Market-cap-weighted indices, such as the CRSP US Total Market Index tracked by the Vanguard U.S. Total Market Index ETF (VUN), naturally allocate less to small-cap stocks. By design, these indices give larger weights to companies with bigger market capitalizations (share price times shares outstanding), so large-cap firms dominate the index. That said, small-cap stocks remain … Read more

Hayley Reid-Ginis could tell her life was changing when she returned to college last September. She took on a student loan, tightened her budget and cut discretionary spending. Even though she continued working while studying, that decision meant fewer nights out with friends and more careful choices about where her money went. Prioritizing debt over … Read more

Investing always involves buying and selling assets. Often the problem isn’t buying the wrong thing — it’s not selling at the right time. Below are common examples of why investors hesitate to sell and how that hesitation can harm long-term financial outcomes. Holding until a stock recovers Many investors hang on to a losing position … Read more

Ask MoneySense Are estate planners required to be aware of current tax laws and the tax implications of transferring the title of my secondary property to a family member, or should I consult a tax lawyer? –Aggie Do you need a planner, lawyer or accountant for leaving property in a will? Thanks for your question, … Read more

Ask MoneySense What happens to my husband’s RRIF if he dies? —Shearer RRIF after death If your husband dies, the outcome for his registered retirement income fund (RRIF) depends largely on how the account is titled and who is named in the account documents. In most common setups, the surviving spouse is listed as either … Read more

The desire to spend less time at the office and more time at home with family, friends or personal interests is not new. For more than two centuries workers have pushed for shorter workdays and more leisure, seeking a better balance between paid work and the rest of life. In 1817, Welsh textile mill owner … Read more

The era of broad, inflation‑indexed defined benefit (DB) pensions is largely behind us. Outside of many public‑sector roles—such as civil servants and teachers—most Canadians will face retirement with, at best, limited workplace pensions that are unlikely to cover all living expenses. Employers increasingly view traditional DB plans, which guarantee a monthly lifetime income, as too … Read more

If you’ve read a MoneySense investing piece and wished you could go deeper—hear more from the reporter, ask the experts follow-up questions or see the full interview—now’s your chance. Register for the Canadian Financial Summit, running October 23 to 26, and tap into the collective knowledge of more than 35 Canadian personal finance experts, including … Read more

Kyle Prevost, creator of 4 Steps to a Worry-Free Retirement, Canada’s DIY retirement planning course, summarizes this week’s financial headlines and explains what they mean for Canadian investors. Nike and Carnival shareholders sail to profitable waters This week’s earnings showed that investors preferred cruising over running—at least when it came to Carnival and Nike. U.S. … Read more

With more than 1,400 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available in Canada, using a benchmark index can simplify the selection process. A key factor to understand is how an index is weighted. The most-followed stock indexes, such as the Nasdaq-100 and the S&P 500, use market-capitalization weighting. That means a company’s weight in the index grows with … Read more