Posts by Robb Engen
Weekend Reading: Passport Renewal Edition
My wife and I first got passports prior to our wedding and honeymoon in 2006. I last travelled to the U.S. in 2011 when I attended a conference in Orlando, Florida, just a few months before the five-year passport expired. Since then, changes to Canada’s passport program include the new e-Passport, along with the option to apply for…
Read More9 Money Myths That Experts Wish You’d Stop Believing
Many of our common beliefs about money come from rules of thumb that have been passed down from previous generations. Old adages, such as pay yourself first and spend less than you earn, have stood the test of time. Other ideas, however, don’t hold up as well today, or were flat-out wrong to begin with.…
Read MoreHow We Find Joy in the Smallest Things – Like Cash Back
It’s amazing how we can always find joy in the smallest of things. Like when I lingered too long at a downtown coffee shop last week and expected to find a parking ticket – but to my surprise a Good Samaritan had plugged the meter for me before time expired. Or the time we went…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: $11,000 TFSA Limit Edition
The federal budget will be unveiled April 21st and one of the hot-button issues is whether the conservatives will follow-through on an election promise to double the TFSA contribution limits. In a confidential letter leaked to the media this week, finance minister Joe Oliver indicated the government would honour that promise and increase TFSA limits to…
Read MoreAre Deferred Sales Charges Holding You Back?
Many investors eventually come to the realization that the mutual funds sold by their bank or investment firm come with unjustifiably high fees. Making the switch to low cost index funds or ETFs sounds like the easiest, most logical choice, however there is typically one final hurdle for investors to overcome. Deferred sales charges –…
Read MoreFree Seminar: Learn How To Get Ripped Off
This week, Toronto area residents will be treated to a “unique opportunity” to learn how to grow their personal wealth by buying and selling real estate. Participants in this free workshop will discover the ingredients for success in real estate, sources of money to fund investments, locating deals in the hidden market, and creating multiple…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Death of Retail Edition
It’s been a bad year for retail stores in Canada. Last week, Future Shop joined the ranks of Target, Sony Corp, Radio Shack, Mexx, and Smart Set, by abruptly closing 66 of its 131 stores (with plans to convert the remainder into Best Buy locations). The “Amazon effect” is partly to blame, according to researchers, as Canadians…
Read MoreThe One-Page Financial Plan: Book Review and Giveaway
Every now and then a new personal finance book comes along that promises to change the way we think about money. But we’re left feeling disappointed, more often than not, when we realize there’s no silver bullet cure to get our finances on track. No latte factor or folksy barber wisdom can tell you exactly how to manage your money. The fact…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Retire Rich Edition
One of the best investments you can make when looking to get a handle on your finances is a subscription to MoneySense magazine. For just $25 per year you’ll get eight issues loaded with useful tips and practical advice from some of Canada’s leading financial experts and authors. The MoneySense team is hosting a Retire Rich event on the…
Read MoreHow Is The Fee-Only Planning Business Going?
I’ve written about personal finance and investing for the past five years and over that time received countless emails from readers asking for financial advice about their unique situation. That’s why last year we started a fee-only planning service after recognizing the glaring need for unbiased and objective financial advice in Canada. As far as I know, I’m the only…
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