17 Jan

BULLYING ENDS HERE UPDATE FOR JANUARY 2018

General

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

Well hello again my friends. It feels as though its been quite awhile since I last wrote to share some of the amazing updates on Bullying Ends Here. Having enjoyed much of the summer to myself, I was very excited to get this season underway. As it turns out, it was one amazing fall!
As our speaking season officially kicked off on September 23rd in West Vancouver where I did a TEDx talk, it was the start of something very special. I then headed down to Palm Springs to enjoy some quality times with my friends of Dominion Lending Centres. It was so good to catch up again, and to also share some updates on the program. One incredible event yet again!

From October to December, while also fulfilling my duties as a full time Police Officer, I managed to spend two weeks in Nova Scotia, a few days in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island. I have been to Vancouver a few times doing a dozen sessions and then Ontario for a full slate of presentations as well. All in all, the most successful falls tour ever. For much of December, I kept it close to home with a dozen presentations throughout Alberta.

I was also recognized by Molson Canadian as one of Canada’s Top 150 Canadians and was provided one of their iconic red beer fridges personalized with my name on it. Very humbling experience to say the least.

Our final numbers for 2017 include over 125 presentations, numerous media interviews, multiple awards and recognition, 130,000 youth reached, 20,000 emails received and four more young lives saved.

We even had a massive shout-out from the Prime Minister in support of our work. Political stripes aside, to be recognized by the office of the Prime Minister is unreal. We also announced that our Ambassador is Johnny GAUDREAU from the Calgary Flames who is very passionate about doing all he can to help us. We also had support from Brian BURKE, Rick MERCER, Sheldon KENNEDY, Steven PAGE, Travis PRICE and Calgary Mayor NENSHI to mention just a few. All of this lends credibility to our program.

Lately, you may have seen that Bullying Ends Here was awarded a $125,000 grant from Industrial Alliance. This is truly a game changer for us as this money is going directly to creating information packages for teachers and parents on what do, look for and say when bullying is suspected. I have observed multiple times over the years that even if the youth are ready to speak up (what my program strongly encourages), many adults don’t know what to do. These packages are going to be created in partnership with some of Canada’s more recognized experts in the field of bullying. My goal is to have these ready for April. A tight timeline but one I am committed to work towards. I also need to add a massive thank you to everyone at DLC for voting for Bullying Ends Here throughout November. Our win is truly teamwork at its best. We won this TOGETHER!

To be clear, the funds being provided can not be used towards the program the way it is currently. The grant money is very specific as that is what we submitted our proposal for. I am just so excited to get this new extension of the program started and continue to make the lives of our young people better. Currently, because education is a provincial responsibility, each province is responsible for their own teachings and documentation. Because my reach is Canada-Wide, we are in a position to do something that has simply not been done before.

I am now currently working on plans for 2018 and I don’t mind sharing that it is going to be the best yet….BY FAR! I expect our charity to be recognized as one of the top anti-bullying programs in the Country by the end of the year. We are booked to present in every province, again, between January and June alone. We are also targeting a short tour to the United Kingdom as well. Although I projected 2018 to have our target audience numbers in the area of 150,000, I am now thinking it will be closer to 200,000.

As great as these projections are, the truth is that they can only be achieved with your continued sponsorship moving forward. Your individual regions can purchase books or make donations, charitable events….anything really. It all helps. I have updated my availability through June of 2018 if you wanted to book a few presentations in your area. All of the details are on my website www.bullyingendshere.ca

It has been an incredible journey having DLC as our Founding Sponsor over the last few years and I hope that we can continue to not only change lives, but SAVE them for many more years ahead.

I hope to see everyone again very soon.

Your friend,
Tad

Tad Milmine, Founder, Bullying Ends Here

16 Jan

COMING OFF THE BOTTOM

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

Are the good times really over for good?
Recently, for the first time since 2012 we have seen the 5-year bond market climb back up over 2.0%. Based on amazing employment numbers and the likelihood that the Bank of Canada will raise rates on January 17, the bond market has continued a climb out of the basement and maybe running full steam uphill in response to a better economy.
Let’s look at the last 10-years of bonds and how they correlated to the 5-yr. fixed mortgage rate because it is still the choice of most Canadians as it is a stable place to build your home budgets around. In 2007 the 5-year bond was at 4.13% and the 5-year benchmark rate 6.65%. Follow the melt down that started to happen in 2008 the bond slowly but surely began to sink and by 2012 the 5-yr. bond was at 1.25% and the bench mark 5 yr. rate was at 5.29%. But wait we weren’t done; in 2015 the bond sunk all the way to .65% but the bench mark rate was still at 4.74%, if you took that rate at the branch you really paid too much as we were almost at 2.25% for standard feature 5 year fixed at that time.
So now turn the corner and we see that the bond is on its way back up. We come into 2018 with it having climbed all the way back to 2% almost an 8-year high and of course Governor Poloz has already had the bench mark at 4.99 so I don’t think it will be long before we see the bench mark reset again. Will it be long before the new qualifying numbers are 6% again, still some factors to watch, NAFTA, employment, world markets, price of tea in China, price of oil in Alberta.

