Estate Planning Tips and Traps
Julia wants to make sure that her estate passes to her heirs with as little hassle and cost as possible when she dies. She knows she needs a will and decides to buy a do-it-yourself will kit. When she opened it, she soon discovered some serious shortcomings. Advertised as a ‘legal will kit,’ she learned […]
The Income Tax Bond
Don, 65, and Marie, 63, are about to retire. They have accumulated about $500,000 in their RRSPs and own their home, free and clear. They want to leave as much as possible to their two children. Don and Marie realize that the value of their home should pass tax-free to their children and know their […]
Beware How You Help Your Kids Financially
A recent TD Canada Trust survey found that 10% of Canadians are considering the purchase of a condominium for their adult children. This is up from 5% just a year earlier and certainly reflects drastically increasing housing costs over the past decade. Gerry and Joanne were more than happy to give their daughter a sizable […]
Personal Finance & Job Transfers
These days, having a career presents many new rewards and far more challenges than it ever used to. What we used to take for granted, including our work location, has changed dramatically as companies continue to grow and even go global. This can be great for a business and its bottom line, but really tough […]
Traveling in Retirement
One of the top retirement goals for many is travel. As many as 1.5 million so called ‘snowbirds’ travel to the Southern United States during the winter. With summer just around the corner, thoughts turn to travel within our borders, too. The Canada Safety Council states that a few simple precautions can help ensure a […]
Mortgage Rules Tightened
In an effort to crack down on speculators and to discourage people from taking on too much debt, Ottawa is tightening mortgage rules again. These new rules are expected to take effect April 19, 2010. There is growing concern that the housing market in Canada may be overheating. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty stresses that while […]
Budget Your Way to Financial Independence
For the book The Millionaire Next Door, researchers asked the question, ‘Do you know how much your family spends each year for food, clothing and shelter?’ Almost two thirds (62.4 percent) of the millionaires said ‘yes.’ Only about 35% of non-millionaires said they did, even though they are high-income earners. The millionaires also budgeted very […]
Tax-Free Savings Plans
When Sophia first heard the term Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), the first thing that came to her mind was a low- or no-interest account at a bank. She soon learned that just about every investment option available to her in an RRSP is also available to her in a TFSA plan. Glenn, 58, is of […]
New Years Financial Resolutions
Jack and Diane want to improve their financial situation and feel that making financial New Years resolutions and implementing them is a good start. To help identify their priorities, they made the following list: Set Objectives – Goal setting is the foundation of achieving financial success. If they write down their goals, it will help […]
Money Saving Mortgage Strategies
Mortgages today are not like they were when our parents or grandparents bought their homes. As most of us don’t have the cash to buy a home outright, we need to borrow from a lender. There are a number of strategies you can use to get the best deal, pay it off more quickly and […]