Are You Cut Out To Be A Landlord?
Buying an investment property is a popular option for many Canadians looking for different ways to invest their money. Rental properties can provide you with steady monthly income and could appreciate in value over the years. But are you cut out to be a landlord? Finding the right property Finding the right property as an…
Read MoreFiling Taxes: Free Software, Costly Accountant, or Something in Between?
We’re right in the middle of tax season, and while some keeners have already filed, Canadian taxpayers have until May 2nd to submit their personal taxes for 2015. The deadline to file taxes for those who are self-employed is June 15th. There aren’t very many strategies for individuals to save on taxes these days and so…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Pursue Your Passion Edition
I’ve argued before that doing what you love won’t necessarily pay the bills and so the best way to pursue your passion might be on a freelance basis or as a side business while you maintain a regular day job. This blog is a perfect example. It started out as a hobby and an outlet…
Read MoreMoney and Happiness
A famous study co-authored several years ago by Nobel Prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman offered some fascinating insights into the relationship between money and happiness. The study, which analyzed the responses of 450,000 Americans, revealed that people who earned less than $75,000 per year were more likely to feel sad or stressed about their day-to-day lives.…
Read MoreWhy An Emergency Fund Is Still A Necessity
There have been a lot of news items (CBC news example) about massive layoffs resulting in bankruptcies, money crunches, and home foreclosures that I wonder if the financial planning concept of having an emergency fund is passé. Lots of people don’t think they need one. They don’t really believe an emergency would happen to them.…
Read MoreNest Wealth vs. Wealthsimple: A Tale of Two Robo-Advisors
This post provides a detailed review of Nest Wealth and Wealthsimple, comparing two of Canada’s leading robo-advisors for your online investing needs. If we’ve learned anything over the past 10 years, thanks to the likes of Uber and Netflix, it’s that no industry is immune to the impact of disruptive technology. Now Canada’s big banks…
Read MoreWorry-Proof Your Investment Plan
When it comes to our financial futures, the one thing we’re most scared of is uncertainty. It would be great if we could look into a crystal ball to see what the future will hold. When you devise your investment plan a lot of assumptions have to be made because we just don’t know what…
Read MoreIs Impulse Buying Setting Back Your Goals?
When it comes to finding extra money for saving in your budget, we’re often told to look at your regular spending patterns. You know the drill – cut out your Starbucks habit, bring your own lunch to work, take the bus. But often it’s the irregular impulse buying that can wreak havoc on your budget. You…
Read MoreZero Down Mortgages: The Last Gasp From A Housing Bubble Ready To Pop?
Since the 2008 financial crisis Canada’s federal government has taken several steps to cool the nation’s housing market; namely reducing the short-lived 40-year mortgages to today’s 25-year amortization period, and eliminating zero down mortgages to require homebuyers put down a minimum five percent. These measures didn’t do much to slow down a rapidly rising real estate market, particularly in…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Income Splitting for Small Business Edition
When I started my online business I was concerned about how best to minimize taxes on any income earned. As the lone breadwinner in my family, any extra income earned outside of my day job is taxed at my highest marginal rate. I knew that one advantage of having a small business is the ability…
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