For many people, asking for a raise feels uncomfortable—necessary, but awkward. According to a PayScale survey, nearly 30% of employees report feeling uneasy about requesting higher pay. The good news: with preparation, the right timing, and clear communication, you can make a persuasive case. Below are practical steps to help you ask for a pay … Read more

In February and early March, following our usual habit, my wife Ruth and I spent five weeks in a warm climate to escape the last stretch of Canada’s winter. After we returned from Malta, regular guest blogger Devin Partida published a timely piece titled “Can you pursue financial independence without giving up Travel?” that ran … Read more

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