First, pack away the plastic With the holiday season now over, all those credit card bills are coming in. And the news isn’t good. If you have a wallet full of cards, and you’ve reached the limit on at least one, you’ve got a problem. Fortunately, there are some easy...
Avoid these money mistakes for a more successful 2016 At this time of the year, I’m often asked what I consider to be the most common financial and planning errors most people make. Over the years, I’ve boiled it down to the seven deadly sins of financial planning....
A few basic tips to help you get started Do you have good intentions at the beginning of each year, but find that by New Year’s Eve, your finances and investments are still in a disorganized mess? If so, I have a few suggestions to help you start getting your money...
Robyn Thompson is regularly featured in The Toronto Star’s “Money Makeover” series by Deanne Gage. Money Makeover takes a look at how Mike and Constance can juggle their dreams for a home, a family and the future.
Regaining financial independence is as easy as 1-2-3 Although it may not feel like it while it’s happening, you can achieve financial empowerment after a divorce. But you will need to take charge of your personal finances, even if you haven’t been accustomed to doing...
Making the most of the sweet spot in your financial life Graduation from college or university is an exciting time. But it can also be unsettling. If you have student loans, you’ll need to start paying those off. You can’t pay them off by, say, “travelling” for a...
An insurance strategy to guarantee your retirement nestegg If you’re a member of the “sandwich generation,” your story is typical of many people in your demographic. You find yourselves taking care of both your own family (one or more kids off to university) and your...
It’s not too late, provided you follow five basic rules Q – My husband and I are in our mid-40s, with two teenage children. We now own our home free and clear. Because we’ve been diligent about paying off our mortgage, with bi-weekly payments and annual pre-payments,...
Remember, good advice doesn’t cost, it pays Many people seeking financial advice are not sure what a good financial plan should do or how to determine whether an advisor is bringing value for the money she’s charging. Why not just go to the bank and have a free plan...
How to resist the urge to splurge Do you spend every single last dime of what you make – and then some? Don’t know? You’re not alone. In these days of easy credit, it’s all too easy to blur that line between your income and your expenses. This becomes a real problem...
Practical strategies for debt relief If there’s any one item that will suck the life right out of your bank account, shred your budget, and seriously damage your long-term savings goals, it’s debt. And the worst kind of debt is credit card debt. With annual rates of...
What you need to know for RRSP success Should you contribute to a Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)? With Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs) becoming more popular, there’s a fierce debate among the experts on the relative merits of each type of account. True,...