Should you install solar panels on your roof? Harnessing the sun’s renewable energy sounds appealing, but whether it makes sense depends on several factors: your household’s energy use, where you live, roof size and orientation, local climate, and your budget. This article walks through the main considerations to help you decide. Are solar panels worth … Read more

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reports that construction of new homes in Canada’s six largest census metropolitan areas remained near record levels last year, largely due to a surge in apartment building—even as rental demand continues to outpace supply. In its biannual housing supply report, CMHC found that combined housing starts across Toronto, … Read more

A common financial milestone for many young adults is saving $100,000 in cash. Social platforms are full of videos and guides on this target, and for good reason: six figures in savings offers meaningful financial flexibility. It can serve as a large down payment on a condo or house, fund a reliable car, support extended … Read more

Financial advice passed down through generations doesn’t always fit today’s economic reality. Well-intentioned tips from friends and family can be outdated or misleading, and people often discover the limits of that guidance only after making costly decisions. Personal finance professionals regularly encounter common misconceptions. Some widely held myths include the belief that home ownership is … Read more

Chocolate is a popular treat for holidays like Easter, Hanukkah and Diwali, but its price has risen sharply. Retail chocolate in Canada currently ranges from about $19.92 to $66.41 per kilogram ($9.03 to $30.12 per pound), according to food sourcing platform Selina Wamucii. Statistics Canada also reports that confectionery prices rose more than 9% between … Read more

Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind the social network Truth Social, will begin trading on the Nasdaq stock market on Tuesday following approval of a business combination with a publicly traded shell company. How much is Truth Social stock? Shareholders of Digital World Acquisition Corp., the publicly quoted vehicle that agreed to merge … Read more

Ask MoneySense My boyfriend hasn’t filed taxes in over 10 years. Will it mess with me if I claim him on my taxes? He’s had no income since 2020. Life has been hard. I’ve been supporting both of us. I thought maybe I’d get a refund if I add him, or will it complicate things … Read more

Kyle Prevost, creator of 4 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement, Canada’s DIY retirement planning course, shares key financial headlines and explains what they mean for Canadian investors. Lower inflation clears runway for rate cuts Canadians facing spring and summer mortgage renewals received welcome news this week: annual inflation in Canada eased to 2.8%. Statistics Canada … Read more

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) plans to convert the HSBC Bank Canada branches and offices it is acquiring into RBC locations immediately upon taking ownership. According to RBC spokesperson Christine Stewart, the formal conversion process will begin on March 28, the same day the bank expects the acquisition—valued at $13.5 billion—to close, subject to customary … Read more

As I mentioned in a previous column on Fred Vettese’s PERC, I’m approaching the point where my registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) must be converted to a registered retirement income fund (RRIF) or annuitized. I turn 71 in early April, which means I have until December 31, 2024 to close out my RRSP. Thousands of … Read more