When I was a young boy living on the more rural outskirts of Chilliwack, BC, my brother and I would often go over to our cousin’s place just up the road and sleep outside overnight. This was in the summertime, of course. We would look...
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Managing our personal finances involves a few mathematical calculations. When we buy a Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC), we are told, for example, that we will receive 5% per year, compounded over five years. If we deposit $5,000 into that GIC, how much will we receive?...
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In the wake of the re-opening of the economy following the COVID-19 lockdown, inflation was inevitable. Despite the low levels of unemployment, many Canadians are finding that their income is not keeping up with their expenses. Nevertheless, the desire to engage in gift-giving during this...
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Each year the month of November is designated as Financial Literacy Month. I like to think that each blog post that I write adds to the financial literacy of my readers, but there is something to be said for a special focus on bringing up...
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It is a cliché that Canadians are loyal to their banks. While it is true that banks or credit unions are necessities of life, we do not need to stay loyal to one bank brand. In this blog post, I will discuss some ways in...
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Many Canadians have a reasonable degree of net worth. Millionaire households are not that unusual if you consider the value of housing, especially if you have been a homeowner for 20 years or more, which would be the case for many who are approaching retirement....
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Scenario Let’s imagine that you are 35 years old and you have just inherited $50,000. You wonder whether it makes sense to contribute to your RRSP, your TFSA, or whether you should open a non-registered account and invest the money there. You live in Ontario and your...
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The bucket strategy divides your investment assets into three categories. The Immediate or Short-Term Bucket This bucket covers a period lasting between two to five years. Money in this category is typically held in savings accounts, Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs), and Short-Term Fixed-Income (Bond) Funds. Assets in...
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Interest Rates and Borrowing, Including Mortgages In the last several months, we have begun to see home sales decrease and prices drop, largely due to an increase in interest rates. If you are planning to borrow money, whether for a mortgage or other purposes, this increase...
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As I write this at the end of May 2022, we are now about a month past the standard tax-filing deadline in Canada. Depending on the results of your return and your stage in life, you may have been contributing to or withdrawing from any...
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