Talking to Kids About Money, the Right Way
Financial planners are urging parents to begin age‑appropriate money talks early, citing a pre‑teen who offered rent money as a teachable moment. By steering the contribution into a savings plan for education or a future car, the family models purposeful saving. Experts like Bruce Sellery stress tailoring discussions to a child’s temperament and focusing on shared goals rather than detailed salary figures. Real‑world examples—such as displaying credit‑card and property‑tax bills—help teens grasp cash flow without overwhelming them.
The Universal Worry: Can We Afford Our Children’s Future?
Parents across Canada are increasingly worried about affording their children’s post‑secondary education. While 73% have opened a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and 74% know about the Canada Education Savings Grant, only 33% feel confident they can fully fund tuition,...
Are Women Getting the Right Advice About RESPs?
A Canadian mother discovered that the default RESP structure gave her husband sole control over more than CAD 100,000 (≈ US 74,000) in education savings, leaving her without access despite being the primary caregiver. The article explains how RESP roles—subscriber, primary caregiver, beneficiary,...
Don’t Neglect Financial Planning’s Missing Middle
Many fee‑only planners turn away clients who lack defined goals, leaving a large “missing middle” of people without a financial plan. The article argues that the gap can be closed by adding a scenario‑planning step between discovery and solution phases....
Where to Buy Real Estate in Canada 2026: Edmonton
Edmonton has cracked the top three spots in MoneySense’s 2026 list of Canada’s best places to buy real estate, moving up from a top‑five finish last year. The city’s median after‑tax income of $84,000 rivals Toronto and Vancouver, while its...
Where to Buy Real Estate in Canada 2026: Calgary
Calgary’s economy is diversifying, with its tech sector expanding 78% since 2018, complementing its traditional oil base. As of February 2026 the city’s average home price sits at $628,000 CAD (about $465,000 USD), well below Toronto and Vancouver. Neighborhoods such...
Where to Buy Real Estate in Canada 2026: City of Toronto
Toronto’s real‑estate market is entering a buyer‑friendly phase as prices retreat from 2022 peaks, with average condos now listed around $399,000 and detached homes ranging $1.3‑$1.6 million. A $1 billion waterfront redevelopment in the Port Lands and the 15‑station Ontario Line are...
Financial Independence and Travel: Can You Have Both?
A growing chorus of financial experts and business owners says travel can coexist with financial independence (FI) when it’s treated as a planned expense rather than a luxury. Strategies such as geo‑arbitrage, credit‑card points, house‑sitting, and "bleisure" trips let FI...
5 Things to Check in Your CRA My Account
The Canada Revenue Agency is accelerating its shift to electronic communication by moving most business correspondence to the My Account portal. The site now highlights uncashed cheques—about C$1.4 bn (≈US$1.0 bn) worth of refunds and benefits—alongside account balances, carryover credits, and a...
High Gas Prices Are Fuelling Car-Free Dreams
Rising gasoline prices have pushed transportation to become Canada’s third‑most expensive household cost, prompting many to consider car‑free living. Statistics Canada and Ratehub note that typical car ownership can exceed $139,000 over nine years, a figure that climbs sharply with...
Why Filing Your Taxes Is the First Financial Step that Actually Matters
Newcomers to Canada quickly discover that filing a tax return is more than a legal duty—it’s the gateway to the country’s financial ecosystem. Statistics show that roughly 90% file within their first year, yet a TD survey reveals 76% fear...
A New “Expectation-to-Reality” Gap May Help Explain Canada’s Gender Pay Disparity
Canada’s gender pay gap remains stark, with women earning 88 cents per dollar in 2025, up from 82 cents in 1997. JobLeads analysis of 36,000 users shows women set salary ceilings 34% higher than men—$162,492 CAD (≈$120,200 USD) versus $121,488 CAD (≈$89,900 USD). Yet...
Tax Refunds 2026: How to Make Every Dollar Count
Canadian households are treating the 2026 tax refund as a strategic cash injection rather than a bonus, with the average refund hovering around a few thousand dollars (≈ $2,500 USD). A recent CRA survey shows 40% of recipients need the money for...
