What Canada Deposit Insurance covers…and what it doesn’t Are your savings safe? Given the recent run on deposits experienced by troubled Home Capital Group Inc., many people with large amounts of cash stashed in savings accounts, term deposits, and guaranteed...
Making the pension decision is not so cut-and-dried The big question most retirees ask is whether they’ll outlive their money. As you age, healthcare costs rise, and the question of long-term care can become a problem. Will you be able to afford to stay in your home?...
The danger of investing by headline We’re once again seeing the geopolitical situation heating up – North Korea, U.K. elections, French elections, Trump’s trade threats, and so on. Is it time to sell stocks and switch to gold and bonds? How did that strategy work out...
Here’s what you can deduct…and what you can’t Investors have recently been getting more information from their advisors about the fees and charges they pay. This is likely because of new rules imposed on the financial services industry by securities regulators....
When to take advantage of the Home Buyer’s Plan First-time homebuyers who have RRSPs often look to supplement their down payment by taking advantage of the RRSP Home Buyer’s Plan. But frequently, they have only a sketchy idea of how it works and whether it’s even a...
Here’s what you need to take on that role You’ll probably know of friends or colleagues who are unable to balance their chequing account on a monthly basis. I’ve had clients come to me who regularly simply close their out-of-control (and usually overdrawn) chequing...
How to avoid getting conned, scammed, bilked, and defrauded online Do-it-yourself investors may have run across investing websites that promise huge returns if you trade something called “binary options.” They make it seem like a pretty easy way to make a quick buck....
Timely tips for first-time homebuyers Real estate is hot, hot, hot. Just ask anyone trying to buy a home in Vancouver or Toronto. The Teranet-National Bank National Composite House Price Index was up 0.5% in January from December. The rise matched the largest January...
Beat the taxman with a Tax-Free Savings Account! Yes, you can beat the taxman! In fact, you have the legal right to arrange your financial affairs within the law to pay the least amount of taxes possible. Make sure you exercise that right. This is legitimate tax...
Five key questions to ask Horizons ETF Management, a leading Canadian provider of exchange-traded funds, recently announce that it will be cancelling the Advisor-class units (that is, units that pay a fee to advisors who recommend them) on its Canadian-listed...
Proper asset diversification is key to long-term investment success With recent stock market uncertainty and fluctuating bond yields, many investors are wondering whether the tried-and-true principles for stock and bond allocations in an RRSP portfolio still hold. For...
Robyn Thompson is regularly featured in The Toronto Star’s “Money Makeover” series by Deanne Gage. Money Makeover takes a look at Mary Lou, a 65-year-old widow with a portfolio valued at more than $1 million. She is uncertain about how much income to withdraw...