Weekend Reading: Let’s Talk About Rental Properties Edition
A new report issued last week by condo research firm Urbanation Inc. shed light on a problem that has plagued real estate investors for years – the vast majority of rental property owners are bleeding cash flow. According to the report (G&M subs), which looked specifically at new condo investors in Toronto, more than 80%…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Stock Market Highs Edition
Global stocks continue soaring to new all-time highs, with US large cap growth stocks (aka Big Tech) leading the way. Even the TSX is getting in on the action, finally surpassing its March 2022 high earlier this year. Big returns are all around us, and it’s only natural for investors to feel a bit of…
Read MoreNet Worth Update: 2024 Mid-Year Review
Welcome to another net worth update. I’ve been tracking and reporting my net worth twice a year for the past decade or so. It’s a good way to check on our financial progress and keep us on track with our goals. We’re at the stage of our journey where forces outside of our control can…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Create Your Own Robo-Advisor Edition
Robo-advisors have been around for a decade and, while its promise to disrupt the traditional financial services model has so far fallen flat, the concept of an automatically rebalanced, low-cost portfolio of index funds is still incredibly sound. The investing landscape continues to evolve and when Vanguard introduced its suite of asset allocation ETFs in…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Your Numbers Tell A Story Edition
When I first create a financial plan for a client I tell them that this is my initial interpretation of their current situation and future goals mapped out over time. It’s a projection or road map based on their current trajectory. I’m looking for clues, patterns, red flags, and opportunities. The numbers are telling a…
Read MoreWhat’s Your Home Equity Release Strategy?
The majority of retirees want to remain in their homes and age in place as long as possible. Indeed, most of the financial plans for my retired clients project them to stay in their home, or a home of equivalent value, for their entire lives. That makes perfect sense if you plan on leaving your…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Retirement Spending Edition
You might not have a hot clue how much you plan to spend in retirement, especially if those days are still a decade or further away. Even those nearing retirement may not have a good sense of their desired retirement spending amount. A good rule of thumb is that you’ll likely want to enjoy the…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: TFSA Catch-Up Edition
Some readers were appalled to learn that my wife and I completely drained our TFSAs in 2022 to fund a larger down payment on our new house. Okay, maybe not appalled – but it did raise a few eyebrows. Remember, inflation was running hot and interest rates started to rise in March of that year.…
Read MoreWhen Should Early Retirees Take CPP?
When should you take your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits? Like many personal finance decisions, the answer depends on your unique circumstances. In general, it makes sense to defer taking CPP until age 70. The caveat is that you need to have other resources to draw from while you wait for your CPP benefits to…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Million Dollar Portfolio Edition
Our net worth crossed the million-dollar mark at the end of 2020, but that included about $300,000 in home equity. This week I noticed the total amount we had invested across our RRSPs, corporate account, RESPs, and my LIRA had surpassed the $1M threshold for the first time. We’re managing a million dollar portfolio! RRSP…
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