As we head into the BC Day long weekend, we hope you have an opportunity to enjoy some time with family and friends, and perhaps take in some of the beautiful places our province has to offer.

In this month's newsletter, we are sharing a selection of timely financial topics and resources that may be of interest to you and your family. From market developments and savings opportunities to TFSAs, insurance planning and an important family conversation, we hope you find this edition informative and helpful.

As always, we encourage you to explore the topics most relevant to you. If you have questions about anything covered in this edition or would like to discuss how a particular topic may relate to your own circumstances, your Macnaughton & Ward Account Manager and our team are here to help.

From all of us at Macnaughton & Ward Financial Services Ltd., we wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable BC Day long weekend!

In This Edition:

• Market Update Snapshot - August 2026

• Manulife Bank Advantage Account 3.00% Promotion

• Protecting Your Privacy

• How Homebuyers Can Save with Life Insurance Instead of Mortgage Insurance

• How to Avoid These 4 Common TFSA Mistakes

• How to Help Children Understand Death

• Your Questions Answered

Have a financial topic you would like us to cover? We welcome your suggestions for our September 2026 edition. Please Email Us. We appreciate your ideas and your continued support.

Market Update Snapshot

Financial markets have continued to demonstrate resilience while navigating a changing economic environment. In Canada, inflation has moderated from recent higher levels, and the Bank of Canada held its policy interest rate steady in July. At the same time, geopolitical tensions, higher energy prices, and ongoing trade uncertainty continue to influence investor sentiment and may contribute to periods of market volatility.

For long-term investors, particularly those approaching or enjoying retirement, periods of uncertainty are an important reminder to remain focused on the bigger picture. A well-diversified investment strategy, appropriate liquidity for upcoming income needs, and a financial plan aligned with your goals and time horizon can help provide perspective when markets fluctuate. Short-term market headlines may be a reason to review your plan, but not necessarily a reason to change a well-considered long-term strategy.

If your circumstances, retirement income needs, or financial goals have changed, we welcome the opportunity to review your plans with you.

For readers interested in a deeper perspective on current markets and the economic outlook, we've included this month's Market Outlook Library, featuring commentary from several leading investment managers.

Market Outlook Library

Interested in a deeper look at recent market developments?

This month's Market Outlook Library brings together commentary from several respected investment managers. While each offers its own perspective, they share a common theme: maintaining a disciplined, long-term investment approach despite changing market conditions.

Canada Life Investments
Q2 2026 Market Update
A review of second-quarter market activity, economic trends, and developments across major asset classes.
Read the Canada Life Commentary

Empire Life Investments
Semi-Annual Market Outlook Commentary
A broader review of economic and market conditions, including key themes that may influence investors during the remainder of 2026.
Read the Empire Life Commentary

Manulife Private Wealth
Markets Gain Ground Despite Ongoing Uncertainty
An overview of recent market gains and the factors continuing to create uncertainty for investors.
Read the Manulife Commentary

These commentaries are provided for educational and informational purposes and reflect the views of their respective authors and are provided for general information only. Your Macnaughton & Ward Account Manager can help you understand how these insights relate to your personal financial plan, investment objectives, and retirement goals.

Manulife Bank Advantage Account

3.00% Promotion

For clients holding funds that need to remain readily accessible, a high-interest savings account can play an important role in managing short-term savings, upcoming expenses and cash reserves.

Manulife Bank is currently offering a promotional interest rate of 3.00% for two years on its Advantage Account. Unlike many shorter-term promotional offers, this extended promotional period may be of interest to clients reviewing where they hold funds that they wish to keep accessible.

The offer is currently available until September 11, 2026, subject to Manulife Bank's eligibility requirements, terms and conditions.

Learn more about the Manulife Bank Advantage Account 3.00% promotion

If you would like more information or would like to discuss whether this account may be appropriate for your short-term savings or cash-management needs, please contact your Macnaughton & Ward Account Manager.

Protecting Your Privacy

Protecting your privacy and the security of your information is one of our highest priorities. We may occasionally communicate with you through regular email. We only do this when the message does not include confidential account information or personally identifying information. Whenever sensitive information needs to be shared, we use secure email to help protect your privacy.

For your convenience, we also provide secure website access, allowing you to log in and view your account reports anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We recognize that secure email systems can sometimes present challenges when opening messages or accessing attachments. In addition, secure emails may occasionally be filtered into your email provider's Spam or Junk folder. We encourage you to check these folders regularly to ensure you don't miss important communications from your Macnaughton & Ward Account Manager.

If you experience any difficulties accessing a secure email or logging into your secure client portal, please contact our office. Our team will be happy to assist you.

