Why Indexing Doesn’t Mean Settling For Average Returns
Why are you settling for average returns? That’s one of the biggest criticisms I received after selling my portfolio of dividend stocks and switching to a two-ETF passive indexing approach last year. It’s true, I had thrown in the towel and given up on beating the market. But what many stock-pickers fail to understand is that index…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Tesla Model 3 Edition
Consumer response to the unveiling of Tesla’s new Model 3 electric car was nothing short of incredible. Showing a cult-like following not seen outside of a new Apple product launch, enthusiastic consumers lined-up for the opportunity to throw down $1,000 deposit on a car they had yet to see, and that won’t actually be available until late…
Read MoreFlipp vs. Checkout 51: Grocery App Comparison
Scanning the weekly flyers and clipping coupons at the kitchen table will soon be a thing of the past as Canadians turn to their smart-phones to save money and find the best deals on groceries. At the forefront are two slick mobile apps – Flipp and Checkout 51 – which are designed to take the pain…
Read MoreFinancial Management By The Decade – The 70’s
Your 70’s is the decade in which you’ll find yourself slowing down somewhat and you may want to simplify your lifestyle. This means your spending will likely slow down too. Convert your RRSP You’ve worked hard to build your RRSP. Now it’s time to take your money out. By the end of the year you turn…
Read MoreThe Price of Staying Connected: Should Your Employer Pay Your Cell Phone Bill?
The last thing I want to do on Easter weekend, or any weekend for that matter, is take a call from work or answer an urgent email from a customer, boss or co-worker. Despite feeling this way I know that many employers want to stay connected with their employees outside of traditional office hours and…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Easter Edition
I filed my taxes this week – both personal and for my small business – and came away pleased that I didn’t owe anything extra on the personal side and that my business taxes for 2015 came in less than expected. I’ve mentioned previously that I work with an accountant to help ensure that I…
Read MoreFrom The Boomer & Echo Mailbag: Your Tax Questions Answered
It’s tax time and we’re answering your burning tax-related questions, such as deductions for locked-in retirement, pension income, and medical expenses, filing your taxes before receiving all of your slips, and declaring income generated from a hobby business. Here we go: Q. The money in my locked-in retirement income fund (LRIF) came from an employer…
Read MoreManaging Multiple Financial Goals
Looking at your finances and trying to figure out how to deal with multiple goals can be frustrating. We want it all – who doesn’t? But for most of us it’s not that easy. Which goals do you save towards first, second, and so on? How do you prioritize retirement savings, children’s education, a new…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Sell or Hold Edition
When faced with an investment that has substantially increased in value one of the hardest decisions investors have to make is whether to sell or hold. A reader of behavioural psychologist Dan Ariely’s blog asked this question about an investment he made in bitcoin that had increased in value by an incredible 4,000%. He wanted…
Read MoreHelp! Will My Air Miles Expire And Become Worthless?
The Air Miles rewards program underwent major changes back in 2011. First, the popular loyalty program phased out the ability to redeem Air Miles for gift certificates and instead introduced a new feature called Air Miles Cash as a way for its members to redeem their rewards instantly online or at participating retailers. The second and more controversial announcement…
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