TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Jan 6, 2014) - BMO has some of the leading personal finance and retirement planning experts in the country. They are available throughout December, January and February to provide insight and commentary on a wide variety of topics, including:

  • What is on the minds of investors this RRSP season?

  • Retirement planning and building a solid retirement strategy.

  • Insulating your investment portfolio against market volatility.

  • Canada's Boomers account for close to one-third of the population and are retiring in increasing numbers. Are they prepared? What are their biggest concerns with regards to retiring?

  • How can young families save for retirement while balancing competing priorities?

  • Investment and tax strategies for all ages and income levels.

  • How can tax refunds generated from RRSPs help pay down debt?

  • Where should Canadians put their money? Making sense of options such as: RRSPs, RESPs, RDSPs, TFSAs, etc.

  • Strategies for balancing risk within a retirement portfolio.

  • The importance of having a financial plan to achieve short, medium and long-term goals.

  • What are the benefits of a spousal RRSP?

  • Types of investments that can be held within an RRSP, including ETFs and mutual funds.

  • Is using the sale of a home or business a solid retirement plan?

  • Retirement strategies and succession planning for business owners.

Dr. Amy D'Aprix
Life Transition Expert
BMO Financial Group

Amy is a gerontologist and social worker who began working with caregivers and seniors just 30 years ago. She leads BMO's Take Charge of Your Retirement, Women and Money and Creating Good Will workshops across Canada and works with people to explore the social aspects of retirement and how they link with the financial implications.

Areas of expertise:

  • Finding purpose and meaning in retirement
  • Essential conversations to have with your partner or family
  • Preparing for unexpected life events
  • Caring for ageing parents
  • Importance of having choice, flexibility and control in retirement
Chris Buttigieg
Senior Manager, Wealth Planning Strategy
BMO Financial Group

Specializing in retirement planning for more than 15 years, Chris is a thought leader within the BMO Wealth Institute. He brings together the latest financial and retirement research and delivers leading-edge wealth products, tools and services to help Canadians better plan for retirement.

Areas of expertise:

  • Retirement planning for all Canadians at every life stage
  • RRSP vs. TFSA: which is right for you?
  • Retirement saving strategies
  • Retirement income strategies
Caroline Dabu
Vice President and Head, BMO Wealth Planning Group
BMO Financial Group

Caroline Dabu is Head of Enterprise Wealth Planning at BMO Financial Group. In this role she leads a team of planning professionals who provide wealth planning services and solutions to all of the bank's customers. Since 2008, Caroline has been focused on establishing BMO's expertise around retirement and financial planning.

Areas of expertise:

  • Consumer trends and issues relating to retirement and financial planning
  • Key planning challenges for advisors and planners
  • How to plan for all aspects of retirement and building a retirement strategy
  • Setting realistic goals and expenses in retirement
  • Impact of being single in retirement
  • Divergent paths - how men and women approach retirement differently
  • The importance of having a financial plan
Robert Armstrong
Vice President, Managed Solutions and Registered Plans Strategy
BMO Asset Management Inc.

Robert has more than fifteen years of experience in the investment industry. He specializes in investment selections and portfolio diversification strategies.

Areas of expertise:

  • Aligning one's risk profile, life stage and investments
  • Investment strategies for Canadians
  • Mutual funds and ETFs and the role they play in an RRSP
John Waters
Vice President, Head of Tax & Estate Planning
Wealth Planning Group, BMO Nesbitt Burns

John is responsible for providing tax planning support and information for individuals, families and businesses.

Areas of expertise:

  • Personal and retirement tax strategies
  • How investments are taxed
  • Tax planning and eligible dividend rules
  • Wide range of retirement issues related to the taxation of individuals, corporations, trusts and partnerships