Shopping – Too Many Choices!
We finally decided to paint some rooms and I wanted to paint all our trim white. Off we went to the paint section of the hardware store and we were overwhelmed by the choices. ...
Category: The Money Puzzle
Alternative Investments
Most investments are grouped into the three traditional asset classes of stocks, bonds, and cash or cash equivalents. Wealthier investors may look to more sophisticated investments such as peer-to-peer lending, private equity and...
Give Your Finances a Spring Cleaning
I love Spring. In most places in Canada actual spring weather comes later than the calendar Vernal Equinox – and this year it seems to really be taking its time. But the flowers are...
Why I Won’t be Deferring CPP to Age 70
The latest trend in the financial media is to try to convince retirees to postpone taking their CPP payments until age 70. It is especially urged on women who, statistically, have a longer lifespan. ...
Stretching Your Retirement Dollars
You may worry that being frugal in your retirement will be a big downgrade in lifestyle from what you were used to during your working years. It doesn’t have to be. With just a...
Should You Consider a Corporate Executor?
A growing number of boomers are facing the deaths of parents, siblings and long-time friends. Many are being asked to take on the responsibility of being executor of an estate. BMO Financial Group conducted...
Create Your Own Personal Pension With Annuities
Annuities have been getting a lot of attention in the press lately. But they are still dismissed by people in – or close to – retirement. Maybe they would be viewed a bit more...
Staying on Track – Your Retirement Budget
The day after your retirement party you’ll be looking at the amount of your retirement savings that you’ve spent decades accumulating. Many new retirees have one of two thoughts about that lump sum. Wow,...
How to Minimize Probate Fees
Benjamin Franklin said, In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” When you put these two together, you get probate tax. What is probate? Probate is a provincial...
GICs Have a Useful Role in Your Retirement Plan
Boomers will remember when interest rates on Guaranteed Investment Certificates were in the double digits. Unfortunately, it was more likely that we were in our borrowing phase at that time with our mortgages and...
