One common question many people ask is: which is better — Visa or Mastercard? When choosing a credit card, the most important factors are usually the interest rate, rewards or cash back programs, welcome bonuses, annual fees and the perks that match your lifestyle. The card network logo — Visa or Mastercard — rarely determines … Read more

Parents used to plan financially for their children’s university tuition or contributions toward a wedding. Increasingly, however, families are prioritizing help for a home down payment. A CIBC study from June 2024 found that 31% of first-time home buyers received financial support from family, up from 20% in 2015, with the typical contribution averaging around … Read more

Hearing loss is widespread in Canada—about 23% of Canadians are affected. I didn’t expect to be one of them, but after years of my wife repeating herself and me asking her to speak up, she gently suggested I consider hearing aids. I resisted at first. I was worried about the stigma that can come with … Read more

With a new school year approaching and tuition bills coming due, many families are planning withdrawals from their Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). An RESP remains one of the most effective ways to save for post-secondary education in Canada, but there are important rules to understand to protect government grants, avoid penalties, and manage tax … Read more

Kyle Prevost, creator of 4 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement, Canada’s DIY retirement planning course, summarizes this week’s financial headlines and explains what they mean for Canadian investors. The U.S. Is Likely to Cut Rates—Finally After months of speculation, market indicators point to an imminent move by the U.S. Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest … Read more

Knowledge is power—and it can pay off. To celebrate MoneySense’s 25th anniversary, we asked leading Canadian personal finance experts and influencers to share the books that changed how they think about money. Their recommendations cover everything from practical Canadian planning guides to global perspectives on capitalism, and editors added several titles we expect will remain … Read more

Among the most persistent shareholder activists in corporate America are about 80 nuns living in a monastery outside Kansas City. Set among rolling farmland, the Benedictine sisters of Mount St. Scholastica have challenged major companies such as Google, Target and Citigroup. Their shareholder proposals have called for measures ranging from oversight of artificial intelligence to … Read more

If you’ve been saving to buy your first home, you’ve likely explored the best ways to grow your savings and build a meaningful down payment. You may also have investigated programs available to first-time buyers—every bit of help matters in today’s competitive housing market. One relatively new option is the First Home Savings Account (FHSA). … Read more

Ask MoneySense I would like to see an article on what to do when the credit card becomes less useful, such as when the introductory benefits wear off. Is it best to let it go dormant? What about fees? Will it affect my credit rating? How many cards is too many? —Lisa Should you keep … Read more

When a high-priced stock feels out of reach, fractional trading offers a practical way to own a piece of the company without buying a full share. Instead of waiting until you can afford a whole share, you can purchase a small portion and begin building a position over time. Fractional trading is particularly useful for … Read more