Most Canadian Students Working Summer Jobs Still Short of University and College Costs, CIBC Study Finds TORONTO — A recent study conducted for CIBC shows that while a majority of Canadian post-secondary students find paid work over the summer, those earnings often fall short of covering tuition and related college or university expenses. The Leger … Read more

This post is one of a series reflecting on returns in the decade after the financial crisis. Many leading proponents of passive investing — authors and advisers such as Paul Merriman, William Bernstein, Larry Swedroe, Rick Ferri, and Michael J. Mauboussin, along with Tim Hale (though not John Bogle or Lars Kroijer) — have long … Read more

Is an 8% Annual Return Realistic for a Balanced Retirement Portfolio? Many retirement calculators still use an 8% annual return assumption for a balanced portfolio. That figure may seem comforting when planning how much you need to save for retirement, but it’s increasingly out of step with current market expectations. Investors should rethink assumptions and … Read more

What caught my eye this week. I was pleasantly surprised to read Adrian Chiles reflecting warmly on the Delay Repay compensation scheme in The Guardian. It’s struck me before as one of those small, satisfying systems that turn travel frustrations into something almost entertaining — and Chiles’ piece captures that feeling well. He explains that … Read more

TORONTO — For years, Samantha Brookes has urged Canadians to scrutinize the fine print in their mortgage contracts. Lately, that warning has become more urgent. Since the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions introduced the revised mortgage stress test in January, Brookes — founder of the Mortgages of Canada brokerage — has seen “a … Read more

Air Transat limits special-diet meal accommodations for many economy passengers TORONTO – Air Transat has stopped offering most specialized meal accommodations for economy passengers on its transatlantic routes, leaving many travellers with medical or religious dietary needs scrambling for alternatives. 5 things your airline isn’t telling you The airline’s new EuroBistro economy offering now features … Read more

What caught my eye this week. I often tell friends that, when judged purely by cost–benefit thinking, my stock picking has been an inefficient use of time. I enjoy active investing — the research, the decision-making, the puzzle — but that doesn’t mean it is the quickest path to greater wealth. I hashed this out … Read more

Media mojo The Canadian media long celebrated Mark Carney, praising him as a “superstar” central bank governor and a strong steward of monetary policy. That warm reception, however, has not been mirrored across the Atlantic. Some British tabloids have been far less flattering, dismissing him with quips such as “more Clark Kent than Superman” as … Read more

The Great TFSA Race From gutsy plays to steady, disciplined approaches, the seven biggest winners in our Tax-Free Savings Account contest revealed a range of practical, repeatable strategies for building wealth inside a TFSA. Their paths differed, but common themes emerged: clarity of goals, disciplined contribution habits, appropriate risk-taking, cost-conscious investing, and a long-term mindset … Read more

This post is one of a series looking at returns in the decade after the financial crisis. Professional forecasters had a field day in 2009. Predictions always sound most convincing when the world seems to be falling apart, and in the wake of the crisis the ETF industry was ready to offer products that matched … Read more