How Homebuyers Can Save with Life Insurance Instead of Mortgage Insurance

While some of our clients continue to carry a mortgage, many also have children or grandchildren who are purchasing a home, renewing a mortgage or planning for homeownership.

One financial consideration that is sometimes overlooked is how best to protect a mortgage, and the family, if the unexpected happens. Individually owned life insurance and mortgage insurance offered through a lender can differ in important ways, including coverage, ownership, beneficiaries and cost.

Our partners at Empire Life recently published an article comparing how Individually owned life insurance is different (and better) than mortgage insurance offered through a lender. It can differ in important ways, including coverage, ownership, beneficiaries and cost.

If you or a family member would like to better understand the differences between the available options, our team would be pleased to provide information and, where appropriate, a personalized insurance illustration.

How to Avoid these 4 Common TFSA Mistakes

Tax-Free Savings Accounts, or TFSAs, can be a valuable part of a financial plan, whether you are saving for shorter-term needs, building long-term investments or managing assets in retirement.

However, TFSA contribution and withdrawal rules can sometimes lead to unintended mistakes. Understanding your available contribution room, the timing of withdrawals and recontributions, and how your TFSA fits within your broader financial strategy can help you make more effective use of this flexible account.

Sun Life highlights four common TFSA mistakes and provides practical information to help Canadians better understand the rules.

If you have questions about how a TFSA may fit within your overall savings, investment or retirement strategy, please speak with your Macnaughton & Ward Account Manager.

How to Help Children Understand Death

Talking with children about the death of a loved one can be difficult, particularly when families are coping with their own grief. Children may have questions or process loss differently depending on their age and understanding, making these conversations especially challenging for parents and family members.

Beneva has shared a thoughtful article offering guidance for families navigating these difficult conversations.

We hope you find this resource helpful and worth sharing with family members who may benefit from it.

Your Questions Answered

Q: My portfolio has done very well over the last three and a half years. In particular, my U.S. investments have performed exceptionally well. As a long-term investor, I understand the importance of maintaining a long-term perspective. That said, I am getting older, and my investment time horizon may not be quite as long as it once was. I am also concerned about geopolitical conflicts, high global debt, trade uncertainty and inflation. Given these concerns, what should I consider doing?

A: Market uncertainty can understandably cause investors to question whether they should make changes to their portfolios. However, market headlines alone are not necessarily a reason to change a well-constructed investment strategy.

A more important question is whether your own circumstances have changed.

As we move through different stages of life, our financial goals, income needs and investment time horizons can change as well. Retirement, health considerations, the loss of a spouse, an inheritance, changes in family circumstances or simply getting older may all be appropriate reasons to revisit your financial and investment strategy.

Consider asking yourself:

• Have my financial goals changed?

• Has my investment time horizon become shorter?

• Has my comfort with market fluctuations changed?

• Will I need to make larger withdrawals from my portfolio in the coming years?

• Do I have sufficient accessible funds for upcoming expenses and unexpected needs?

• Does my current portfolio still reflect my intended balance between growth and stability?

If your answers have not materially changed, short-term market uncertainty may not require a change to your long-term investment plan. Making significant investment decisions in response to fear or market headlines can sometimes take investors away from the strategy originally designed to meet their goals.

That said, strong performance in one area of a portfolio can cause its asset allocation to shift over time. For example, if your U.S. equity investments have grown substantially, they may now represent a larger portion of your portfolio than originally intended. A portfolio review can help determine whether your investments remain appropriately diversified and whether rebalancing may be warranted.

For retirees and those approaching retirement, it is also important to consider liquidity and upcoming income needs. Maintaining appropriate accessible funds for planned withdrawals, major expenses and unexpected needs can help reduce the likelihood of having to sell investments at an inconvenient time. The appropriate amount will depend on your individual circumstances, retirement income sources and financial plan, not simply on predictions about where markets may be headed next.

Market headlines can be a good reason to review your plan, but not necessarily a reason to change it.

If it has been some time since your last portfolio or retirement income review, or if your circumstances have recently changed, we encourage you to speak with your Macnaughton & Ward Account Manager. Together, we can review your goals, income needs, time horizon, risk tolerance and investment strategy to help ensure your financial plan continues to reflect your individual circumstances.

Visiting Us? Reserve Your Parking in Advance  

Planning to drop by our office? We’re happy to offer complimentary parking for your visit, no need to pay at the meter.

Simply call us at (604) 581-9121 before you leave home to reserve your space. Provide your license plate number and we’ll register it for the duration of your appointment.

It’s quick, easy and ensures a stress-free visit. We look forward to seeing you!