As Summer Ends, Are Your Financial Priorities on Track for 2025?

I’m sitting back at my desk today after spending last week with my family at a rental cottage on the South Shore, here in Nova Scotia.

As many business owners can relate, I don’t really take vacations the way most people do. But this time away was a genuine recharge.

Mornings started with ideal ocean sunrises, seals bobbing offshore, and watching the constant traffic of seabirds in a hurry going who knows where.

Days included long walks, runs along Crescent Beach and visiting local shops. And yes, there may have been one, or three, too many bakery stops. (See my personal South Shore bakery rankings below.)

In between, I had space to reflect.

That reflection turned, as it often does, to planning, both for my business and for our household.

I reviewed my corporate tax filing (July year-end), thought through our family cash flow with our youngest heading back to university, and set priorities for the months ahead.

It made me realize that as summer winds down, it’s the perfect time to pause and check whether our financial priorities are clear for the rest of the year.

Here are three financial areas to consider:

1. Cash Flow Check-In

Back-to-school, holiday expenses, or year-end tax bills can sneak up quickly. Now’s the time to map out what the next few months look like for your spending and saving. Even a simple calendar of expected cash inflows and outflows can make you feel more in control.

2. Tax Planning Opportunities

If your business has a July or December year-end, or you’re an incorporated professional, there may be tax-saving strategies worth revisiting before year-end deadlines. Sometimes small actions taken now, like adjusting dividends, registered contributions, or expense timing, can make a big impact at tax time.

3. Reset Your Investment Alignment

Summer market headlines can distract even experienced investors. Ask yourself: is your portfolio still aligned with your goals and tolerance for risk? Fall (the season, not a market prediction) is a natural time to rebalance or reset, before the year gets away from you.

A little space to think can go a long way. September is the perfect time to set intentions, so the year doesn’t slip away on autopilot.

If this reflection helped simplify a decision or sparked a new idea, I’d love to hear about it. And if someone you know could use a little clarity heading into the fall, feel free to pass this along.

P.S. I’m planning upcoming editions of this newsletter, and I’d love your input. What money topics would you like me to cover in future posts? Just hit reply and let me know.

On a lighter note…:

If you’re looking for an affordable, relaxing and rustic cottage rental, I highly recommend MacLeod Cottages in Green Bay, NS.

And while all the bakeries I visited were amazing, here are my rankings, in order:

1. Rose Bay Store & Bistro (Rose Bay NS)

2. The Lahave Bakery (Lahave NS)

3. The Ploughman’s Lunch (West Dublin NS)

How would you rank these bakeries? Can you recommend another one I should visit?

David