Do you remember the time when....?

Having moved away from everything familiar, it’s hard to describe what you feel sometimes. Some days you feel literally on top of the world because only you are in charge of your life. On other days, you can really miss people and places from home. Thinking about loved ones here and back home, I started to think of memories. Looking back, I have had a pretty blessed life, often filled with tears of joy and tears of hilarity during embarrassing moments.

The following are in no particular order. If you are reading this and don’t seem to find yourself in it, let me know and I will add one. I’ve been blessed to have you all as part of my life J

Let’s see if you can find yourself?

Do you remember the time when….?

∞ we had our reservations lost by the fancy restaurant staff on Valentine’s day? You were nervous but we relaxed and had heart shaped pizza at Boston Pizza instead…a tradition that went on for a number of years J

∞we bonded over you getting car sick while dune bashing in Abu Dhabi? We had only known each other for a few days, but it was as if it turned into an immediate closer friendship.

∞we spent countless hours in the pool and oceans as we grew up together letting the waves just take us?

∞we had to make a quick trip to Walgreen’s for a knee brace? I had just injured my knee pretty badly climbing the rocks along the California coastline.

∞we realized that although we spend no time together in person, we know each other more than most people do?

∞we drove 3 hours out of town to visit a few of my family members (and you got to see some of your family too?) On the way home, I slammed a compartment on my dashboard so hard that my hands free wireless system wouldn’t shut off no matter what we did! We pulled over to the nearest Timmies and had a good laugh (and coffee for the long ride home).

∞you saw the terrified look on my face when reality hit me about teaching a full class of ESL students? You continue to be an exemplary role model to myself and the staff.

∞you came with me into a hospital room and I realized with your help I could bring comfort to the critically ill through the Holy Communion?

∞my phone was acting up and I didn’t respond to your texts? You were worried about me so you used your key to let yourself in to find me singing in the shower!

∞I was about 9, you were about 19 and we were getting you ready for a night on the town? We were curling your hair with 2 separate curling irons. One of us flinched…both curling irons were dropped, and we ran to put cold water on our newly minted fashion statements on our skin!

∞we met for the first time over sushi in Istanbul? We continue to be hall mates and friends!

∞we have our moments looking over all of your accomplishments? I’m so proud of your experience and success in the Canadian military. You continue to amaze me.

∞we spent hours in the water of Lake Erie talking about our crushes? Best weekend ever!

∞we had very inappropriate conversations on the beach? Our colleagues wanted to know what our “special cream” was all about!

∞we realized that when wine is spilled on clothing, it can become the latest fashion accessory, especially around family?

∞your cooking made me cry? It was spicy, I swear! Although it was hard to eat, it was the tastiest chili ever!

∞we would have continuous debates as to who would be single the longest and who would end up owning the most cats? #catladiesforever !

∞we would bake cookies and make gingerbread houses? You’re just about a teenager now, but those so far are my favourite memories…looking forward to always making new ones!

∞we would spend hours on the phone (and we still do), connecting one side of the world with the other?

∞we had our last tight hug before I moved away from Canada? Neither of us knew what to say, but the sudden tears said it all J

∞I was so upset with you? I ignored all your phone calls. Only to try and go to sleep…you were there at my door ready to sort things out.

∞we would play hours of video games together? Family get togethers would not have been complete without the original Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt!

∞we were only 16 and didn’t get carted at the LCBO? Summer of 1998 was a blast.

∞one of us missed the second last train from Toronto to Hamilton, and had to explain to her parents why she was late and all of her friends weren’t? (cough cough!) Again, summer of 1998 was a blast!

∞you constantly teased me about my developing body while growing up? I don’t have an older brother, but you sure continue to fill that role!

∞my niece started arguments as to who you belong to? You’ll always belong to all of us!

∞you made me feel like my simple shepherd’s pie was the best meal in the world? I had no idea it was your favourite, and I’m sorry that I’m going to be missing your birthday this year!

∞we would check our emails for months wondering when we would get our magic ticket to Abu Dhabi? Your unwavering support and humour got me and many others through that struggle!

∞we had drinks and a sleepover on a school night? Our time out on the hammocks will be unforgettable. Thank you for helping me gain the courage for doing what was right for me.

∞we thought “Friends” was the best TV show ever, that we re-created the video in the beginning for a music project in grade 7?

∞we both came to the realization that we were now in a very different world of teaching? But we’re there to support each other…every day J

Love always,

Cara

a call for Ontario teachers to be aware of some employees behind the OTPP

Recently I posted a status on Facebook expressing severe frustration over the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. The Plan itself is strong, and doing well. Some employees, however, shouldn't hold a position of any kind of power when it comes to handling savings and retirement of hard working teachers who are depending on the plan for their life after teaching.

I strongly urge all Canadian friends and family to educate yourself about your retirement and overall financial picture. See what you need to get there. Imagine having a plan in place and a date at which it would be accomplished! Talk to your financial professionals. If you would like a free second opinion with an in-depth analysis, Empirical is still #1 in my heart.

