The Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB) helps eligible Ontario residents with part of their energy, sales tax and property tax costs. Below is a clear explanation of what the benefit covers, who qualifies, when payments are issued, how amounts are calculated, and options for receiving payments. What is the Ontario Trillium Benefit? The OTB is a … Read more

The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free, monthly payment designed to help Canadian families with the cost of raising children. Each July, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recalculates CCB entitlements for eligible families based on adjusted family net income from the previous tax year (for the July 2026–June 2027 benefit year, that is 2025 … Read more

Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs) are powerful tax-sheltered vehicles, but their rules can be confusing. To help you make the most of your TFSA in the year ahead, here are key considerations to maximize tax advantages, avoid penalties and use your accounts more effectively. New TFSA contribution room As of January 1, 2026, every Canadian resident … Read more

Did you fall behind on the financial priorities you set for 2025? You are far from alone. A recent Willful survey found 58% of Canadians postponed financial tasks they had planned for the year, including paying down debt, contributing to registered savings and investment accounts, buying life insurance and updating their wills. Many Canadians missed … Read more

A survey by CPA Canada shows holiday spending is rising, and younger Canadians are increasingly relying on credit to cover costs. This article explores why Gen Z and younger millennials are accumulating holiday debt and offers practical strategies to keep festive spending under control. Gift-giving spending trends The holiday season often brings extra expenses beyond … Read more

It’s that time of year again: amid last-minute shopping and planning holiday meals, an annual financial checkup can easily be pushed aside. With busy schedules and festive distractions, setting aside a few hours for your finances feels daunting. But you don’t need to tackle everything at once—breaking the review into manageable steps and focusing on … Read more

For a time it looked like Canada’s housing market might be improving, but in November buyers largely returned to the sidelines. That pulled back price momentum and improved affordability in most markets. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, national home sales were essentially flat, slipping 0.6% from October and remaining nearly 11% below November … Read more

Earlier in August 2025 I proposed an alternative to the classic 60/40 stock-and-bond portfolio called the 40/30/30 allocation: 40% equities, 30% bonds and 30% alternative assets that tend to behave differently when both stocks and bonds struggle. In theory, that mix would have helped during rare episodes such as 2022, when both equities and fixed … Read more

Canadians who watched the World Series this year likely noticed a parallel contest unfolding between innings: a marketing battle that reflects deeper shifts in the banking sector. On one side, the country’s most valuable bank ran ads featuring actor Will Arnett promoting trust and traditional relationships. On the other, challenger brands including EQ Bank and … Read more

Workers and employers in Ontario are preparing for major changes to the hiring landscape as new pay-transparency rules take effect next year. The province will require many employers to include salary information in public job postings, a shift intended to give applicants clearer expectations and reduce mismatches during recruitment. For some organizations, the new requirements … Read more