Sapling Financial Consultants Inc.

Today, the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods and a 10% tariff on energy and critical minerals, escalating the already rising tensions between the two countries. For Canadian businesses, these changes may initially seem like a setback, but Sapling’s co-founder and CEO, Rob Hong, CFA MFin, believes that these challenges can bring opportunities. In November, Rob shared his thoughts with Retail Insider, "Despite the challenges, Canadian businesses can turn adversity into opportunity. Our dollar is weaker, and productivity is lower than the U.S., but this creates cost advantages for Canadian companies operating in the U.S. market." To read more of Rob’s insight, tap the link below. #SaplingFinancialConsultants #USTariffs #CanadaTrade

Last week, Morne Viljoen CPA, CA(SA) and Benoit Dinesen attended the 2025 Texas ACG Capital Connection in Houston, hosted by ACG Houston. During this conference, our team engaged with key professionals across multiple sectors — lenders, investment banks, lawyers and other experts within our industry. It was a great chance to make new connections and reconnect with familiar faces. One of the most common questions we received was about the tariffs between the U.S. and Canada. We understand how complex these issues can be and in times of uncertainty, we remain committed to delivering exceptional value and supporting our partners and clients across North America. With a strong client base in the U.S., we are dedicated to delivering high-quality value, ensuring that businesses have the tools and data needed to make informed decisions. With over 150 years of shared alliance between Canada and the U.S., we value the partnerships we’ve built. Our focus remains on what unites us: delivering exceptional service, strengthening partnerships and driving the success of our clients. For more on our services and to learn how we can support your business, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/dbbvuXna #SaplingFinancialConsultants

In our blog, Streamlining Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) with Excel-Based Reporting, we explore how FP&A teams can optimize financial planning and analysis with Excel-based reporting, balancing simplicity and advanced functionality. The blog dives into the benefits of leveraging Excel for building financial models, implementing dashboards and streamlining reporting processes, all while preparing for future BI tool integration. Click the link below to read the latest blog. #SaplingFinancialConsultants

Our client was looking to launch a fund focused on real estate and loan assets across North America and needed to raise committed capital. They needed a robust operating model for scenario analysis based on various investment opportunities. We developed a comprehensive ten-year financial model that outlined how the fund could raise and deploy capital, generate income and return distributions to investors. This tool allows the client to showcase potential return profiles to investors while also tracking their evolving deal flow and fund structure, a dynamic and flexible solution for fundraising and strategy. To read more of our case studies, click the link below. #SaplingFinancialConsultants

We’re thrilled to share that Rob Hong, CFA MFin, our Co-founder and CEO, will be speaking at the Due Diligence in Economic Uncertainty for Small Business Acquisitions webinar hosted by Village Wellth! Join us on February 28 at 2 p.m. EST for this exclusive webinar, where Rob will share strategies for navigating due diligence in today’s volatile market. Amid economic uncertainty and evolving trade policies, navigating small business acquisitions has become increasingly complex. Conducting thorough due diligence is more crucial than ever to assess risks, identify opportunities and structure deals for success. This is an opportunity to gain expert insight from an experienced financial consultant. To register, click the link below. #SaplingFinancialConsultants

Sapling’s Morne Viljoen CPA, CA(SA) and Benoit Dinesen have touched down in Houston for the 2025 Texas ACG Capital Connection in Houston hosted by ACG Houston. They'll be attending the conference until Friday, February 28, so be sure to stop by and say hi! Sapling can help tackle your business challenges. Whether it’s financial modelling, due diligence support, end-to-end business intelligence solutions or automating KPI tracking, Morne and Benoit are available to discuss how our expertise can help your business make small steps that lead to big leaps in the market. Reach out to Morne at morne.viljoen@saplingfinancial.com Reach out to Benoit at benoit.dinesen@saplingfinancial.com #SaplingFinancialConsultants #TexasACGCapitalConnection

Since 2022, Canada’s inflation rate has been falling, but for all the wrong reasons. Rising energy prices caused inflation to rise slightly to 1.9% in January 2025. The economic recovery remains uncertain and key indicators like declining GDP per capita and stagnant productivity are highlighting underlying challenges. The Bank of Canada’s rate cuts since June 2024 were intended to stimulate growth, but these cuts may not be enough to address issues like low business investment and restrictive policies. Without strong leadership and long-term strategies to drive innovation, Canada risks stagnation and deflation. Deflation is like a slow leak. Once spending stalls, productivity declines and foreign investment evaporates, reviving the economy becomes a steep challenge. #SaplingFinancialConsultants #Inflation #Canada

According to Deloitte's CFO Signals survey, 40% of CFOs are prioritizing the digital transformation of finance in 2025, cost optimization (40%) and enterprise risk management (42%). As businesses look to optimize operations and enhance decision-making capabilities, digital transformation has become a key strategy. We specialize in helping businesses leverage technology to streamline workflows, improve accuracy, and drive growth. Our digital transformation service evaluates and transforms your finances, operations, and processes to align with your business goals. From conducting thorough systems analysis to recommending software solutions and optimizing your processes, we help you integrate the right technologies to reduce costs, enhance efficiency, and enable scalable growth. If you're looking to navigate your digital transformation and stay competitive in 2025, reach out to info@saplingfinancial.com. #SaplingFinancialConsultants

In collaboration with Financial Executives International (FEI) Canada, Toronto Chapter, Dave O'Brien, CPA, MFin, Sapling’s Senior Engagement Manager, will be hosting a Financial Stress-Testing for the Impact of Tariffs Webinar on March 6 at 12 p.m. (EST). The ongoing US-Canada trade war has created financial uncertainty for many businesses, making it crucial for CFOs to prepare for the impacts of newly imposed tariffs. Attendees will learn how to effectively stress-test forecasts and budgets to navigate these challenges. Exploring how tariffs can impact profitability, cash flow and pricing strategies and discover practical techniques to assess the financial impact. The webinar will also cover how to adapt your business strategy with recommendations such as adjusting sales efforts or finding domestic vendors. Join us for an insightful session on strengthening financial planning and ensuring your business is ready for any tariff-related challenges. Online registration closes on March 5, 2025. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eztY96n5 #SaplingFinancialConsultants #FEICanada

The Canadian government just announced a new agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to eliminate and reduce interprovincial trade barriers, with the flexibility to name exceptions. By removing these barriers, Canada is positioning itself to be more self-reliant and resilient in the face of international uncertainties and internal inefficiencies. The federal government's decision to take action comes at a crucial time. This is not a quick fix – eliminating trade barriers requires ongoing effort and collaboration between provinces and territories to ensure we are fostering competition, innovation and economic growth within Canada. In December 2024, we released the report “Canada’s M&A Market Set for Growth Amidst Competition Barriers in Key Sectors”. Our analysis found that nearly 31% of Canada’s economic activity in 2023 was impacted by competition restrictions, down from 35.1% in 2017. In the report, we recommended removing interprovincial trade barriers to encourage greater competition. While this is not a complete solution, it is a meaningful step toward strengthening our domestic economy. The surge in Canadian patriotism has been impossible to ignore as of late. We have long been economic allies with the U.S., but the threat of tariffs was a wake-up call. By trying to divide us, Trump has only united us. What we must remember is that Canada and the U.S. have always been close friends, and our strength comes from working together and supporting one another.  To access our full report: https://lnkd.in/e3YDjeTX #SaplingFinancialConsultants #InterprovincialTradeBarriers #Canada