At the present time anyone who watches the markets will tell you that there is money to be made in natural resources. With oil prices soaring to new record levels, there is certainly money to be made by placing your dollars in related stocks or investments. However what if you are an environmentalist and generally do not support the business practices of these companies? Are you placing your investment dollars with someone who is sensitive to those concerns? Are they providing you with adequate options if this concerns you?

For those of you who are looking to minimize the taxes that you pay, I would like to suggest you consider making contributions to charitable groups or organizations. There are various income tax donation programs which go a very long way in supporting Canadian amateur athletes and Charities in Canada. At the same time these donations provide the donor a very lucrative tax credit. Many people are not aware of the cash leveraged tax-donation programs available to us as tax payers, however, you must be careful with the program or programs you donate to. The truth is that not all donation programs are created equal.

I advocate that people become their own financial advisor and take responsibility for their own financial future. Investing in the environment and ethical, common sense products and companies is the key to secure a healthy future for your children and future generations. The decisions we make today, affect us for many years to follow. Be aware of the choices offered to you and remember to consider whether you ethically believe in the opportunity just as much as whether it can make money for you, or not.

I do not want to minimize the significance of choosing options for your money that work for your long-term benefit. However, it needs to be emphasized that if you struggle with some of the investment choices you make for personal reasons, there are options out there for you. You owe it to yourself, to your conscience and to the world we live in to be aware of these choices. Decisions that benefit both your bank account and your ethical peace of mind are likely to be better for you in the end.

I wish you and your family health, happiness and success!