Time to pay the post-secondary piper Around about this time of year, the great Canadian university hunt gets into full swing. Universities make the rounds at high schools and fairs, looking to entice students to their schools. Students and parents make the rounds,...
These plans will help you create tax-free dollars If your New Year’s financial resolutions have already evaporated, despite your best intentions, you might try just one more: create tax-free dollars. There’s no special magic involved here. Nor is there any...
Yes, you can spruce up your personal finances for 2020 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....
Robyn Thompson is featured in The Globe and Mail’s “Financial Facelift” series by Diane Maley. This time, high earners Toby and Cheryl wonder how to achieve their goals of a luxury lifestyle now while providing for their kids’ education and targeting an early...
As stock markets gyrate alarmingly in this season of market volatility, novice investors often start to have second thoughts about their investment strategy, especially those novices who don’t have a financial plan, an investment strategy policy, or a clue about their real tolerance for risk.
The big business of life, mortgage, and critical illness insurance Insurance is a numbers game. Anyone who has ever purchased any kind of life or health insurance knows this firsthand. But here’s one number you won’t often hear about: $4.7 trillion (no mistake,...
Financial planning for lottery winnings, inheritances, gifts For those few who are lucky major lottery prize winners or for those who have inherited sudden wealth, the real question isn’t how to spend it…it’s how to keep it. For people in this rarefied group, my...
Robyn Thompson is featured in The Globe and Mail’s “Financial Facelift” series by Diane Maley. This time, Ruth, a retired teacher, is worried that her existing savings and reduced income won’t be enough to provide for her kids’ university education or support her...
What’s in it, who can see it, and why it’s important We often hear financial experts advising people to check their “credit score.” It’s a good idea to do that every year. That will give you an idea of what kind of risk lenders think you are. It can also signal if...
How to cope with higher education’s sticker shock There’s no two ways around it: The cost of a post-secondary education is high. For some, it’s a real challenge to make ends meet while attending college or university. In fact, students can expect to pay a total of...
Financial planning for the suddenly single If you find you’re suddenly single again after many years of being part of a couple, the financial challenges can seem overwhelming. But there are some lifelines at hand if you feel like you’re teetering on the edge of...
A little financial know-how goes a long way With a new baby on the way, parents-to-be often find the transition from a free-and-easy twosome to responsible threesome something of a challenge, especially when it comes to personal finances. Luckily, there are some...