How much you can contribute, what you can invest in Among the most common questions financial advisors are asked at this time of the year are, “How much can I contribute to an RRSP?” and “What can I invest in?” Registered Retirement Savings Plans are still the best...
Common investment errors can hit your portfolio hard Investors who sold out of equities after Brexit and again just after the Trump election victory quite possibly lost money last year, even though the big stock market indices turned in strong gains. Turns out they...
Take stock of your entire financial situation The beginning of the New Year is often a time to turn a new financial leaf: make a budget; pay down debt; save more. That’s all commendable, but these good intentions are mostly forgotten by, say, mid-February. A better...
Skewed asset allocation can change your risk profile Q – I believe that my investment portfolio is fairly well balanced, with about 60% in equities and 40% in fixed income assets. I do trade from time to time, but generally I stick to a buy-and-hold strategy. But with...
More popular with older, risk-averse investors Many investors, especially those facing retirement, are often offered so-called “segregated” funds by their financial advisors as a way to participate in the stock market while guaranteeing their principal. Although a...
Don’t delay! They could save you a bundle Even though most of us are preoccupied with other things at this time of year, there is a handful of year-end investment and tax tips that make a lot of sense to look at now. That’s because they could save you money now and...
You must act by Dec. 31! If you turned 71 this year, and you still have an RRSP, you have until Dec. 31 this year to convert it into another type of tax-sheltered plan. If you don’t, the Canada Revenue Agency can take away up to half of whatever is in your RRSP....
Five key money questions to ask before you retire The Baby-Boom generation is getting ready to retire. It’s a big concern and a big issue, simply because that generation has been the dominant demographic since the late ’60s. And now they’re starting to feel the...
The power of an easy, basic budget to clear away the financial fog November is Financial Literacy Month in Canada. It’s the government’s way of trying to get people to understand that financial literacy is important for the financial well-being of individuals, and to...
Trump’s victory has many concerned about market volatility With the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, many investors believe that a new era of political uncertainty is going to increase stock market volatility. And that leads to questions about whether it...
Why they’re not taxed the same way as GICs As year-end approaches, it’s time to start thinking about the tax implications of distributions from your various investments. This year, the tax consequences of bond mutual funds compared with, say, straight-interest GICs...
Why some first-time homebuyers are scared stiff If you’re looking to buy your first home, you’ve probably heard about the recent changes to mortgage lending rules recently announced by the government. If you’re shopping for an insured mortgage, these changes could...