Ask MoneySense I recently retired from the public service here in B.C. and have a defined benefit plan pension. Is there a method that is commonly used to determine how much a defined benefit pension plan factors in towards your total net worth?—Ed Net worth and your pension Your question is a good one, Ed, … Read more

This week, Cut the Crap Investing founder Dale Roberts reviews the key financial headlines and provides perspective for Canadian investors. What’s up with inflation? Inflation remains the dominant force shaping stock markets, bond yields and the broader economy. Central bankers are effectively steering using past data while inflation continues to unfold, making policy decisions react … Read more

If you work in a STEM field—science, technology, engineering or mathematics—and want to move to Canada, the federal government has announced a package of measures meant to make that transition easier. The aim is to attract more tech and STEM talent to support Canadian innovation, grow companies and keep the country competitive in the global … Read more

When you opened your first bank account, it was likely with the same institution your family used. Many Canadians stay loyal to their first bank: a 2021 Ratehub.ca survey found that 70% of Canadians kept the same bank account for 11 years or more, and 80% had never switched accounts despite potentially paying higher fees … Read more

A positive change from the pandemic is the rise of flexible work arrangements, which has led many Canadians to try “workations” or to live abroad for weeks or months while continuing to work. When planned thoughtfully, working remotely from another country can be an affordable way to travel and experience new cultures without taking extended … Read more

For more than two decades Questrade has served Canadian investors with competitive pricing across a broad range of assets — including stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, IPOs, bonds, and precious metals like gold and silver. If you’re comparing discount brokerages in Canada, you’ve likely encountered Questrade. It’s one of the country’s most popular online brokerages and … Read more

Mallory Greene is transforming the funeral industry. As co-founder and CEO of Eirene, she leads a company that provides end-of-life services—such as cremation arrangements and funeral planning—available online or by phone, 24/7. Based in Toronto and coming from a family familiar with funeral care (her father is a funeral director), Greene grew up with open … Read more

We know we pay for convenience. Compare the low price of a jar of spaghetti sauce at a supermarket with the higher cost at a corner store, and the markup is obvious. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us to stay home, curbside pickup and online grocery shopping became mainstream. For many Canadians, convenience … Read more

Ask MoneySense What are the advantages if a husband buys stocks or other investments in his wife’s name? He earns income and she has never worked.—Lynne How income-splitting with a lower-income spouse works It is possible for one spouse to hold investments in the other spouse’s name, but the tax outcome depends on the account … Read more

Among the different life insurance choices, universal life insurance stands out as one of the more complex options. It demands more involvement than straightforward term or whole life policies: you can’t simply “set it and forget it.” You must decide how much to contribute, how those premiums are allocated, and how the investment portion is … Read more