Ever since screen goddess Marilyn Monroe breathily sang the famous lyric in the 1959 hit movie Some Like It Hot, diamonds have come to be known as “a girl’s best friend.” You can understand why. They’re flashy and sparkly and pricey. And some girls actually drip with...
Don't play 'offense' either - play it smart Markets can be unpredictable in the fall. Also in the winter, spring, and summer. I got to thinking about this when I was recently asked to recommend some “defensive” mutual fund investment categories that would see an...
Three principles of financial planning for millionaires (and wannabes) What would you do with $31 million? It’s a common fantasy question at coffee break or around the water cooler when government lottery jackpots reach eye-watering levels. A recent Lotto 649 jackpot...
I’m often asked by clients what to do with shares of bankrupt, insolvent, or wound-up companies that are no longer traded on the stock market. For obvious reasons, taking a capital loss on the shares makes sense, especially if there are capital gains elsewhere that...
Oprah Winfrey is worth a cool US$2.9 billion. That, according to Forbes magazine, puts her at number 181 of the 400 richest people in America. Not bad for a self-made small-town girl who started with nothing. There are other women on the rich list, too. And some are...
TORONTO, ONTARIO (September 13, 2013) – Castlemark Wealth Management Inc. is pleased to announce that company president Robyn K. Thompson, CFP, CIM, FCSI, will be a volunteer partner with Girls Inc. of Durham in the launch of the ING-Girls Inc. Investing Matters...
Q – Last week you answered a question about fighting a Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency. My question relates to another comment made on my Notice regarding instalment payments. I have a business on the side, apart from my regular employment, and...
Your tax refund isn't a "gift" Have you received a “tax refund”? It’s around this time of year that taxpayers get Notices of Assessment from the CRA. Sometimes that means a cheque. Sometimes it means a nasty tax bill. So what will you do? Cash the cheque and blow it...
Q – I recently received a Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency, saying that I owe several thousand dollars more in taxes. I disagree. But I’m at a loss about what to do next. Should I call the CRA directly? What would be the best course of action?...
The first steps to being money-wise It’s commencement season. All across the country through June, university and college students finally get their robes, mortarboards, and rolled-up diplomas. And then there’s the big question: Now what? It’s an exciting time. For...
Q – My husband and I are thinking of starting a family and we feel we need more space. We are currently renting a downtown condo unit, but we’re wondering whether we can afford to borrow to buy a home. Is there some rule of thumb we can use to calculate the type of...
Markets have taken four years to reach records: Where have you been? Are you getting the urge? Got the itch? To invest heavily in stocks, I mean. And particularly U.S. stocks. You may have heard that the Dow Jones Industrial Average is reaching all-time record highs....