Trove of data on offshore accounts prompts probe, questions + MORE Apr 4th

A security guard sit outside the Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama City. (Arnulfo Franco, AP)
BERLIN — The release of a vast trove of documents and other data on offshore financial dealings of wealthy, famous and powerful people around the world is raising questions over the widespread use of such tactics to avoid taxes and skirt financial oversight.
Reports by an international coalition of media outlets on an investigation with the Washington-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists brought to light details of offshore assets and services of politicians, businesses and celebrities, based on a cache of 11.5 million records.
Among the countries with past or present political figures named in the reports are Iceland, Ukraine, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Argentina.
Australia’s tax agency said Monday it was investigating more than 800 wealthy people for possible tax evasion linked to their alleged dealings with Mossack Fonseca, a Panamanian law firm with international offices that provide offshore financial services…

Origin Merchant Partners has grown in a period when many rival dealers closed down

Learn, save, invest and prosper with My Own Advisor.
I’m no a perfect investor but there are some very wise things I’ve learned over the years, when it comes to managing my portfolio, and you should know these things as well.  If you’re investing in U.S. stocks or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) – read this and consider the following.

Keep U.S. dividend paying stocks and U.S.-listed ETFs in your RRSP

Canadian dividend-paying stocks receive favourable tax treatment from our government; they are eligible for the Canadian dividend tax credit if held in taxable accounts (outside TFSA and RRSP accounts).  U.S-dividend paying stocks and ETFs do not receive any favourable tax treatment from our Canadian government so by keeping those stocks and ETFs inside an RRSP I avoid paying any withholding taxes.  Let me summarize those tax implications:

U.S. stocks and ETFs held within RRSP or LIRA or RRIF = no withholding taxes.
U.S. stocks and ETFs held within RESP or TFSA = pay 15% withholding taxes…

TORONTO – Today, in all but two Canadian provinces, virtually anyone can call themselves a home inspector — regardless of whether or not they have completed any sort of professional training.
Here are a few things for homebuyers to bear in mind when choosing an inspector:
Most provinces don’t regulate the industry
Only British Columbia and Alberta currently have legislation in place requiring home inspectors to be licensed, while Ontario says it’s planning to introduce regulations this year.
While there are myriad designations out there that home inspectors can obtain, the educational requirements to obtain those designations can vary widely, even in B.C. where inspectors are licensed.
Experts recommend doing some research to determine what the various designations really mean — and what sort of training is required to obtain them.
Word of mouth is key
Real estate lawyer Mark Weisleder recommends getting a referral from a friend or family member that you trust — rather than from one of the real estate agents that stands to benefit from the sale…

The Mossack Fonseca law firm in Panama City. (Arnulfo Franco, AP)
BERLIN — An international coalition of media outlets on Sunday published what it said was an extensive investigation into the offshore financial dealings of the rich and famous, based on a vast trove of documents provided by an anonymous source.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism, a non-profit organization based in Washington, said the cache of 11.5 million records detailed the offshore holdings of a dozen current and former world leaders, as well as businessmen, criminals, celebrities and sports stars.
A co-founder of the Panamanian-based law firm where the documents originated confirmed the authenticity of the papers being used in articles published by more than 100 news organizations around the world. Ramon Fonseca told Panama’s Channel 2 television network that the documents were obtained illegally in a hacking attack.
The German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung said it first received the data more than a year ago…