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Marriage on the rocks: strategies for the newly single
Tips for post-divorce financial planning The stress of a divorce, with its hearings over settlements and custody arrangements if there are children involved, can quickly eclipse any thoughts of financial planning for yourself. But it’s something you shouldn’t...
Option strategies as an income-enhancement tool
What’s a “covered call write” and how do managers use it? Portfolio managers increasingly use stock options to enhance income, using something called a “covered call writing” strategy. But to many investors this sounds mysterious and slightly risky. In fact, when...
CCPCs under attack, but IPPs remain untouched
Individual Pension Plans a tax-efficient retirement savings tool Given the current effort by the federal government to clamp down on some of the income “splitting and sprinkling” tax benefits of Canadian-Controlled Private Corporations (CCPCs), there’s definitely a...
School’s in session: time to break open the RESP
How RESPs pay out for post-secondary expenses If you have kids going off to college or university this fall, you’ll be tapping into any savings you’ve made through a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). But those payments aren’t treated like a bank account....
Financial principles for young singles
Read Robyn’s advice on how to stop being broke Young singles are a special breed. Definitely independent, confident in their ability to fend for themselves. And with a career underway, they’re thinking about growing that nest-egg for their retirement years. But how...
Is it time to look for active bond management?
Bond ETFs retreat as rates edge up You might have noticed that the shorter-term returns of the broader index-tracking bond ETFs, such as the iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (TSX: XBB), have been sliding recently. Is it time to switch out of passive,...
Money Makeover: This couple’s situation cries out for a financial plan
Robyn Thompson is regularly featured in The Toronto Star’s “Money Makeover” series by Deanne Gage. This month, Money Makeover takes a look at Justine and Gary, a couple with two young children, well-paying jobs, and who are living well within their means. The...
Important financial advice for new grads
Make paying down your student loan a priority If you just graduated from university or college, you may or may not have a job in your field of study. What you probably do have is a pretty hefty student loan debt load. Many students wonder how they’re going to pay...
How busy Millennials can become investment couch potatoes
Active versus passive investment styles The “couch potato” portfolio is so named because it takes a “passive” approach to investing. It is predicated on the theory that markets are efficient, or smarter, than any single person. Studies have shown that the passive,...
Air money issues before you tie the knot
A little pre-nup financial advice Young couples getting ready to tie the knot this summer typically have a lot to talk about – guest lists, invitations, venues, honeymoon, and all the details that go into planning a wedding. Money often isn’t part of the...
How to assemble a financial advisory team
Professionals bring unique skills to the table It seems like there are “financial advisors” around every corner. Trouble is, they all seem to offer different services and have different qualifications. And they all charge different fees. Do you really need a lawyer...
Fading sunsets: selling a cottage can be a taxing problem
Unless it’s a principal residence, you’ll pay tax on any gain in value If the likes of Steven Spielberg, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Tom Hanks, and Bill Murray have been spotted vacationing at summer homes in the exclusive Muskoka lakes region of Ontario, there...