The Unexpected Problem The RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) has long been considered a cornerstone of Canadian retirement savings. It offers tax deductions now, tax-deferred growth, and (presumably) lower taxes in retirement. It's often described as a “no-brainer” for Canadians who want to retire comfortably. On the...
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You may have heard that the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has proposed the introduction of the “Canada First TFSA Top-Up,” a plan to allow Canadians to contribute an extra $5,000 in their Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), as long as the amount qualifies as a...
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As I write this on Monday, April 7, 2025, the repercussions of U.S. President Trump’s tariffs continue to roil the stock market. Many readers, especially those in their 50s, 60s, and older, who have likely accumulated significant investment assets over their lives, are probably down...
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The Problem of No Pension Benefits Hannah’s Exciting Start At 24, Hannah has just graduated with a master’s degree, specializing in Information Systems and Design. She’s landed a job in the tech sector in Toronto, earning a solid salary of $85,000 per year. The Missing Piece While the job...
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The Problem Emerges Margaret's Situation At 75, and recently widowed, Margaret has decided to sell her detached home in British Columbia. She's in good health but wants to eliminate the responsibilities of homeownership. The Dilemma With anticipated net sale proceeds of $800,000, Margaret is faced with a decision about...
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It should be understood that investing can be challenging. In this case, I’m not talking about the process of investing, the purchase of a mutual fund or Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). Rather, I am referring to the uncertainty, the inevitable fluctuations in the prices of the...
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The image above, posted on Flickr, is of a Hina Matsuri display, the Doll Festival, held in Japan on March 3 every year. On this day, families with girls wish their daughters a successful and happy life. March 3, 2025 also happens to be the...
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The Unexpected Problem: Nature Risk Our home insurance renews at the end of January every year. In December, we received a document from our insurance broker informing us that the insurance company we had been using for the last several years was removing “overland water (flood)...
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Tax Planning is Important Taxes may not be the first thing on a young person’s mind, but neglecting tax planning early in life can lead to missed savings opportunities and financial inefficiencies. Many Generation Zed* (hereafter GenZ) individuals: Overpay taxes by not taking advantage of available credits...
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There Are Too Many ETFs It wasn’t that many years ago when I was barely aware that Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) existed. After a few years, the benefits of ETFs began to appear. They were a remarkably low-cost way to get broad-market exposure to the world’s investment...
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