Wealthsimple-X Deal Sparks Investor Risk Concerns
Wealthsimple has launched a partnership with X that lets app users click stock tags on the social platform and be routed directly to Wealthsimple’s trading interface. The move aims to broaden the fintech’s audience and capture the growing DIY‑investor segment...
Fewer Flights, Higher Fares This Summer
Jet fuel prices have doubled since the Iran‑Israel conflict and the seven‑week closure of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Canadian airlines to add $18‑$44 (USD) fuel surcharges, raise the first‑bag fee to about $33 USD, and suspend several summer routes....
Why Emotional Biases May Be Riskier than Market Swings
Behavioral biases can pose a greater threat to portfolios than market volatility, according to wealth managers Ryan Gubic and Brooke Dean. Investors often react emotionally—selling in downturns, chasing hot assets, or holding losers—driven by herd mentality, overconfidence, and confirmation bias....
Tipping in Tough Times: How to Tip without Overspending
Canadians are feeling a surge of tipping fatigue as digital payment terminals push higher suggested gratuities, with 93% reporting annoyance. Pre‑pandemic restaurant tip norms of around 15% have climbed to roughly 20%, adding pressure to already strained household budgets. Experts...
Medical Assistance in Dying: Thoughtful Planning at End of Life
Canada’s medically assisted dying (MAID) program is a tightly regulated service that lets eligible adults end intolerable suffering with physician‑administered medication. The law does not require a terminal diagnosis, but patients must have decision‑making capacity, a serious incurable illness, and...
Tax Write-Offs that Canadians Often Get Wrong
Canadians frequently claim expenses that the Canada Revenue Agency does not allow. The article debunks several myths, noting that safety‑deposit‑box fees were eliminated in 2013, RESP contributions are not deductible, mortgage interest only qualifies when the loan funds an investment...
Canadians Booking Earlier as Fuel Costs Drive Travel Uncertainty
Rising jet‑fuel costs tied to the Middle‑East conflict have prompted Canadian airlines such as WestJet, Air Canada and Porter to add fuel surcharges, pushing airfares higher. Travelers, wary of volatile pricing, are booking flights months in advance to lock in...
What if You Cross the Rainbow Bridge First? Why You Should Set up a Pet Trust
New data from online estate‑planning platform Willful shows Canadian pet owners are almost three times more likely to complete a will than non‑owners. About 36% of Canadians already set aside money for pet guardians, with the average pet trust at...
What Canadian Women Regret Most About Money—And How Gen Z Can Avoid It
Meridian’s research shows 69% of Canadian women regret waiting to invest, with younger women feeling the most financial stress. Delaying investment can shrink long‑term portfolios by 25‑35%, while living paycheck‑to‑paycheck erodes savings potential. The study highlights confidence gaps, lack of...
How to Confirm Your CPP Pension
Most Canadian workers contribute to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Québec’s equivalent, the QPP, through payroll deductions. To ensure the pension you’ll receive is accurate, you can request a digital Statement of Contributions from Service Canada (or a Statement...
Why Tax Season Is Turning Into a Debt Trap for Canadians (and How to Avoid It)
A Vividata study finds 36% of Canadians carry credit‑card balances and 49% live paycheque‑to‑paycheque, making tax season a financial minefield. Many households count on tax refunds to clear debt, but smaller refunds or unexpected bills can deepen indebtedness. Money Mentors...
When to Consider Extra RRIF Withdrawals
A 91‑year‑old retiree with a strong RRIF is taking extra withdrawals to fund TFSA contributions and tax‑free gifts to his children. At age 91 the mandatory RRIF draw is 11.92% of the prior‑year balance, and the OAS clawback starts when...
Is Wealthsimple’s New Direct Indexing Worth It?
Wealthsimple has introduced a direct‑indexing product for Canadian retail investors, letting taxable‑account holders own the individual stocks that replicate U.S. and Canadian market indices. The service charges a 0.15% annual fee with a $1,000 (≈ $740 USD) minimum and applies a 0.05%...
Why Homeownership Isn’t Guaranteeing Financial Security for Seniors
A University of Calgary study of 715 Albertan seniors found that 34% of senior homeowners worry about home‑maintenance costs and 16% have considered selling. High property taxes, inflation‑driven living expenses, and limited equity access are eroding the traditional view of...
