Posts by Robb Engen
Priced Out: Why It’s Crazy To Buy A Home In Vancouver Or Toronto
When central and southern Alberta experienced catastrophic flooding in June 2013 there were 32 states of emergency declared and over 100,000 people displaced throughout the region. Reports of price gouging at various retailers surfaced on social media; one story in particular claimed that an unscrupulous Calgary retailer was selling individual bags of ice for $20. Given the urgency…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Fort McMurray Edition
Our hearts go out to the residents of Fort McMurray who earlier this week were forced to abandon their homes and flee the city as a massive wildfire continues to devastate the northern Alberta community. The fire, which is said could double in size by Saturday, has sent 80,000 evacuees to nearby work-camps, hotels, and recreation centres in…
Read MoreWhy 30 Year Olds Aren’t Screwed
Five years ago, financial blowhard advisor Kurt Rosentreter published a newsletter with the daunting title, “Canadian 30 Year Olds Are Screwed.” The author displayed the kind of “get off my lawn” finger wagging attitude all too common in generational wars; using ridiculous and patronizing claims like, “people spend more time on the Internet than their finances,”…
Read More11 Model Portfolios To Simplify Your Investments
Using a robo-advisor can be a great way to lower your investment costs, diversify your portfolio, and reduce the time you spend worrying about investing. But if you’re a DIY investor like me then you can lower your costs even further by building a portfolio of index funds or ETFs on your own. Here are…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: FOMO Edition
Millennials are experiencing FOMO – or the fear of missing out – a social angst driven phenomenon that appears when something exciting or interesting may be currently happening elsewhere. FOMO, a close relative of YOLO, is fuelled by social media and the desire to stay constantly connected with what others are doing. When it comes…
Read MoreFacebook vs. Kijiji: Secondhand Economy Smackdown
When we moved into our new house my wife and I vowed to keep our home clean and clutter-free. We’re not minimalists, exactly, but the last thing we wanted was a basement or garage full of stuff we don’t need or use. We’ve kept up that promise, for the most part, but as our kids…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Sad To See You Go Edition
It’s always a bit sad when someone unsubscribes from our newsletter, especially when a long-time reader moves on. But I couldn’t help but get a warm feeling this week after receiving a notification that one of our loyal readers unsubscribed: “You helped inspire me toward retirement with good financial planning over a several year period. I’ve been…
Read MoreShopping For Car Insurance: What’s Holding You Back?
While all motorists are required by law to have car insurance, most people couldn’t be bothered to shop around and make sure they’re getting the right coverage at the best price. If you’re anything like me, you might not have even changed insurance companies since you first started driving! How do you know when it’s…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Get Rich Slowly Edition
One of the founding fathers of personal finance blogging – J.D. Roth – returned to his roots this week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Get Rich Slowly. J.D. hits the highlights in taking readers through his own journey to financial freedom, starting 10 years ago buried with $35,000 in consumer debt and living paycheque…
Read MoreTD Direct Investing WebBroker Platform Review
I’ve been using TD’s discount brokerage since 2009 when I made the switch from mutual funds to DIY investing. At that time, the TD Direct Investing WebBroker platform left much to be desired. The legacy web design of TD WebBroker was clunky and difficult to navigate (with 55 different navigational links!), trades cost $29 each way, and…
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