I came across a recent CTV News Consumer Alert article/video clip about taxes on the estate when the bulk of the deceased’s assets were held in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and a principal residence that had been owned as a secondary property for...
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Exploring the psychology of stock picking and the evidence for better alternatives The Problem Emerges The paradox is hard to miss: study after study shows that consistently beating the market through individual stock picking is nearly impossible, even for professionals. Yet many do-it-yourself investors keep trying. Why? Stock...
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When Life Hits Harder Than Expected At age 25, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Three decades later, I started peritoneal dialysis, followed by a kidney transplant from a living donor at age 57. In between, I underwent surgeries for my gall bladder (2007) and...
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During my time in the discount brokerage world, I encountered individuals whose investment accounts seemed to function more like slot machines or roulette wheels. They would deposit money and bet it all on a single stock, implement aggressive options strategies, or day trade in and...
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Allow me to introduce Daniel—a 32-year-old single man living in Calgary, earning $105,000 per year. He contributes regularly to his TFSA and personal RRSP, and also to a group RRSP through his employer, who matches his contributions via a Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP). Daniel...
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A New Option, or a New Distraction? Periodically, investors are introduced to new asset classes with the promise of improving their portfolios. Lately, “alternatives” and “commodities” have become buzzwords in the world of investment products, sometimes packaged as part of a fund’s “expanded opportunity set,” or...
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An Unexpected Discovery David and Susan have done everything right. Born in 1960 and now turning 65, they've worked steady careers, raised a family, and saved carefully. Their London, Ontario home is mortgage-free, their debts are paid off, and between their RRSPs, TFSAs, DC pension plans, and...
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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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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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