I Want it All and I Want it Now
The neighbors have a shiny new sport utility vehicle to tow their travel trailer. They take a two week tropical vacation every winter. Their family room is equipped with the latest large screen TV and surround sound stereo system. Many people believe this is a sign of wealth. In fact, this is usually a sign […]
These Financial Mistakes Can Cost You
Some financial decisions get made without enough thought given to the long term consequences. Here are some financial mistakes you can avoid: Mortgage amortized too long: With lenders offering 30 year amortization periods, it may look attractive to go with a smaller monthly payment to get into a larger house, but the extra interest charges […]
Beware How You Help Your Kids Financially
A recent TD Canada Trust survey found that 10% of Canadians are considering the purchase of a condominium for their adult children. This is up from 5% just a year earlier and certainly reflects drastically increasing housing costs over the past decade. Gerry and Joanne were more than happy to give their daughter a sizable […]
Personal Finance & Job Transfers
These days, having a career presents many new rewards and far more challenges than it ever used to. What we used to take for granted, including our work location, has changed dramatically as companies continue to grow and even go global. This can be great for a business and its bottom line, but really tough […]
New Years Financial Resolutions
Jack and Diane want to improve their financial situation and feel that making financial New Years resolutions and implementing them is a good start. To help identify their priorities, they made the following list: Set Objectives – Goal setting is the foundation of achieving financial success. If they write down their goals, it will help […]
These Rainy Days Aren’t About the Weather
The last year or so has been a very rude awakening for many. Too many people today are so busy living a lifestyle, they forget that emergencies may need to be dealt with. It’s all too easy to take one’s cash flow for granted and get lulled into the belief that it will go on […]
Financial plans and marriage breakdown
Statistics show that about half of marriages end in divorce. Ed and Liz are ending theirs and are concerned about changes that will have to be made to their financial and estate plans. Some considerations, also in common-law relationships, are: Life Insurance – The first thing that needs to be done is review beneficiary designations. […]
Managing Debt
Now that summer has officially arrived, many of us start to think about home renovations, garden projects and summer vacations. But while we often know what we want to accomplish, sometimes we are not sure where the money will come from. If you’re planning for a large expense this year, consider some of the following […]
I Don’t Want to Invest My Money Now because…
On October 30, the federal government presented a ‘mini-budget,’ which outlined a number of initiatives designed to create tax savings for Canadians. Tax cuts were the main thrust of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s announcement, which means there are a few new ways you can save your money. In case you haven’t had time to follow […]
