With November approaching and Canada observing Financial Literacy Month, this edition of Retired Money highlights a new Canadian DIY retirement course created by MoneySense columnist Kyle Prevost, who writes the “Making Sense of the Markets” column. Called 4 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement, the multimedia course targets the same readers as this column: people planning … Read more

If you’ve ever had an eye exam, a dental cleaning or a prescription filled, you were likely asked whether you have health insurance. Without coverage beyond provincial or territorial public plans, you’ll pay out of pocket for any uninsured services. For many students and recent graduates, understanding how health insurance works is essential for avoiding … Read more

Ask MoneySense I brought my 2019 Toyota C-HR, which had slightly more than 110,000 kilometres on the odometer, to an authorized Toyota dealer for a tire swap and alignment. When I dropped the car off I mentioned a faint whining noise I thought might be coming from the drivetrain. After the service, the dealer informed … Read more

Canadians are not short on advice about how to achieve financial freedom. A quick online search for “how to become financially free” returns a mix of helpful guidance, half-truths and outright misleading ideas. Some sources are practical and evidence-based, while others are personal anecdotes that worked for one person but won’t necessarily work for everyone. … Read more

Weddings are costly, and so are many of the milestones that follow—buying a home, starting a family and saving for retirement. Money is therefore a major relationship topic well before most couples say “I do.” With mortgage rates higher than they have been in years, decisions about spending on a wedding versus saving for a … Read more

Ask MoneySense I currently own a mortgaged home in Edmonton and I’m planning to buy a property in Vernon, B.C., where I intend to retire. In the meantime, I’m considering renting out the Vernon property to help cover the mortgage. Is it possible to move my current mortgage into my RRSP and withdraw cash that … Read more

What are active ETFs? Fund-based investing typically follows two main approaches: active management and passive management. In active management, a fund manager makes deliberate choices about which stocks or securities to buy, hold or sell based on their analysis of market conditions and economic trends. Passive management, by contrast, aims to replicate the performance of … Read more

Kyle Prevost, creator of 4 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement, Canada’s DIY retirement planning course, summarizes recent financial headlines and explains the implications for Canadian investors. Big wins for major U.S. banks American consumers have remained resilient, and U.S. banks reaped the rewards this past week with broadly strong results. Below is a concise summary … Read more

Car theft has existed as long as cars have been widespread, and despite advancements like keyless entry, stronger locks and louder alarms, Canada is facing a growing theft problem. The scale of losses has jumped dramatically: five years ago insurers in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and the Atlantic provinces paid roughly $400 million in theft claims; … Read more

powered by Refinancing your mortgage can be a smart move depending on your financial situation. It can lower monthly payments, free up cash by accessing equity, or help you consolidate higher-interest debt. But refinancing isn’t always the right choice—there are upfront costs and potential penalties that can erase expected savings. A mortgage refinance calculator helps … Read more