Posts by Robb Engen
Weekend Reading: Retirement Heaven or Hell Edition
Retirement isn’t just about the numbers (have I saved enough, how much can I spend). It’s a new chapter in your life that can last 30 years or more. You need to consider what you’re retiring to, not just what you’re retiring from. That’s exactly what author Mike Drak explores in his latest book, Retirement…
Read MoreEirene Cremations: Shining a Light on the Cost of Dying
Some industries are known for their lack of transparency – placing consumers at an incredible disadvantage. The cost of financial advice, a new vehicle, or a cell phone plan (to name a few) can vary widely and it’s not always clear if consumers are getting a fair deal. Technology has helped balance the scales, offering…
Read MoreTurboTax Full Service Self Employed Review
This year is going to be one of the strangest and (potentially) most complicated years for tax filing. Jobs were lost and hours cut during the pandemic. The federal government responded by introducing the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), among a host of other measures to protect workers…
Read MoreBuilding Wealth: Your Human Capital vs. Financial Capital
I began my career as a young sales manager in the hospitality industry and earned an annual salary of $26,000. Little did I know at the time that my human capital – as in, the present value of my expected future income throughout my working lifetime – would be worth nearly $3,000,000! I recently did…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Not Another GameStop Explainer Edition
The internet was all atwitter about the stock market this week, more specifically about the performance of GameStop stock, short-selling, hedge funds, and Robinhood (a free stock trading app in the U.S.). Financial journalists, pundits, and amateur investors all offered their hot takes on this ‘Reddit-fuelled’ market frenzy. My inbox also lit up with friends…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: RRSP Tax Tips Edition
The deadline to contribute to your RRSP for the 2020 tax year is just over a month away (March 1, 2021). Now is a great time to take advantage of any unused RRSP contribution room and reduce your net income (and tax burden) for 2020. Remember, your RRSP deduction limit is determined by: Your unused…
Read MoreMoney Bag: Cryptocurrency FOMO, Selling Stocks at a Loss, and More
Welcome to the Money Bag, where I answer questions and address comments from readers on a wide range of money topics, myths, and perceptions about money. No question is off limits, so hit me up in the comments section or send me an email about any money topic that’s on your mind. This edition of the Money Bag…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Housing Boom Edition
The Canadian housing market soared to new heights in 2020 as home prices and housing sales both hit record highs. The Canadian Real Estate Association reported a 47.2% year-over-year increase in annual sales activity, and a 13% year-over-year increase to the he MLS Home Price Index (HPI). The average home price in Canada was a…
Read MoreWealthsimple Trade Review – Canada’s Only Zero-Commission Trading Platform
Wealthsimple Trade is Canada’s first and only zero-commission trading platform. In this Wealthsimple Trade review I’ll explain how you can buy AND sell from among the thousands of stocks and ETFs listed on North American exchanges without paying any fees. I first heard about Wealthsimple Trade in 2018 when it was announced as a new…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: 2020 Portfolio Returns Edition
Mr. Market is the imaginary investor described in Benjamin Graham’s book, The Intelligent Investor. Driven by fear, greed, or apathy on any given day, Mr. Market invests according to his mood rather than rational analysis. It’s fair to describe Mr. Market as manic-depressive, randomly swinging from optimism to pessimism. Last year’s wild stock market ride…
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