Testimonial: Jacob VanderBreggen

Posted on October 1, 2015October 1, 2015 by admin

Being self employed, and considering the type of property I was purchasing, Andy understood the challenges I was facing and was able to overcome them for me. Bottom line, he got the deal done. Thanks Andy! Jacob VanderBreggen Oakville, Ontario

RRSP Season Begins Today!

Posted on March 3, 2015December 2, 2020 by admin

RRSP season begins today...not next January or February! Did you wait until the last minute to contribute to your RRSP? January and February are traditionally the busiest months for RRSP contributions. Everyone scrambles to make a contribution before the March deadline in the hopes of reducing their income taxes. Reducing taxes is always a good thing but there is a smart way and a not so smart way to do this. A lifetime ago I worked in a local branch of one of the countries largest fin...

Banks Ignore The Bank of Canada

Posted on January 22, 2015December 2, 2020 by admin

If a Central Bank lowers rates do the countries banks listen? Yesterday the Bank of Canada lowered their target rate by 0.25% signaling their concern for the Canadian economy going forward. Historically the major banks in Canada would drop their Prime Rate by the same amount as the Bank of Canada. This change would usually be announced on the same day as the Bank of Canada announcement and be effective the following business day. Yesterday, TD Canada Trust announced that they would not...

Divorce…the seven letter word that feels like a four letter word!

Posted on December 1, 2014March 24, 2015 by admin

So you’ve come to the point in your life where you are one of the statistics; you’re getting divorced. Divorce is never easy but with the right attitude, and some planning, you can minimize the stress and pain it inflicts on you and your family. Debbie Shawn of Divorce Matters suggests that the most important piece of advice she can offer is to remember that while you may be ending your marriage it is virtually impossible to end the relationship with your spouse. There will always be mome...

Got kids? Get your free money!

Posted on November 4, 2014December 2, 2020 by admin

It's not often that the government offers you free money but when they do you should take advantage of it! If you have kids you should consider opening a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for them. Even if you don't have extra funds to contribute yourself it's a great place to park birthday or Christmas money that your child may receive from friends and family. The free money is the contribution the government will make to the plan in the form of the Canada Education Savings Gr...

The Times They Have Changed

Posted on October 16, 2014October 16, 2014 by admin

A decade ago money seemed to be falling from trees. If you had a pulse and could fog a mirror you could qualify for a mortgage in North America. The US housing market was booming and Canada was following in its footsteps. American lenders were in Canada growing their subprime mortgage business and the big banks were extending amortization periods and actively growing their portfolios with folks who could not prove their income. A decade later, the US housing market has imploded on itself ...

Financial Independence

Posted on October 14, 2014October 14, 2014 by admin

What are you doing to become financially independent? Most of us struggle just to get through the day with little thought to our financial futures but wouldn't it be nice to reach a point where work became an option and not a necessity! Here are three things you need to do to attain financial independence: 1) Spend less than you make. Duh...but how many Canadian households fail to do this? The answer is far too many! 2) Pay yourself first. Are you saving a percentage of e...

Testimonial: Heather Otton

Posted on September 26, 2014May 12, 2016 by admin

I was shocked to discover that after 2 years of complicated divorce litigation, and finally settling everything, that my bank would not allow me take over my existing mortgage. This is after having a mortgage with this same bank for 15 years and having paid it on my own for many years (with their knowledge), having exceptional credit, and always being employed.I contacted Andy MacDonald for advice and to see what my options were. Andy's knowledge and professional approach are impeccable. While m...

Testimonial: Debbie McCue

Posted on August 26, 2014May 12, 2016 by admin

I found Andy to be extremely patient and responsive to my multitude of questions about the fee schedules and returns of Mutual Funds, RRSP’s, RESP’s, and Tax Free Savings Accounts. My experience over the years has been that big banks and many financial advisers evade fee questions and are either unwilling or unable to answer my questions in layman’s terms. Andy helped me to understand my options and decide what would be best for me for my investments, and I would highly recommend him to anyone l...

Testimonial: Jackie Morra

Posted on June 26, 2014May 12, 2016 by admin

Just wanted to say thank you to Andy for giving great advice and options that you won’t usually get from the banks or much place else for that matter. He takes the time to understand your needs and gives advice you can understand and use to make the best decision for your situation. Thanks a lot!Jackie MorraPickering, Ontario