SURREY, B.C.—The British Columbia government has unveiled a new program designed to help first-time homebuyers overcome one of the biggest hurdles to home ownership: the down payment. The initiative offers a 25-year loan for down payment assistance, with no interest and no required payments for the first five years. Premier Christy Clark said the program … Read more

For what looks like a relatively flat quarter, markets have felt distinctly nervy. Our Slow & Steady Passive Portfolio delivered a modest 2% gain over the last three months and sits about 5% higher year-to-date — a performance that owes as much to large-scale fiscal support as it does to market momentum. Massive fiscal stimulus … Read more

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It feels a little like a scene in a movie where the main character is swapped for a near-identical double with a mole in a different spot. While many investors carry on with their routines, the familiar Total Expense Ratio (TER) is being phased out and replaced by the Ongoing Charge. Both metrics aim to … Read more

What caught my eye this week. While I’ve previously argued that running a large interest-only mortgage can make sense for some, I remain a strong opponent of consumer debt in general. The first piece of advice I give almost everyone who asks about their finances is simple: clear non-mortgage debt first. It still surprises me … Read more

Should you invest in an RRSP or a non-registered account after maxing your TFSA? Question: I’m a teacher with 11 years of service. My TFSA is topped up and I plan to keep contributing each year. I like the TFSA because its growth and withdrawals are tax-free, which gives me flexibility later on. I’m hesitant … Read more

What caught my eye this week. You can make a strong case that pursuing financial independence is sensible while chasing early retirement can feel like a wild goose chase — I’ve written about that before. But ask anyone who’s been sent to rummage through dusty filing cabinets in a locked office basement, hunting for 1970s … Read more

Record National Home Sales in March; Toronto and Vancouver See Monthly Pullback The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) reported a record number of homes were sold nationwide in March, even as the two largest and most expensive markets — Toronto and Vancouver — experienced modest declines from the previous month. CREA’s national snapshot shows a … Read more

Aaron Wudrick is the federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation. Are you paying all the tax you are legally required to pay—and if not, is that acceptable? This question lies at the core of the public debate over offshore tax havens, where mostly wealthy individuals arrange their financial affairs to reduce their tax liabilities. … Read more

This article on the equity risk premium is by former hedge fund manager turned author Lars Kroijer, an occasional contributor to Monevator. He is the author of Investing Demystified. We’ve previously calculated the historical equity risk premium as roughly 4.3% for the period 1900–2014. That number is useful, but the practical question for most investors … Read more