There is always talk about the Santa Claus Rally in the financial industry this time of year, and with good reason. Since 1990 the Down Jones industrial average has gained 2% on average in the last month of the year,…
Converting your RRSP to a RRIF this year?
If you are converting your RRSP into an RRIF this year, here are five things to consider: Making one last RRSP contribution If you are 71 years old and still have RRSP contribution room, consider making one last RRSP contribution…
Tips to Avoid Identity Fraud
As we head into the Christmas shopping season at full speed many of us will be turning to the internet to make our purchases. No matter how cautious we are about protecting our personal information; crooks will always come up…
Avoid Debt this Holiday Season
It’s Black Friday; the official start to the Christmas shopping season! Here are some useful strategies so you don’t end up with a nasty credit card bill in January: Set a Budget. Without a plan or budget, most people will…
Relieving Financial Anxiety
November is Financial Planning month; and as a follow up to the Financial Planning Standard’s Council (FPSC) survey done in 2014, the FPSC recently commissioned a Financial Stress survey. Of the over 1,100 Canadians surveyed 41% ranked money as their…
Year-End Tax Tips
As the end of 2018 approaches, now is the perfect time to review your personal finances and figure out if there are any strategies you should be taking advantage of to help you save tax come April. Here are some…
Tips for Riding out Volatile Markets
Don’t watch from the sidelines. When stock markets become volatile a lot of people will try to guess when the stocks will bottom out. In the meantime, they often park their money in cash and wait until they see an…
CPP Increases to Start 2019
In 2016, the federal and provincial governments agreed to enhance the Canada Pension Plan (CPP); the plan is to increase the amount of retirement benefits Canadians will receive going forward. The hope is to raise the benefit to equal one-third…
Economic Update Third Quarter 2018
During a period characterized largely by trade uncertainty, global asset markets delivered mixed results for the third quarter of 2018, with the U.S. equity market reaching new highs and outpacing many of its global counterparts. U.S. equities posted strong results,…
Credit Myths and Realities
Your credit score is a numerical representation based on your current and past credit history, it will range between 300 (worst) and 900 (best). There are always misconceptions on what affects your credit; here are a few myths and realities:…