Investing by stock market lore could be a money-losing strategy “Sell in May, go away, and don’t come back ’til Labour Day” is one of those bits of market lore that’s trotted out from time to time. Other instances of such supposed deep wisdom include, “Never try to...
What you need to know about TFSAs You may have a tax refund coming. Or you might have excess cash saved up because you’ve spent less during Covid. Or you’ve received an inheritance. Don’t let that cash sit around! Consider contributing to a Tax-Free Savings...
Last minute tax tips, and key federal budget proposals The April 30 tax filing deadline is just a few days away. But you still have time to ensure you get every tax break coming to you before you have to file. In addition, the April 19 federal budget made some...
Robyn Thompson is featured in Investment Executive with tips for advisors whose clients want to provide financial assistance to adult children looking to buy a home. But there are several factors parents should consider before they fork over tens (or hundreds) of...
Deducting pandemic-related home office expenses The Covid-19 pandemic and associated government-mandated lockdowns and “stay-at-home” orders have resulted in a great deal of financial stress for individuals, families, and small businesses. So this tax season, it’s...
Robyn Thompson, CFP, Founder of Castlemark Wealth Management, has been selected as a finalist for the IFSE Institute Award for Financial Literacy Champion. The Award is given annually by Wealth Professional magazine to recognize a top financial professional who has...
The Home Buyers’ Plan and the stress test Shopping for a new home? Welcome to the crowd. The residential real estate market is hot in all of Canada’s major urban centres and surrounding areas, mostly because of the current environment of ultra-low interest rates....
The big difference between investing and speculating Cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Etherium, have been much in the news lately. That’s not surprising, because the quoted value of these esoteric assets has skyrocketed over the past year. So should you add...
Block these common swindles before they start March is fraud prevention month, and the bad guys have been busy. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that in January this year, more than $10 million has been lost to fraud, while scammers racked up theft of over...
Robyn Thompson is featured in The Globe and Mail’s “Financial Facelift” series by Diane Maley. Like working parents everywhere with young children and long commutes, Andy and Zoe felt like hamsters on a wheel. They want to get off that treadmill and wonder how they...
Peace of mind with a financial backstop Unexpected events out of our control, such as job loss or health issues, can lead to serious disturbances in our financial situation. An emergency savings fund can mitigate some of the stress and bridge the financial gap...
Use these tips on starting an emergency savings for peace of mind for income uncertainty or unforeseen health complications amid the pandemic