It’s a frustrating reality: you can earn a fantastic income and still feel like you’re living paycheque to paycheque. The truth is, you can’t out-earn bad spending habits. If you constantly say “yes” to the five things below, you’re likely on the fast track to financial insecurity—no matter how much
Many people have no idea. Some people have a vague idea. A few people, a very few, have it all worked out. When it comes to retirement planning, many people do not take action until forced to by a mid-life event (career change, death of loved one) or by hearing
Have you ever stopped to think about the sneaky little dance happening in your wallet every single day? It’s a constant tango between inflation and its inseparable partner, purchasing power. The truth is, you really can’t have one without the other! Most of us don’t spend our free time pondering
Randy worked for a small business. When the owner died suddenly, the business accounts were frozen and it took several weeks before they could be accessed to meet payroll. Randy had trouble meeting his financial obligations and had to find a new job. Jane worked at a small company for
We are now well into 2026 and your New Year’s Resolution about managing your money better may have already been forgotten. As the late Sir John Templeton famously stated, the best time to invest is when you have money! The challenge for most people – with many people just struggling
Give your finances a boost this new year. Here is a list of financial resolutions to help you become better off by the end of the next twelve months: Eliminate personal debt Brad and Angie had fallen into the very common habit of buying lots of ‘stuff’ with their credit
As we wrap up 2025, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on what the year has brought—and more importantly, how to position ourselves for success in 2026. This year has been another reminder that global uncertainty is here to stay. Trade tensions, fluctuating interest rates, and uneven economic
In recent years, the F.I.R.E. movement—short for Financial Independence, Retire Early—has gained traction among Canadians looking to leave the workforce decades ahead of the traditional retirement age. While the dream of stepping away from work in your 40s or 50s is exciting, it also raises a big question: how do
If you’re a millennial, you’ve probably heard the usual money advice: save early, spend less, invest smart. But let’s face it—real life is busy, expensive, and unpredictable. Still, there are a few money habits that can quietly sabotage your future if you’re not careful. Here are five of the most
John and Jane spent months planning their dream wedding—and a lot of money to make it happen. Now that the big day is behind them, it’s time to shift focus from flowers and guest lists to something just as important: their financial future. Here’s a quick and practical checklist for
Managing money isn’t always glamorous, but small missteps can quietly chip away at your nest egg. Avoid these nine wealth-killers, ranked from “minor leak” to “financial sinkhole.” 9. Chasing Loyalty Points We all love a deal, but loading up on loyalty points by spending more than you planned is a
Let’s be real—there’s always something going on in the world that makes you question if now is the right time to invest or save. One minute it’s inflation, the next it’s interest rate hikes or global turmoil. But here’s the truth: financial success isn’t about timing the perfect moment. It’s
Have you ever thought, “I’ll start saving next month” or “I’ll get serious about my financial strategy next year”? If so, you’re not alone. Procrastination is something we’ve all been guilty of at some point. However, when it comes to your finances, the costs of waiting can be much higher
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
What’s the secret to building and maintaining wealth? For the rich, it’s not just about earning a high income—it’s about the habits they cultivate. These strategies don’t just help them grow their wealth; they also ensure it lasts for generations. Start today and take more control of your financial future.
Before a skyscraper can reach for the clouds, it needs a very strong foundation. Once the building is complete, the foundation is virtually unseen. The same goes for our financial strategies. Following are the basics of a strong financial foundation: Budget – Governments and businesses use budgets to properly allocate
A new baby in the family brings many hopes, dreams and expectations. This can often include thoughts about how their lives can be better than that of their parents. And that often includes hopes about careers and the education that goes with them. It is also the time to start
History tells us about half of marriages in Canada end in divorce. Andrew and Sara are about to end theirs and are concerned about the changes that will have to be made to their financial and estate plans. Some financial and estate issues they need to consider are: Life Insurance
There are things you need to live a healthy life, like a place to live and food to eat. There are also things that you’d like, such as a warm vacation or new ski boots. It’s possible to have it all, but not all at once. If you can’t afford
Financial success methodologies have evolved over the past 30 years with the advent of increasing computational power. Originally, planning was a simple spreadsheet projection of your current situation, plus some assumptions, such as savings rates, tax rates, investment returns and inflation rates. This would give you an idea of what
The purpose of this series is to educate consumers on some simple principles that will take the mystery out of the often complex world of managing one’s financial affairs. The first distinction is to realize there are only seven key variables that can be managed in creating your financial future
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
Uncertain economic times and rising rates of unemployment often create a new breed of desperate people. Some turn to frauds and scams as a way out of their troubles. Others become more susceptible to schemes hoping for help but instead getting bilked out of their dwindling cash reserves. Challenging times
Some financial decisions are made without enough thought given to the long term consequences. TIME – a critical element for any successful long-term financial strategy – can affect different situations quite dramatically. Here are some financial mistakes you should try to avoid: Mortgage amortized too long: With lenders offering 30
These days, having a career presents many more new rewards and challenges than it ever used to. What we used to take for granted – including our work location – can sometimes change dramatically as companies continue to change and adapt to new economic situations. This can be great
Many of us reflect on our yearly financial goals as the calendar turns to a New Year. But bringing goals to fruition can’t happen without a clear plan of action and determined effort. This is especially true as we continue to live with lingering effects of above-average inflation and
Most people want to be wealthy, or at least financially independent. The sad truth is that very few people are financially independent when they reach retirement. The rest are dependent to some extent on others or government benefits for their daily money needs. Far too many people today live
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
November is financial literacy month – a great time to reflect on your relationship with money and the decisions you make that guide you toward a secure future. Financial literacy is a set of five key skills that help Canadians navigate the complex world of personal finance with clarity,
As the recent pandemic crisis made its way around the world, creating havoc in its wake, we can be thankful most Canadians were able to weather the storm in fairly good financial shape. Now Canadians are mostly concerned about spike in the interest rates and how that will impact their