Do you have more month left at the end of your money? You aren’t alone. Rising prices and rents/mortgages have created financial struggles for many families. I empathize. There is a good chance that I’ve been right where you are – maybe even worse off. Fortunately, I’m not in that position now, but I can definitely remember what it was like. I can’t tell you specifically … [Read more...] about Living in difficult times: Part 1, lessons learned
Finances
What to expect when you are expecting a tax refund
Tax returns aren’t due for most people until the end of April, but every year around this time we get asked, “Do I have all of my tax slips?” or “Which tax slips should I be expecting?” To answer some of these questions, we’ve put together a handy guide to help with that. Chasing down all the slips needed to file a return is often a huge pain. Fortunately, the Canada Revenue … [Read more...] about What to expect when you are expecting a tax refund
Retirement Saving Plans: should you contribute to an RRSP
Over the past decade or so, the government has introduced a number of new savings vehicles and made enhancements to existing ones. Obviously having more options is a positive thing, but with choice comes decisions and complexity. And indeed, having more options has made the decision of which type of account to use for your retirement savings much more complicated. Something … [Read more...] about Retirement Saving Plans: should you contribute to an RRSP
Get your foot in the door of your brand-new home
by Ben Machel, CFP® For this month’s article we have a special treat – rather than my regular column I’ve brought in a guest writer. My son, Ben, joined the family practice seven years ago, and because the topic of this article is aimed at younger Canadians, I thought it would be best to hear from someone in that demographic. Read on for Ben’s thoughts about the Canadian … [Read more...] about Get your foot in the door of your brand-new home
Calling all people with Type 1 diabetes
Do you know any people under the age of 50 with Type 1 diabetes? Maybe someone you live or work with? Maybe your friend or neighbour? If you do know someone who fits this description, you NEED to read this and pass it on to them. When I first started in the industry back in 1995, I remember Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) were a terrible deal. I regularly … [Read more...] about Calling all people with Type 1 diabetes