it comes to retirement planning, government pensions are something you will want put into your plans. In retirement your income comes from many sources and it becomes a little bit of a balancing act. With the help of a skilled financial advisor these can be juggled each year so that you do not pay excess taxes!

Financial tip...Is Cash Safe?

Parking a portion of your investment portfolio in cash or money market instruments for extended periods of time may mean you are sacrificing returns and potentially exposing yourself to another risk – the eroding effects of inflation.  Interest rates are at historical lows and they have not kept pace with the cost of living!  If your money is invested in anything under that cost, your money is losing its purchasing power.  You are guaranteeing yourself a negative rate of return on your investments that are invested like this.  So you tell me, are these investments safe then?  

Have your portfolio analyzed; make sure it is invested correctly for you and your goals.Take care of your wealth as you would your health, and I am your wealth doctor.Call today to book your no-obligation introductory meeting.You’ll be glad you did.
 

Find a Trusted Saskatoon financial expert.

Perfection Plumbing was founded in 1996 and is locally owned and operated. They are different than any other plumbing company in the area. In 2001 they became affiliated with a national plumbing association called Plumbers Success International. Through this affiliation, they are able to bring valuable products and services to clients that they cannot obtain from any other plumbing service company in the area.

Perfection Plumbing are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory

TRUSTED COMPANY: Perfection Plumbing 

Date: July 25, 2013 

MYSTERY SHOP CHECKLIST:

1. How was the greeting/ welcome/ call answered? Very pleasant and friendly.

2. If retail: Appearance of the store / staff and showroom? Did not go into their offices.

3. Product/industry knowledge of staff?  Very good - after taking one look he was able to get a good idea of what the problem was.

4. If a quote is required is the quote well laid out/ clear? After looking he asked if we could sit down somewhere to go over pricing.  He had a binder with set prices and explained what he was going to do, what it was going to cost and what my options were. 

5. Did they ask where you found them? Yes, they did.

6. Overall experience 1-10. 10

7. Would you return as a customer/ recommend them to close friends? Absolutely - no hesitation at all.

8. Did anyone stand out as exceptional? If so who? Why? I only spoke to the receptionist and dealt with the plumber that came to the house and both were very nice.  

9. If you made a purchase/booked a job how was the process?

If so refer to the Trusted Guarantees and give an overall mark on each if applicable. (on a 10 scale, 10 is high)

TRUSTED GUARANTEES

1. Provide the service and quality promised - 10

2. Complete the job on time - 10

3. Charge the price quoted with NO surprises - 10

4. Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs - 10

5. Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind - 10

Please share any other comments relating to your experience with the company.

The booking process was quick - she asked me on the phone where I had heard about them.  Was able to get us in in 2 days, gave us a time window in which they would be there and said she would try to see if they could come earlier (and they were able to come about an hour earlier).  He called before he came,  wore covers over his shoes and was clean, friendly and did not smell like smoke (huge deal for me). 

They have a customer loyalty program which he explained to me and then before I paid explained it all again to my husband on the phone. They called the next day to follow up on the appointment and service - I told her that it was one of first times I didn't feel hesitant about a trades person coming to my house and that I felt when he was done that he had actually fixed the problem (felt confident in that). 

My husband and I were so happy with the service that we purchased a lifetime membership for their loyalty program and will be Perfection Plumbing customers for life!

WHAT A GREAT MYSTERY SHOP!!! Yet again showing you deserve the Thumbs Up from www.TrustedSaskatoon.com! 

Find Perfection Plumbing on line here , on Facebook here - where they run  contests and offer more handy tips or go and check out their listing in Saskatoon Plumbing on the Saskatoon Directory to read what their many happy clients had to say to us!  

Great tip on contributing to your RRSPs without even thinking about it:

Do you contribute to your RRSP once a year, on or around March 1, and continue on the same course until the following spring? If so, you could be missing out on the potential for substantial, long-term compound growth by investing sooner within your Fidelity RRSP. 

Pre-authorized chequing lets you contribute early and often (and effortlessly) throughout the year rather than at the last minute. It can provide you up to 12 more months of compounding and tax-deferred growth.

As an Investment Professional, I continually work with my clients to assess their goals and design and carry out investment programs that work for them. This includes diversifying their investments, using a long-term perspective to maximize returns while reducing risk. It’s never too late, or too early, to begin planning for your retirement. I can help you assess your goals and will work with you to establish an investment program that’s specially designed for you.

I would be pleased to discuss your financial future and ways in which I can assist you in your long-term investment planning.

 Trusted Saskatoon financial expert.

Thinking of Purchasing a Smaller Home?   

 Moving into a smaller space does have its benefits, and there are a variety of reasons for downsizing your home, even if you're not retiring. Are you:

• An empty-nester and no longer need a large home?  
• Tired of the upkeep of a large house, both inside and out?  
• Wanting to reduce your living expenses?  
• Traveling more?  
• Ready to put your energies in creative projects, not housework?

