Archive for May 2018
Weekend Reading: Half-Marathon Edition
Two years ago I decided to get serious about my physical health and so I took up running. My wife was already a fitness junkie and avid runner. It was time for me to get moving. I downloaded one of those ‘Couch to 5K’ running apps for my phone and started running three days a…
Read MoreWhere Do You Find The Time?
My wife keeps an organizer and admits to feeling stressed if she can’t tick items off her list by the end of each day. She craves routine and finds that by writing things down she’s able to be more productive throughout the day – particularly when it comes to tasks she dislikes. I don’t have a…
Read More5 Ways To Prepare Your Executor Before You Die
We know how important it is to have an estate plan, including a will, but it’s also a good idea to have a thorough letter of guidance to your executor(s) regarding how they should go about finding your assets and dealing with them. Where do you do your day-to-day banking? What property do you hold?…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom 45 Update: Still On Target
It’s been two years since we’ve checked in on my freedom 45 goals. I’m happy to report that we’re still on track and financial independence is only six-and-a-half years away! Financial freedom to me doesn’t necessarily mean retirement – more like the ability for me pursue other opportunities without the constraints of full-time employment. I’m…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Mad At Money Milestones Edition
How much should you have saved for retirement by age 30 or 35? This MarketWatch article drove Millennials wild last week (read the comments) when it suggested 30-year-olds should have one year’s salary put away for their future, while those aged 35 should already have twice their salary saved for retirement. I’ve written before about…
Read MoreSo You’ve Been Asked To Be An Executor
At some point you may be approached by a family member or friend to act as the executor of their estate. Do you know what to do? Some people consider it an honour and personally gratifying to take responsibility for ensuring that their loved one’s final wishes are carried out. But serving as an executor…
Read MoreRetirement Planning For Late Starters
We’re always hearing dire warnings about how woefully unprepared boomers are for retirement. An Ipsos-Reid survey done for CGA-Canada reports that 25% of their respondents have never made a savings contribution and 29% said they had no money left over to save after paying expenses. So, what if you’re now in your 50’s, still have…
Read MoreDear Generation X: Here’s How To Fix Your Finances
The number of financial responsibilities facing Generation X – those ages 37 to 52 today – seems overwhelming. Getting married, having kids, and raising a family can be expensive enough. Now factor in building an emergency fund, paying down the mortgage, setting aside money for retirement, saving for your child’s education, and everything else that…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Gen X Squeezed Edition
Generation X, those born between 1966 and 1981, are feeling the financial squeeze. A Franklin Templeton survey made headlines this week as it revealed that many Gen Xers are being stretched beyond their financial limits. One quarter of Generation X have saved nothing for retirement, with many citing too low of income and/or too high…
Read MoreMoney Trade-Offs And Opportunity Costs
Newly engaged Jared and Maryam are excited to be planning their future wedding. The average cost of a wedding in Canada in 2017 was over $42,000. That’s a lot of money for a party. They could go all out and have the wedding of their dreams and conform to what’s expected of them. Or, they…
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