How To Save For Large Purchases
As a financial blogger I get asked all the time how to save for large purchases such as a vacation, renovation, or an expensive Christmas season. My answer is pretty simple: make a spending plan at the start of the year. I’ve been tracking my spending for many years and one thing that has allowed me to…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Amazon Go Edition
Amazon turned heads this week when it announced a new grocery store shopping experience with no check-outs or line-ups. The online retail giant recently opened an 1,800 square foot retail space in Seattle as a pilot project for its employees, with hopes to open Amazon Go to the public in early 2017. The company explains its vision…
Read MoreFinancial Elder Abuse Is On The Rise
I was distressed to read the CBC news report about a 92 year old man who had basically been ripped off by his own children who had been draining his bank account. Even more disturbing is that financial abuse of seniors is on the rise, and the likeliest perpetrators tend to be family members, usually an…
Read MoreBook Review: Market Masters – Proven Investing Strategies You Can Apply
Whenever you want to learn a new subject, it’s always best to learn from others who are more experienced and successful in their field. This is especially true if you want to improve as an investor. In Market Masters, author Robin R. Speziale interviewed 28 of Canada’s top money managers who practise various investment styles…
Read MoreCommission-Based Advice and Suitability: A Dangerous Combination for Canadian Investors
The average Canadian investor has little clue how their financial advisor gets paid, or that their advisor is only obligated to provide advice and product recommendations that is suitable, but not necessarily in the best interests of their clients. Commission-based advice Why does this matter? Commission-based advice leads to conflicts of interest. Namely, advisors who…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: CBC Marketplace Edition
I had the honour and privilege to work with the CBC Marketplace team in Toronto last month to put together a story about Air Miles and its unpopular expiry policy. But then, just a day before the episode was to go live, Air Miles backed down and cancelled its expiry policy effective immediately. The CBC…
Read MoreFinancial Planning For Couples: Starting To Invest
You should by now have spent some time as a couple prioritizing your goals and using the appropriate savings vehicle for your short and medium term goals. How far you need to go (your goal), and how much time you have to get there will determine the most suitable vehicle within your level of tolerance for…
Read MoreShould Rewards Points Be Allowed To Expire?
Nearly a decade ago every province in Canada passed some form of legislation that banned expiry dates and most fees on gift cards and prepaid cards. Canadians spend nearly $6 billion annually on gift cards and these regulations ensure that consumers get the full value of their gift card no matter when they decide to…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Fake News Edition
One of the biggest post-election stories has been how the proliferation of ‘fake news’, particularly on Facebook, may have influenced voter behaviour. The Washington Post interviewed a fake news writer who actually believed Donald Trump is in the White House because of his online hoaxes. Gullibility of the masses meant this writer was earning upwards…
Read MoreFrom The Boomer & Echo Mailbag: My Mortgage Is Almost Paid Off. Now What?
Q. I will be making my final mortgage payment in a couple of months. What happens next? Congratulations for achieving this big financial milestone. You’re about to own your home free and clear of any debt and, with the increase in your cash flow, you will improve your financial condition. Once that final mortgage payment…
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