Category Archives: financial planning

Risk Free Returns or Return Free Risk

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Rick

Over the past few years there has been a flight out of equities and into government bonds. People fear the volatility that has plagued equities since 2008. This strategy appears to have worked. However, there is risk associated with this … Continue reading →

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What’s Your Legacy?

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Rick

Estate planning is something that is supposed to be done before one dies. The legal document in the estate planning process is called the will. The will determines how a person’s financial affairs are to be dealt with at death. … Continue reading →

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Graduating with the Burden of Debt

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Rick

Depending on whether a student lives at home or away, the cost of a four-year university education ranges between $40,000 and $85,000. Long gone are the days when a student could fund their own education with summer jobs. Many families cannot … Continue reading →

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When Should You Start Collecting CPP?

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Rick

The normal age to start drawing from the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is age 65. You can begin drawing as early as age 60, but there is a penalty for taking CPP early. So this is an important question that … Continue reading →

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Confusion About the Tax-Free Savings Account

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Rick

It appears that some confusion has developed over the Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). Much of the problem may be directly attributed to the name. The word “Savings” seems to imply for most people that the TFSA deposit must be made … Continue reading →

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The Ultimate Money Test

Posted on April 26, 2012 by David Boyd

Do you have a good grip on your financial situation? Are you prepared for the future and whatever it throws at you? Just how much do you think your net worth is right now? If you don’t know the answer … Continue reading →

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Budgeting & Saving Advice for Working Mums

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Guest

Look around your friends and colleagues and you’re unlikely to find a working mum with plenty of spare time and money. There may be little they can do to increase the actual amount of either, so what counts is making … Continue reading →

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Finding Unclaimed Money: What Happens to Checks You Never Receive?

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Sam Mauzy

There is rumored to be billions of dollars unclaimed each year. Sometimes these funds come from unclaimed deposits, failed credit cards, abandoned bank accounts or even unclaimed pensions. Finding this money can be a bit tricky, but you can do … Continue reading →

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The Death of Old Age Security

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Rick

Today’s retirees were born into a world of entitlement in which the employer, the union and the government provided a defined-benefit retirement plan and financial security from cradle to grave. This scene is changing fast. As Canadians age we are … Continue reading →

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Life Changes in a New York Minute

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Rick

The phrase “New York Minute” is thought to have originated in Texas during the 60’s. A Texan took a minute to do what a New Yorker did in an instant. This short essay will illustrate how a life changing event … Continue reading →

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