A few notable reads and commentary from around the web. When politicians move into investment decisions, it is often a useful signal to consider doing the opposite. Politicians are not investors or traders Take Gordon Brown’s sale of Britain’s gold reserves: it coincided with a market low, after which gold climbed dramatically for a decade. … Read more

What caught my eye this week. A lot has changed since Westminster could expect a chancellor to stick to a plan for a year. Rachel Reeves didn’t manage to keep to hers. Since the October Budget — and despite earlier intentions to return to a single annual fiscal event — the numbers shifted enough that … Read more

After decades of using registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) to lower taxable income, it can be jarring to realize the tables will turn. By the end of the year you turn 71, you must either cash out your RRSP (not advised), annuitize it, or convert it into a registered retirement income fund (RRIF). Also read … Read more

David Sawyer is a regular guest contributor at Monevator and has written several pieces for us since publishing his debut book, RESET. He returns here to explain how to use the UK budgeting tool Money Dashboard — one of his nine underrated tools for people pursuing financial independence. Sitting through a long meeting. Persistent eczema. … Read more

Gurchuran Rai learned the hard way that patience and discipline are central to successful long-term investing. His first encounter with the stock market began after a cold call from an unfamiliar broker who pitched shares in an electronic monitoring company. Rai bought a small position, saw the price rise briefly, then increased his stake. The … Read more

Smart Investing: Why Copying the Best Can Improve Your Portfolio When it comes to investing, learning from successful investors is often one of the wisest moves you can make. Unlike academic work, where originality is essential, investing rewards those who adopt time-tested ideas from knowledgeable market participants. Observing how experienced investors think and allocate capital … Read more

After the success of his acclaimed book Just Keep Buying, bestselling author Nick Maggiulli returns with The Wealth Ladder. Below, Nick explains why the Wealth Ladder is a practical framework for tracking progress and improving your financial life. When I was five, my father taught me how to play chess. For fun, he invited his … Read more

If you’ve ever created an investment plan, you know asset allocation—the mix of stocks, bonds, real estate and other holdings that determines your portfolio’s expected risk and return. Less commonly discussed is asset location: how you distribute those assets across your different account types, such as RRSPs, TFSAs and taxable accounts. Like real estate, location … Read more

I have written extensively about return premiums—those so-called superheroes of passive investing that promise to outperform the market. But like any hero, they have weaknesses: circumstances in which they underdeliver or disappear right when investors expect them to save the day. This article is an anti-hero guide. It highlights the key limitations and traps that … Read more

Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, sits along the North Saskatchewan River and its expansive river valley, offering residents a balance of natural scenery and modern urban life. In recent years, Edmonton’s comparatively affordable housing has attracted buyers from other provinces, making the city one of Canada’s most sought-after real estate markets. Table of contents: Best … Read more