Archive for November 2015
How I Turned A Blog Into A Profitable Online Business
So I have to start off by telling you that the title of this post is a bit misleading because it makes me sound like some kind of online money making guru – and I’m not. I mean, I think the easiest way to build a six-figure blog is to find a job that pays six-figures and…
Read MoreHow To Supercharge Your RRSP
The idea that an RRSP loan can boost your savings and generate a higher tax refund does not sit well with most people. If you can afford the loan payment then why not just budget and save that amount in the first place instead of borrowing? In The Wealthy Barber Returns, author David Chilton describes a strategy…
Read MoreFinancial Management By The Decade – The 30’s
When you get to your 30’s, trying to balance your finances can become overwhelming. Most people find themselves juggling responsibilities of buying a home, mortgage payments, paying for a wedding, starting a family, and somehow trying to save for retirement. You are still early in your career with growing demands at work, and the money…
Read MoreThe Waiting Is The Hardest Part
I spent a lot of time in my late teens and twenties waiting for my financial life to improve. Buried in debt and not making a lot of money, I’d visualize how much better off I’d be if I could just hold out until my next paycheque, or until I got my next raise. I’d picture paying…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: FinTech Edition
There’s a disruptive shift happening in the financial industry where nimble technology start-ups are moving in on traditional bank-dominated services such as lending, investing, payments and retail transactions, and everyday banking. Dubbed FinTech, this financial technology renaissance is quickly moving from alternative to mainstream and is something to watch in 2016 and beyond. We’ve already seen…
Read MoreGet A Handle On Your Expenses: Simplify And Save
I challenged readers a while back to take a day off during the week to work on their finances. That means going through recurring bills, such as cable, internet, bank fees, car insurance, and monthly subscriptions to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. You might also use the time to look for…
Read MoreDetermining Your Asset Allocation
Before you begin choosing your individual investments you need to consider your asset allocation. Asset allocation is your portfolio’s blend of stocks, bonds and cash. Finding the best asset mix is crucial if you want to meet your goals. Rules of thumb A typical balanced asset allocation is 40% fixed income and 60% equities. A…
Read MoreHelp! I Discovered I’m Over-Contributing To My RRSP
Less than one-quarter of Canadians contribute the maximum to their RRSP each year, but if you’re one of those keen savers you’ll want to pay close attention to your RRSP contribution limit to avoid going over. A blog reader named John realized he might be pushing his limit due to automatic monthly contributions and a…
Read MoreFinancial Assessment For Your Retirement
If you have been following this series – and doing your homework – you should now have: Done some serious thinking and reflecting on what you want your retirement to look like. Where will you live? What kinds of activities will you participate in? What’s on your “Bucket List?” When will you begin? Have a…
Read MoreThe Real Cost Of Investing
Arnold and Zelda consider themselves to be good investors. Arnold has all of his wealth in bank GICs, a choice he knows and feels comfortable with. He bemoans the low returns – under 2% – that he is currently receiving, but he’s heard too many horror stories of stock market investing. As a result, Arnold may…
Read More