Not sure if you’re with the right online broker? Or perhaps you’re taking your first steps into self-directed investing and trying to make sense of an increasingly crowded marketplace? With more firms competing for your attention, more commission-free trading options and more marketing promises than ever before, finding the right brokerage can be challenging. That’s […]
Ask a Planner I attended a financial planning seminar and the presenter said you’re taxed so high on RRSPs when you die that your kids are only going to get half of it, which I already kind of knew. So, if you put it into these segregated funds, then you don’t pay tax. Should I be […]
If you’re close to retirement or are a pensioner trying to manage your monthly budget, it helps to know when your Old Age Security (OAS) benefits are paid out. The government publishes the payment dates and provides a wealth of information about the program, but you may still have questions. We’ll review eligibility, income limits, […]
In the increasingly specialized world of financial blogging, there’s a subgenre of so-called “FIRE” experts, who expound on the acronym FIRE. FIRE stands for Financial Independence Retire Early. Some proponents are in their 40s or 50s and practising what they preach, having either reached financial independence or are almost there. We describe some of them […]
The Saskatchewan Pension Plan (SPP) was introduced in 1986 and was originally intended to help part-time workers, the self-employed, or others without access to a pension to save for retirement. Over time, it has evolved and become more appealing to both individuals and businesses. Who can join the Saskatchewan Pension Plan? Despite being a provincial […]
The dream is seductive: retire in your thirties, ditch the commute, and spend your days on your own terms. The FIRE movement—“financial independence, retire early”—has attracted millions of followers across Reddit threads and YouTube channels, promising that aggressive saving and disciplined investing can buy your freedom decades earlier than expected. Yet for Canadian millennials staring […]
In February and early March, as is increasingly our custom, my wife Ruth and I spent five weeks in a sunny clime in order to avoid the tail end of Canada’s winter. On our return from Malta, regular guest blogger Devin Partida contributed a relevant article titled “Can you pursue financial independence without giving up […]
I am in my 91st year and for my age, in reasonably good health. I drew down a significant extra sum in 2025 from my RRIF. Fortunately, due to some good earlier decisions, my RRIF remains with a very strong market value. I use this drawdown for two purposes: to reinvest in my non-registered accounts, […]
There’s a common belief that homeownership guarantees financial security, but a new study from the University of Calgary challenges that idea. The March 2025 Social Policy Trends study surveyed 715 Albertan seniors—both homeowners and renters—about their financial situations. While the study examined housing insecurity more broadly, the top concern wasn’t rent—it was the cost of […]
Ask MoneySense Hello Allan. I’ve been reading your advice in Moneysense, the Financial Post, and many other media outlets for a while now. My accountant is unable to help me with my query, which is: Is there anyone or any software out there that can help me calculate how to “die with nothing?” I’m looking to start […]
