Wild market optimism no time to lose your common sense With the S&P/TSX Composite up 66% since the pandemic meltdown lows of last March, there’s definitely a whiff of bull in the air. Almost anything goes as the big U.S. stock indexes keep climbing to fresh...
Tips for managing household debt Canadians have been getting into debt at a red-hot pace. The overheated housing market since the beginning of the year, combined with pandemic-induced credit-card use, lifted the household debt to income ratio to 172.3% in the first...
Financial security starts with financial literacy According to a CIBC study in 2019, Canadian women control $2.2 trillion of assets. But that will almost double to $4 trillion by 2028 and could be a lot more if real estate is included. While that wealth is...
Clients have been asking about the prospect of runaway inflation and how it could affect their portfolio and their ability to meet retirement goals. In this interview with Wealth Professional, Robyn Thompson offers pointers for financial advisors and their clients...
Foundational principles for financial success For many new grads this year, leaving the security of the academic environment for the big wide world can be a slightly scary prospect, especially if you have to make your own way financially and can no longer rely...
Do’s and don’ts for the new investment environment By now, you’ve noticed that the prices of everyday essentials from groceries to gas to lumber have edged up, some quite significantly. No, you’re not dreaming, and it’s not a mistake. Consumer price indexes have...
Navigating stress tests and high-ratio mortgage insurance As if the real estate market weren’t already challenging enough, the government has decided to make it even tougher by tightening the qualification thresholds for certain mortgages. If you’re applying for a...
I’m pleased to announce my association with The Women’s Collection, a new online resource designed to deliver a female-focused, comprehensive financial literacy and investment program to empower and engage women who want financial freedom and independence. The...
Pandemic restrictions have changed how much money we have on hand. For some, it’s more, for many it’s much less. Check out my recent interview on CHCH TV for some tips on the 4 C’s of managing personal cash flow during the...
I’m thrilled to announce that the Castlemark Wealth Management Team has been chosen by Wealth Professional Canada Magazine as one of Canada’s “5-Star Top Teams.” Each of the 15 winning advisory teams was evaluated on critical aspects of their wealth management...
Managing your cash, from crunch to conservation Over the past year, the pandemic has put many people between a rock and a hard place financially. A recent survey by FP Canada indicated that nearly 60% of respondents said they had at least one negative financial...
Avoid surprises: talk about money before exchanging vows Couples caught up in the details of planning a wedding – especially during the pandemic lockdowns – often neglect to talk about money. That’s not surprising, since the Leger Discomfort Index, a survey of what...