How to go about securing the best savings strategy in Canada.
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House rich: How to access the equity in your home + MORE Nov 21st
With the national average home price up a record 18.5% in August 2020 compared to the same time last year, more Canadians than ever have a significant portion of their wealth tied up in their homes.
Who are these “house rich” homeowners? They range widely—from retirees on a fixed income, to ba.... More »
What is a mortgage? Nov 14th
Mortgage negotiations can be overwhelming, especially for first-timers. If you’re wondering about mortgages—how they work, what types of mortgages exist, who can apply and how to get approved—you’ve come to the right place.
Mortgage: the simple definition
In its simplest fo.... More »
RESP vs RRSP and TFSA: What’s the best option for education savings? + MORE Aug 28th
Welcome to Education Money, a new column that covers the questions and concerns parents and investors have about funding their child’s education. Andrew Lo, CEO of Embark, shares his thoughts and insights on how to make the most of RESPs. To kick off the column, he explains the different options C.... More »
Financial planning in your 70s + MORE Feb 13th
When most people think about financial planning, they think about saving and investing for retirement. That is a part of it, but financial planning is much more holistic.
Here are a few financial planning strategies for those approaching or into their 70s. If you’re not there yet, bookmark this fo.... More »
Shocking claims: Four outrageous income tax deductions + MORE Apr 5th
For most Canadians, income tax season is an opportunity to think outside the box and test the limits of what can be claimed. Take a look at some of the more daring tax claims Canadians have made over the years..... More »
Invest or pay off debt?
– moneysense.ca
Q: I may be coming into an inheritance and I want to know if it would be better to pay off all the debt I have or invest the money? I have the following debt:
Mortgage: $60,000, at 2.5%, variable rate
Line of credit: $20,000 at 5.7%, variable rate
Car loan: $24,000 at 3.75%
I am 62 years old and the thought of being debt-free is very appealing, but also want to make the best financial decision for the long run.
— McFeely, Alberta
Nawar Naji, mortgage broker with Mortgage Architects:
The answer to your question really depends on a few factors:
1) When is your retirement date? i.e, how many more income earning years do you have?
2) Do you have any other savings, such as RRSPs, that will be used during your retirement years?
Now, if you have a few working years left and you have a retirement plan, then consider paying off the high interest debt first (line of credit at 5.7%). Paying off a depreciating asset (car loan) is not the best idea. If there are additional funds in the inheritance consider investing them into cash producing (such as dividend stock) to supplement your retirement income…
How homemade pizza can tame bad money habits
– moneysense.ca
In our April 2016 issue of MoneySense, we introduced you to Sammu and Mandy Dhaliwall, a young married couple with three kids from Brampton, Ont. They are trying to juggle RRSPs, TFSAs, paying down their $350,000 mortgage as well as their $90,000 home equity line of credit. Throughout the year we gave them a financial challenge every four weeks to help them get their finances in tip top shape. Make sure to follow along! For their latest challenge, we asked them to read Moolala by Bruce Sellery and to write about three money lessons they learned from the book. Here’s what they had to say.
.cbR{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:100%;margin:1em 0;border:1px solid #bbb;padding:.5em}@media (min-width:480px){.cbR{width:250px;margin:0 0 1em 1em;float:right}}Will shopping for mortgage rates hurt our credit score?
Both Mandy and I found Moolala by Bruce Sellery—along with its accompanying exercises—an interesting read on how to manage money more effectively. Both of us had already gone through similar money exercises before but these served as good refreshers…
.cbR{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:100%;margin:1em 0;border:1px solid #bbb;padding:.5em}@media (min-width:480px){.cbR{width:250px;margin:0 0 1em 1em;float:right}}Will shopping for mortgage rates hurt our credit score?
Both Mandy and I found Moolala by Bruce Sellery—along with its accompanying exercises—an interesting read on how to manage money more effectively. Both of us had already gone through similar money exercises before but these served as good refreshers…