Courtesy of Len Lane, DLC Brokers for Life

15 Jan

BANK BROKER VS. MORTGAGE BROKERS | HERE’S THE SCOOP

Mortgage Tips

Posted by: Darick Battaglia

Ask any mortgage broker and they can tell you that there are a handful of misconceptions that the public has about working with a mortgage broker. From questioning their credentials (we all are regulated and licensed with in our own province, and are constantly re-educating ourselves) to assuming that the broker does not have access to the same rate as the banks (we do in fact—plus access to even more lending options) mortgage brokers have heard it all!

With the recent changes to the B-20 guidelines taking full effect as of January 1, 2018 the mortgage landscape is changing and we firmly believe in keeping our clients educated and informed. With these changes, there have been a number of misconceptions that have come to light regarding mortgage professionals and their “limitations” and we felt it was time to address them:

Myth 1: Independent Broker’s don’t have access to the rates the banks do.

Fact: Not true. Brokers have access to MORE rates and lenders than the bank. The bank brokers only have access to their rates-no other ones. A mortgage professional has access to:

• Tier 1 banks in Canada
• Credit Unions
• Monoline Lenders
• Alternative Lenders
• Private Lenders

This extensive network of lender options allows brokers to ensure that you are not only getting the sharpest rate, but that the mortgage product is also aligned with the client’s needs.

Myth 2: The consumer has to negotiate a rate with a lender directly.

Fact: Not true at all! Your mortgage professional will shop the market to find the best overall cost of borrowing for the client. Broker’s will look at all angles of the product to ensure that the client is getting one that will suit their unique and specific needs. Not once will the client be expected to shop their mortgage around or to speak to the lender. This is different from the bank where you are limited to only their rates and are left to negotiate with the bank’s broker—who is paid by the bank! We don’t know about you, but we would much rather have a broker negotiate on our behalf. Plus, they are FREE to use (see myth #6)

Myth 3: A Broker’s goal is to move the mortgage on each renewal.

Fact: A Mortgage Broker’s goal is to present multiple options to consumers so they can secure the optimal product for their specific and unique needs. This entails the broker looking at more than just the rate. A broker will look at:
• Prepayment options
• Costs of borrowing
• Portability
• Penalty to break
• Mortgage charges

And more. If the Broker determines that the current lender is the most ideal for their client at the time of renewal, then they will advise them to remain with that lender. The end goal of renewal is simple: provide clients the best ongoing, current advice at the time of origination and at the time of renewal

Myth 4: The broker receives a trailer fee if the client remains with the same lender at renewal.

Fact: This is on a case-to-case basis. At times, there is a small fee given to the broker if a client opts to renew with their current lender. This allows for accountability between the lender, broker, and customer in most cases. However, this is not always the case and the details of each renewal will vary.

Myth 5: If a Broker moves a mortgage to a new lender upon time of renewal then the full mortgage commission is received by the broker, allowing the broker to obtain “passive income” by constantly switching clients over.

Fact: Let’s clarify: If a client chooses to move their mortgage at renewal after a broker presents them with the best options, then it is in fact a new deal. By being a new deal, this means that the broker has all the work associated with any new file at that time. It is the equivalent of a brand-new mortgage and the broker will have to do the correct steps and work associated with it.

A second point of clarification-although the broker will earn income on this switch, the income (in most cases) is paid by the financial institution receiving the mortgage, NOT the client.

Myth 6: It costs a client more to renew with a mortgage broker.

Fact: Completely false. Clients SAVE MONEY when they work with a mortgage broker at . A broker has access to a variety of lenders and can offer discounts that the bank can’t. Additionally, most mortgage brokers offer continuous advice and information to their clients. Working with a broker is not a “one and done” deal as it is a broker’s goal to keep their clients informed, educated, and well-versed as to what is happening in the industry and how it will affect them. When you work with a broker instead of the bank, you not only get the best mortgage for you, but you also have access to a wealth of industry knowledge continuously.

Mortgage Brokers are a dedicated group of individuals who work directly for the client, not the lenders or the bank. Brokers are problem-solvers, advisers and honourable individuals. We work hard to give our clients the best that we can in an industry that constantly is evolving and changing.

Courtesy of Geoff Lee, AMOP – GLM Mortgage Group