No matter how your academic career ends, there comes a point when you join the workforce and (hopefully) start earning a regular paycheque. Earning income means you have the privilege of paying income tax. It may not be your first thought, but tax planning is an important part of a financial plan.

There are many different types of tax preparers but one of the most trusted is mom and dad. Many younger Canadians rely on parents to help them file their first tax returns, but there does come a time when you need to take control of your tax return and learn how to prepare it yourself.

This summer I am de-cluttering our home so we can put it up for sale. As I sit on the floor, dividing stuff into keep, ditch and give away, I realize that I need to do the same with my business -- only the options are stop, start and continue. It is all-too-easy to get locked into doing things the same way, without really asking yourself why or whether that information is still relevant. Here's some of the questions I have been asking myself.