   

Even though downsizing usually means leaving a home full of memories, a familiar neighborhood, and friends, it also helps you de-clutter and frees up your time by spending less time cleaning and maintaining your home, and having more time for other things. Another great benefit - smaller homes are less expensive to purchase, and less expensive to keep (mortgage, insurance, taxes, heating, cooling, electricity, etc.). There is also a wider market to sell a smaller, reasonably priced house to a larger percentage of the population than a more expensive, less affordable one. A great opportunity for those looking to build their equity and not yet ready to buy into a large home.

Looking to Move Out of the Renting Lifestyle?

If you are still living as a property renter and are thinking of purchasing your first home, one thing to take into consideration is the space you will actually need and how much you'll be able to afford.

Some things to start asking yourself before deciding on the type of property you want to buy:

• Do you have a growing family and require space for play and sleep?

   

• How long do you plan on living in your first home? 3 years? 5 years? Or are you looking for that forever home? Maybe you only need a starter home right now and don't want the hassle of cleaning the extra space you are not using.

   

• Are you looking for a place with a yard to finally move out of your condominium suite? Even if you don't have a family to accommodate in order to buy a home, owning your own living space can be very rewarding, especially when you have your own yard to entertain friends and family.

   

• Will you be able to afford the maintenance of your new home? As a homeowner, after all, you essentially are your own landlord. A pipe bursts in the middle of the night? Guess who’ll be up fixing it or calling (and paying) the plumber? (Hint: you.)

   

Whether you are buying a home to fit your growing family, or are looking to purchase something smaller to fit your own needs, chances are, you'll need a mortgage.  

What's the difference between good food and absolutely incredible dining? Fresh, quality ingredients, generous portions, imagination and creativity! From a simple catered lunch with gourmet sandwiches, to a Picknic Box for 2 for a romantic evening in, to a fabulously catered wedding or event, let Picknic's Catering and Fine Foods create something special for you!

PIckNics Catering & Fine Food is a TRUSTED SASKATOON CATERING EXPERT

PickNics Catering are known for their wedding cakes. 

TrustedSaskatoon.com Talk to the Experts – Trusted Weddings & Events Show - Questions for Nicola - PickNic's Catering and Fine Foods:  

Part 3:

Q: Courtney Mang: I know it is the bride and groom's day but food/courses are what I worry about. Not everyone has the same tastes so how do you select the right foods/courses?

A: Its always a good idea to have a few classic dishes mixed in with some slightly edgier options.  It pleases all types. Check out our menu online for a selection of both classic and modern dishes: http://34fresh.com/order/weddingcatering_online_order.htm 

Q: Sherah Mayer: Do you have vegan cakes and options?

A: We do!  We can make Vegan Vanilla, Red Velvet, Marble, Carrot or Chocolate Cake. We can prepare our buttercream with Vegan margarine and vegetable based shortenings. They can be flavoured in every flavour that our non-vegan icings are.  *Note: Due to the additional cost of some specialty ingredients, you overall cake price may be higher than the ballpark prices noted on our website.

For a proper estimate, Call us to schedule a Cake Consultation.306.343.7374! 

Q: Brenda Loehndorf-Johnson: What is a great menu for a smaller group such as a tailgate party!?

A: Check out our Party Platters and Appetizers menu – its suited for groups small and large! http://www.picknicsrestaurant.com/PDFmenus/SpecialtyCateringMenu.pdf  

Q: Kayla Camboia: I'm planning a surprise party 30th birthday party for a friend in November. I'm wondering what a good theme and location in Saskatoon would be?

A: Please visit our Facebook page for our list of event halls that allow outside caterers.  If you are having a smaller group size, perhaps consider a penthouse suite at a hotel, for a sophisticated feel.  

Q: Jacqueline Rybchinski: For catering how far in advance do recommend planning? This is for an event for approx 25 people for an entire weekend.

A: PickNic’s Catering does not cater on Sundays (as all of our staff have families), but in general, for a group of 25 People, 3-4 days notice is perfect. 

Q: Krysta Doerksen: How far in advance do you need to book churches, halls, services like you offer etc in order to get want you want for your big day? In Saskatoon, that is, not just in general.

A: 1 Year in advance is generally safe for catering.  If it is a high-interest date, like mid-July, plan a couple months more than one full year to ensure you get the venue and service providers you have your heart set on. Wedding Cakes – we recommend 6 months in advance.  If it is a quiet time of year, like November or March, we can often accommodate a request within a couple of months.

Find PickNic's Catering and Fine Foods at 210 33rd Street West or online here- or go to their listing in Saskatoon Catering & Bakeries to read all of the wonderful things her clients had to say about PickNics.