Edward and Penelope Arneson of Cochrane, Alta. (Photo by CHRIS BOLIN) THE PROBLEM Edward (60) and Penelope (58) Arneson of Cochrane, Alberta, retired five years ago. They are grateful for Edward’s defined benefit pension, which delivers reliable, inflation-indexed income, but they are increasingly dissatisfied with their long-time adviser and their investment results. Their portfolio currently … Read more

What caught my eye this week. With Bitcoin trading above $120,000 and US regulators moving in a noticeably crypto-friendly direction, digital assets now feel poised to enter the mainstream institutional arena. That shift brings both opportunity and risk — and I say that as someone who remains broadly sceptical. My view over the past decade … Read more

Couples can open and contribute to individual registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), a spousal RRSP, or both. A spousal RRSP is often the most effective option when partners have significantly different incomes. If one spouse earns little or no income and therefore receives little tax benefit from contributing to their own RRSP, the higher-earning partner … Read more

Heresy! Prepare the torches, because I’m about to do something that will make many passive investing purists bristle: I’m placing part of the Slow & Steady portfolio into an active fund. Before the pitchforks appear, let me explain why this is not a betrayal of passive principles but a pragmatic decision to manage a specific … Read more

How to Shop Smart at the Drugstore: Avoid Choice Overload and Save Money Walking into a drugstore used to mean a straightforward trip for a few essentials—bandages, aspirin, maybe a thermometer. Today, the average aisle is packed with dozens of variations of the same product. Standing in front of a shelf full of ibuprofen, it’s … Read more

Can you tell when someone is talking nonsense about money? Hopefully yes — because research shows that the ability to detect financial nonsense predicts better financial well-being. That conclusion comes from a study titled Individual Differences in Susceptibility to Financial Bullshit, published in the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance. The researchers developed a way … Read more

Kyle Prevost, creator of 4 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement, Canada’s DIY retirement planning course, shares financial headlines and offers context for Canadian investors. 2023 asset returns versus the last 10 years As we begin a new year and market commentators publish their forecasts, it’s useful to review how returns have varied across asset classes. … Read more

I know many busy people who treat pensions as one more irritating task to avoid. The guilt and fear around saving are often obvious. Just thinking about setting money aside for retirement can feel like an overwhelming burden that threatens to unravel whatever financial stability they have. Behavioural economist Shlomo Benartzi offers an explanation for … Read more

(Illustration by Sam Island) Never say no to free money from the government. That’s a simple rule I follow — and for Canadian parents, the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is one of the best examples of why. An RESP lets your savings grow tax-free and unlocks the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG), a direct … Read more

Richard Farleigh is a well-known figure in investing circles, having made substantial money through market activity—reportedly tens of millions, perhaps more. The book under review doesn’t settle on an exact figure, but it does reveal colorful biographical details, such as his youthful ambition to be a bushranger like Ned Kelly. That image—part outlaw folklore, part … Read more