Why You Should Avoid Group RESPs

Avoid Group RESPs and Scholarship Trusts

Most parents should know that contributing to an RESP is a great way to save for your child’s education. But there’s one type of plan that gives RESPs a bad name. Group RESPs, or group scholarship trusts, are heavily marketed to new parents and immigrants at doctor’s offices and trade shows. These RESP dealers employ…

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How To Set Up An RESP

My wife and I made it a priority to set up an RESP for our daughter just a few weeks after she was born. As new parents with little free time we weren’t sure where to go and what type of account to set up. To complicate matters, we were bombarded with pamphlets and brochures promoting group…

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Throwback Thursday: University Education in 1965 vs. 2015

Canadians invest in post-secondary education to improve their chances of getting a well-paying job. Because of the demographic boom most Canadian universities more than tripled student enrolment in the mid 1960’s and started a huge building expansion. Older, more established universities increased faculty numbers and expanded their facilities, while new universities were built to accommodate further…

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How Parents Can Give Their Kids A Financial Leg Up

In a Globe and Mail column last year, Rob Carrick took parents to task for not saving enough for their kids’ education. He said that parents talk a good game – 82 percent want their children to attend University – but the numbers suggest they’re not backing it up with financial support. In a survey of 1,538 young…

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5 Financial Tips For High School Graduates

Congratulations!  You’ve finally made it!  Another graduation season is wrapping up.  You’ve listened to an inspiring valedictorian speech, the caps have been tossed, and you’ve partied all night at prom.  Perhaps you’ve lined up a lucrative summer job and have been accepted at your chosen post-secondary educational institution.  There are exciting days ahead. Related: The…

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More Money For Beer And Textbooks Podcast

I had the pleasure of being a guest on the More Money for Beer and Textbooks podcast recently where I was interviewed by Kyle Prevost from My University Money. The topic was student banking and we talked about whether University students should get a credit card while they’re in school and what pitfalls they can…

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When Doing What You Love Doesn’t Pay The Bills

We’re taught to follow our passions, but what happens when doing what you love doesn’t pay the bills?  A post-secondary degree is almost essential to get a decent job in Canada, but there’s a significant earnings gap for graduates depending on their chosen field of study. Related: What If You’re Not University Material? A CIBC…

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My TD e-Series RESP Portfolio

One of the first things we did after our kids were born was open an RESP account. We set-up a family plan, rather than a single beneficiary plan, and have contributed $200 per month for the past few years. We just put money into a GIC for the first year.  The account was easy to…

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Are Children’s Extracurricular Activities Worth It?

12-year old Brittanie is supposed to be practicing her piano lessons.  Instead she’s playing catch with the dog.  “Play,” yells her mother, “I’m not paying 50 bucks a week for you to take piano if you’re not going to practice.” Sometimes parents feel like drill sergeants when their children loaf around instead of concentrating on…

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