Don’t set impossible financial goals The New Year is a great time for making resolutions and for taking control of your finances. Easy to say, but not so easy to do! When you resolve something vague like, “I promise to spend less in 2015,” that’s a resolution that...
The remedy for financial overindulgence Every year around this time, I’m asked how to overcome the seasonal spending disorder that grips a large part of the population. But there is a remedy, and it doesn’t involve laborious budgets and daily penny-counting. Instead,...
Robyn Thompson is regularly featured in The Toronto Star’s “Money Makeover” series by Deanne Gage. In this recent post, Robyn recommends that a high-income 70-year-old retiree curt the risk in her investment portfolio and realign her income stream to make it more tax...
How to find out whether a planner is a good match “Financial planners” seem to be around every corner these days. And no wonder. As Baby Boomers retire and Gen-Xers approach middle age, the demand for trustworthy financial advice has never been greater. Yet many...
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 mortgage,...
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 “Monday Makeover” series by Deanne Gage. In this recent post, Robyn helps a cash-strapped couple maximize government benefits they’ve forgotten about.
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...
How bank deposits are costing you and what to do about it Thinking of saving a few bucks with your local bank? Forget it! The days of putting a little something aside in your “savings” account are long gone. That’s because these days, you’re earning just about nothing...
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 loudest....
Get adequate life and disability coverage first Critical illness insurance has become quite popular in the past few years. But do you really need it? I’m often asked this by younger professionals with high incomes and new families. What if something were to happen –...