There are plenty of bank savings account options in Canada! Stay on top of the best plans right here.
Latest News
Millennials Could Be Hit Hardest by the Bank of Canada’s Interest Rate Hike + MORE Jun 5th
Canadians, get ready to pay more to borrow money: The Bank of Canada, or BoC, announced a 0.50 per cent interest rate hike today to tame inflation, bringing its key interest rate up to 1.5 per cent, and signalled more hikes will come.
After slashing its key interest rate to 0.25 per cent at the o.... More »
Why retirement planners are getting defensive + MORE Oct 1st
While working people may envy those at or near retirement, once you get there there’s a certain amount of anxiety over markets and the prospect of outliving your money should stocks and interest rates fail to cooperate.
Of course, those with guaranteed-for-life, taxpayer-backed, defined benefit.... More »
2023 tax credits, due dates and when you can file: Your 2023 income tax return guide + MORE Mar 19th
You’ll want to bookmark the MoneySense guide for 2023 personal income taxes. We will be updating it frequently, as information becomes available and deadlines approach. Plus, we get answers from the experts you won’t find anywhere else, thanks to our Ask MoneySense and Ask A Planner columns.&nbs.... More »
2020 Income Tax: What you can’t—and can—claim for your work-from-home office during the COVID-19 pandemic Dec 5th
You furnished a functional home office, you’ve got face masks ready by the door for when you need to run an errand, and you bought sanitizer (so many bottles of sanitizer). You’ve done your part to stay home and help flatten the coronavirus curve. The question now is: Can you write off working f.... More »
Stock news for investors: Earnings from BlackBerry and Alimentation Couche-Tard + MORE Jul 2nd
Here’s a round-up of news for Canadian investors this week.
BlackBerry
Alimentation Couche-Tard
Featured RRSP Accounts
featured
EQ Bank
Build your retirement savings with 2.00% in.... More »
Inflation: How It Affects Your Finances
– ratesupermarket.ca
Much of Canada’s economy has ground to a halt amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the effects of this has been a drop in prices for many items. Most notably, gas.
As a result of consumer prices dropping, Canada’s inflation rate went negative to -0.2% in April, according to Statistics Canada, which tracks the cost of goods and services through the Consumer Price Index.
While the world struggles to contain the virus, prices are expected to continue to drop. Unfortunately, so are wages.
Longer-term, though, experts are divided on what happens when the economy recovers. Will it lead to continued low prices, or could we see inflation?
What is inflation?
How does inflation work?
How does inflation affect savings and investments?
How is COVID-19 affecting the inflation rate in Canada?
Propping up your personal finances
What is inflation?
Inflation is a rise in the average price of a selection of products and services, ranging from items such as food and beverages to housing, clothes, transportation and recreational costs…
Knowing Your Debts and Planning for Payments Post-Relief Efforts
– ratesupermarket.ca
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many Canadians’ way of life. Unfortunately, some have lost their jobs or are working on reduced hours and, in turn, have had to rely on government support or their savings to help make ends meet.
According to the federal government’s 2019 Canadian Financial Capability Survey, 64% of Canadians have an emergency fund to cover expenses for three months. However, that means 36% don’t have as much saved. That will make it difficult when the time comes to pay bills over the next few months.
Managing debt
Several financial institutions have allowed customers in need to defer payments on mortgages, credit card balances, and loans for up to six months. On top of this, there are many other payments due in the near future, and you should be planning for when those financial relief measures end.
If you’re a homeowner, your property taxes may already be past due, depending on where you live. In Toronto, for example, the 60-day grace period has already expired…
Borrowing money to invest
– moneysense.ca
There are different ways to borrow to invest.
Opening a margin account
A simple option is with a margin account at a brokerage. Depending on the existing investments in the account, a brokerage will lend up to a certain percentage of the value to an investor, at a specified interest rate.
The amount of “maintenance excess” that needs to be kept in the account as collateral for borrowed securities generally ranges from 30% to 100% of the market value. Larger, established, blue-chip stocks may only have a 30% margin requirement, meaning up to $70 borrowed for every $100 invested.
Margin interest rates generally range from 5% to 10%, but can vary. The interest is tax-deductible when the borrowed money is being used to invest. If stocks fall, a margin account investor could have a “margin call” and need to deposit more funds, or sell stocks to reduce leverage.
Investment and RRSP loans
Investment loans with required monthly principal and interest payments are another option for borrowing to invest…
Opening a margin account
A simple option is with a margin account at a brokerage. Depending on the existing investments in the account, a brokerage will lend up to a certain percentage of the value to an investor, at a specified interest rate.
The amount of “maintenance excess” that needs to be kept in the account as collateral for borrowed securities generally ranges from 30% to 100% of the market value. Larger, established, blue-chip stocks may only have a 30% margin requirement, meaning up to $70 borrowed for every $100 invested.
Margin interest rates generally range from 5% to 10%, but can vary. The interest is tax-deductible when the borrowed money is being used to invest. If stocks fall, a margin account investor could have a “margin call” and need to deposit more funds, or sell stocks to reduce leverage.
Investment and RRSP loans
Investment loans with required monthly principal and interest payments are another option for borrowing to invest…
