3 key principles of Madonna’s pop star staying power Long-time pop queen Madonna really hit the big time with the debut of her second album “Like a Virgin.” That was 30 years ago, and she’s been a pop celebrity ever since. Success like that is tough to replicate....
Three ways to use your funds – and how they work Gen-Xers, Gen-Yers, and Millennials should all have RRSPs. Sadly, most do not. The smart ones do, and are taking advantage of the powerful long-term compounding and tax-sheltering benefits of this wonderful...
Robyn Thompson is regularly featured in The Toronto Star’s “Money Makeover” series by Deanne Gage. In this recent post, Robyn recommends a plan for a 57-year-old divorced woman who lost her job and is afraid of losing her house, which still carries a large...
Good planning relieves stress, promotes overall well-being This is a challenging time for building your wealth and saving for retirement. A new study conducted by Leger Research for the Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) noted that money is the number-one...
Robyn Thompson is regularly featured in The Toronto Star’s “Money Makeover” series by Deanne Gage. In this recent post, Robyn helps a couple in their mid-fifties who have amassed $1.3 million in investments, but still need to pay off a loan and clean up and...
There’s more to it than just dipping into your savings accounts Q – My husband and I are both 45 and set to retire in 15 years. We have the majority of our money invested in mutual funds divided between RRSPs and cash accounts. We are looking to do some planning...
Start with the basics, and the rest falls into place Q – I am a self-directed investor and mainly trade stocks through an online brokerage service. Do you have any tips for a novice on how to set up a plan to become a successful investor? – Asked by Terri W., Fort...
How the newly-single woman can stay financially fit Q – I am going through a divorce, and I know I need to take charge of my financial future. But I have no idea where to start. Can you help? – Marcia L., Winnipeg, Manitoba A – First of all, don’t fret! As a...
Not too much, not too little, but just right When it comes to financial advice, many people suffer from Gordon Ramsay syndrome. That’s my term for those who have far too many financial cooks in the kitchen, and who end up listening to the one who shouts the...
Permanent life policies pitch savings growth... at a price If you’ve ever shopped for life insurance, you’ll know you can quickly get tangled up in a thicket of plans, policies, terms, exclusions, riders, benefits, and all the other paraphernalia that comes with...
5 questions you should ask yourself about your advisor Finding a financial advisor can be like choosing a flavor from the 56 listed at your local ice cream store. They all sound good, but some are better than others. To help you narrow down your search, here are...
4 financial planning principles for the soon-to-be-married Many newlywed couples I talk to in my financial planning practice are of the high net worth variety. They are often professionals or executives and each brings to the marriage a fairly robust net worth and...