How to Earn More Rewards with Your Credit Cards
The MoneySense guide shows Canadians how to squeeze more value from credit‑card rewards without inflating spending. It advises matching card categories to personal purchase habits, consolidating to a primary high‑earn‑rate card, and using budgeting tools to stay on track. The...
Refinancing Your Mortgage? Here’s Why a Professional Home Appraisal Is Step One
Before refinancing, a professional home appraisal establishes the true market value of the property, which directly influences the loan‑to‑value (LTV) ratio. In a typical scenario—a $900,000 CAD home (≈ $657,000 USD) with a $500,000 CAD mortgage (≈ $365,000 USD)—the LTV sits around 56%, positioning...
Trade Homes, Not Cash: A New Way to See the World
HomeExchange, a global home‑swapping platform with over 450,000 listings, lets members trade residences through simultaneous, non‑simultaneous or GuestPoints exchanges. The service relies on ID verification, utility‑bill proof and AI‑driven fraud detection, backed by $1 million in protection and a mandatory $500...
Are You Really Ready to Retire? Why Many Canadians Are Struggling with Retirement Planning
Many Canadians are entering retirement without sufficient savings, burdened by rising living costs, high debt, and limited financial literacy. The article highlights common obstacles such as procrastination, over‑reliance on home equity, and uncertainty about income streams like CPP and OAS....
Making Sense of the Bank of Canada Interest Rate Decision on March 18, 2026
The Bank of Canada kept its overnight rate at 2.25% on March 18, marking a third consecutive hold. Inflation slowed to 1.8% in February, still under the 2% target, while the labour market remains weak. The decision reflects caution amid...
How Global Conflict Affects Your Finances in Canada
The article outlines how the ongoing Middle East conflict is already rippling through the Canadian economy, pushing gasoline and grocery prices higher, unsettling stock markets, and keeping mortgage rates elevated. It highlights broader effects such as tighter job security, more...
Tax Time Can Be Stressful—The Right Account Can Keep Your Money Growing
The article highlights how solopreneurs can alleviate tax‑season stress by switching to a high‑interest, zero‑fee business account, specifically citing EQ Bank’s offering of up to 2.25% annual interest. It explains that inflation erodes cash value when funds sit in low‑...
The Experience Gap: Why Gen Z’s Career Launch Needs a Reboot
Gen Z faces a widening "experience gap" as employers increasingly require proven on‑the‑job skills before hiring for entry‑level positions. The rise of AI has shifted expectations, pushing candidates to deliver higher‑value work from day one, making traditional classroom‑only degrees less...
Don’t Inherit a Crisis: How to Manage a Parent’s Debt Before They Pass
Many Canadians mistakenly believe a parent’s debt disappears at death, but it remains in the estate and must be settled before any distribution to heirs. A "deemed disposition" treats all assets as sold at death, often creating large capital‑gain taxes,...
Moving to the U.S.? Your Locked-In RRSP May Not Be as Locked in as You Think
Canadians who relocate to the United States can potentially unlock their locked‑in RRSP (LIRA) after maintaining non‑resident status for at least 24 consecutive months, though eligibility varies by the pension jurisdiction governing the account. Provinces such as Ontario, BC and...
Should You Pay Off a Personal Loan Early?
A bonus or tax refund often prompts Canadians to consider a lump‑sum payoff of a personal loan. Early repayment can reduce total interest and free up monthly cash, but the benefit depends on loan type, interest rate, remaining term, and...
How to Spot and Avoid Illiquid ETFs
The column explains that ETF liquidity is driven primarily by the liquidity of the underlying securities, not by daily trading volume. It describes the in‑kind creation and redemption process that keeps ETF prices aligned with NAV. Real‑world examples show that...
Buying ETFs in Canada Tool: The MoneySense ETF Screener
MoneySense has launched an ETF screener that showcases the 100 best‑performing Canadian exchange‑traded funds based on one‑year returns as of Feb 13 2026. The tool, powered by data from ETF Market Canada CBOE, displays each fund’s ticker, expense ratio, management fee, benchmark...