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...

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...