The following is email communication between myself and Hindrek Piigert, a representative from the OTPP, who I am sure he's not going to be happy he's going to be have to dealing with me.

As I state, in the end I'm inconvenienced. It's not the end of the world...but wouldn't you expect more from people handling our finances?!?!

********************

Dear Miss Tabron:

Thank you for submitting your documents for withdrawing your credit and funds from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.

We received all of your termination documents on January 27, 2014, including the authorization from CRA to not withhold tax on the cash portion of your benefit.

As the CRA authorization is only valid for the 2013 calendar year, we cannot process your file without the tax. We have been in contact with CRA and have confirmed that as payment to you will be made in 2014, the 2013 letter does not apply.

There are two choices that you can make at this time, the first is that we can pay the benefit to you with taxes withheld, and the second is you can make another request to CRA for this special tax treatment for the 2014 calendar year.

If you choose the second option, we will have to re-issue a new options package for you as the six month submission deadline (February 28, 2014) has passed.

Would you kindly respond with how you wish to proceed with receiving your benefit from the plan?

Please contact our Client Services Department and we will be happy to assist you. You can reach us by phone (between 8:00 am and 5:30 pm Monday toFriday) or by e-mail.

Regards,

Hindrek Piigert

Client Services

Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan

Telephone: 416-226-2700 or 1-800-668-0105 (toll free)

Fax: 416-730-7807 or 1-800-949-8208 (toll free)

Website: http://www.otpp.com

**********

Dear Hindrek Piigert,

Thank you for your communication, but I am very frustrated to have received your last email.

I have been in touch personally with the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, and I must say that the individuals that I have dealt with have been very helpful and easy to understand my account.

The events in the last few months have been otherwise.

Yes, I would like to start the process over again. Please re-issue a new options package, the address is just below. This is really a financial ‘no brainer’ considering the tax penalties of being paid now taxes withheld; this is why it was sought out in the first place. If you would like further explanation on this, any one of the professionals at Empirical Group would be happy to explain.

Empirical Group

Attn: Sean Kiely

3310 South Service Road
Suite 300 
Burlington, On
L7N 3M6

In case this address needs to be repeated, it can be found under my signature at the bottom of the email.

Please let me explain my frustration:

I have been a teacher in the Ontario Catholic schools for 8 years. This year, I have created a major change in my career and I am currently teaching in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). My school board in Ontario would not let me take a leave of absence. As I had to resign completely, my pension had been released.

I had left for the UAE September 25, 2013. The paperwork for my pension has been submitted before this date, including a request to the CRA to allow a tax exemption for the smaller portion in question. The CRA had responded by November 2013 with their approval. My financial advisor had retrieved the documents from my family and had passed them along to the OTPP, and to the receiving institution, LaCapitale. One would believe that as the paperwork was submitted in November 2013, that the deadline of February 28 2014 would be easily met.

January 2014 started off with some confusion by the OTPP. Representatives from the OTPP had contacted my financial advisor with multiple requests for my account number for my LIRA (“Locked In Retirement Account") held with LaCapitale to proceed with the transaction. Each conversation ended with the OTPP responding, "There, it is. I guess I should have scrolled down and looked at the whole case!!”

Last week (sometime between the 24^th and the 26^th of February), another representative from the OTPP told my financial advisor,  "for sure, on Friday!" Friday was the 28th--the date the OTPP listed as the "Submission Deadline". That was to be the "Transfer Date", not the Submission Date. Clearly, if the OTPP were ready to transfer (finally!), the case was well past the Submission Stage!

I find it insulting to myself and my financial advisors that you would have included in your email:

“We received all of your termination documents on January 27, 2014, including the authorization from CRA to not withhold tax on the cash portion of your benefit.”

This is simply not the case.

You further state:

“As the CRA authorization is only valid for the 2013 calendar year, we cannot process your file without the tax. We have been in contact with CRA and have confirmed that as payment to you will be made in 2014, the 2013 letter does not apply.”

In the end, my financial advisors and I are inconvenienced, and further paperwork has to be filed. We will be fine. But the incompetence behind how my case was handled by the OTPP is simply unacceptable.

As I hope you know, the OTPP is an independent organization responsible for administering defined-benefit pensions for school employees in Ontario. The OTPP invests the plan's pension fund, and is one of the world’s largest institutional investors. The current statistics that I found was that the OTTP holds pensions 179,000 teachers, principals, and school administrators, and pays pensions to some 124,000 retirees.

The teachers of Ontario, past and present cannot afford to have their retirement handled in such a way.

Please forward to your supervisor. This case has been passed along to the CRA and the Ontario Ombudsman. I expect more from the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan.

Thank You,

Cara Tabron

Empirical Group

3310 South Service Road

Suite 300
Burlington, On
L7N 3M6

http://www.empiricalgroup.ca/