Three Money Lessons for Young Adults
Many years ago (26 to be exact), I left teaching and became a financial planner. I love to teach and will coach anyone who’s interested in listening, but I grew frustrated with curriculum limitations and some of its relevance after graduation. Today we send wonderfully knowledgeable students into a dynamic world: they are literate, they […]
RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans) – Are They Worth It?
I was having a conversation with a prospective client the other day and among other things, the subject of a RESP for his one-year-old son came up. I was shocked when he said, “Joey, my investment guy said that it is better to save for education in a TFSA because you have more control of […]
Conflicts of Interest – What to consider when working with a Financial Planner
When dealing with professionals in any industry the question as old as time should be considered: Does this individual have YOUR best interest in mind? This brings me back to a cartoon I saw when I was a kid that depicted a doctor writing a prescription to his patient and saying: “Try this pill…I just […]
The Value of Financial Advice
Dealing with personal finances can be an overwhelming task. The financial industry is saturated with different options and products making the right decision challenging and confusing. As a result, many Canadians choose to ignore or avoid looking further into financial and investment options. The truth is, we are often ill-equipped to make the best decisions […]
What Does the Coming Recession Mean for Me?
The news and economists are priming our country to expect a recession. The article, “‘All but set in stone’: More economists join chorus predicting a Canadian recession” Financial Post, September 19, 2022, outlines predictors for a recession. What does it mean for Canada to go into recession? How will it impact our lives? What is a recession? A […]
Riding the Market Roller Coaster
Growing up in the late 80’s early 90’s I would sit with my grandpa, and he would tell me story after story of the Good Old Days – days that you would walk to school, play with friends till dusk, and trade baseball cards for bubble gum. Everything seemed a lot simpler back then and […]
First Home Savings Account (FHSA)
The 2022 Federal Budget proposed a new savings account called the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) scheduled to be implemented in 2023. As currently presented, the FHSA is an alternative to the Home Buyers Plan (HBP) as the FHSA and HBP cannot be used for the same home purchase. Overall, the main benefit of the […]
The New Parent Checklist
The New Parent Checklist Entering parenthood is no easy task. While this time in your life is full of excitement and anticipation for your newest addition, it can also be overwhelming and somewhat daunting. From preparing your nursery, reading parent books, and participating in parental programs to simply growing and making space for a new […]
Pricing the Priceless
My mother-in-law once said, “Getting old isn’t for sissies.” As I quietly observed her ageing journey into the unknown world of assisted living, and later, facility care, I think she was right. The challenges of being an elder amid the other one third of aging Canadians showcases growing concern around patient need, patient volume, and […]
Teaching our Children Financial Responsibility
Right now, our two boys don’t have a lot of questions about finances. In fact, I have found that many of the children of clients that meet with us don’t know what questions to ask. I believe that this is not because they aren’t interested but rather because the topic can be so overwhelming. I […]
