Commentators often portray index trackers as simple, vanilla funds—harmless choices even for novice retail investors. In reality the investment industry constantly evolves, producing products that look like friendly trackers but hide significant risks beneath the surface. Many different products are marketed as index trackers. For clarity, in my own writing I usually use the term … Read more

I’m pleased to welcome a new occasional contributor to Monevator. Lars Kroijer, a former hedge fund manager, now champions passive index investing as the best approach for most people. You can read more from Lars in his book, Investing Demystified. The reality is that most investors — including many professionals — do not have a … Read more

iStock Robo-advisers are computer algorithms that decide when to rebalance your portfolio. The idea has grown in popularity as automated investing platforms have become more accessible, but is relying on algorithms a smart choice for your money? What a robo-adviser actually does At its core, a robo-adviser is an automated investment manager. After you answer … Read more

Prepare a Financial Plan B: How to Protect Your Family from the Unexpected Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote in “To a Mouse” about how a sudden turn of a plough can ruin carefully built plans. The lesson still holds: no matter how thoroughly you prepare, unexpected events happen. Weather, illness, job loss or accidents can … Read more

What caught my eye this week. Considering how high the bar has been set for dismissals in politics and business, the resignation this week of the head of National Savings & Investments (NS&I) felt notable. The NS&I failure around bereavement records was a harsh setback for those affected. Administrative errors left around 37,500 people struggling … Read more

If you’re planning to move to Canada or you’re newly arrived, choosing the right city is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Below we profile six Canadian cities that offer strong job markets, diverse communities and practical information about living costs and housing: Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Halifax. Use this guide … Read more

Investors with relatively small portfolios should rebalance using new contributions whenever possible to avoid letting trading costs erode their returns. Rebalancing with fresh cash is a simple, cost-effective way to restore your target asset allocation without paying both buy and sell fees. Typical rebalancing advice tells you to: Sell assets that have outperformed. Buy assets … Read more

How an Intern in New York Really Affords a High-End Lifestyle When Refinery29 published a Money Diaries entry about a 21-year-old marketing intern in New York City claiming to live on $25 an hour, the article sparked immediate backlash. Social media users quickly pointed out that the intern reported far more than just her hourly … Read more

What caught my eye this week. How are you feeling today — happy, sad, anxious, or upbeat? Is the countdown to Euro 2024 lifting your spirits, or are you already dreading a month of football on TV? Mind if I ask how old you are? Age-appropriate emotions For years, the idea of a happiness “smile … Read more

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