Category Archives: Budgeting

Happy New Year

While many people are making their New Years Resolutions about health and wellness, consider committing to your financial wellbeing too! Here are a few things to think about when writing down your 2024 goals. Top up your TFSAs or consider making a regular contribution The new maximum limit for 2024 is $7,000, however if you have not maximized your contributions in previous years then you will have more than the annual limit to contribute. If you don’t have the cash available for a larger deposit, you could consider making regular bi-weekly or monthly contributions throughout the calendar year to maximize…


Happy New Year

While many people are making their New Years Resolutions about health and wellness, consider committing to your financial wellbeing too! Here are a few things to think about when writing down your 2022 goals. Top up your TFSAs or consider making a regular contribution The new maximum limit for 2022 is $6,000, however if you have not maximized your contributions in previous years then you will have more than the annual limit to contribute. If you don’t have the cash available for a larger deposit, you could consider making regular bi-weekly or monthly contributions throughout the calendar year to maximize…


Disability

Today we continue with our Life Events series, and discuss planning tips for dealing with a disability. A disability for you or a close family member creates new challenges for you and your family. Have you ever considered what would happen if you or the main breadwinner in the family was no longer able to work? Would that income stop? Could you survive on only one person’s income? Would this cause issues for the care of your children? You should also consider the impact disability would have on a stay-at-home parent. This is a hugely important role, which may not…


Retirement Income Planning

Facing retirement full in the face can be a really frightening prospect. Moving from actively earning your income, to passively receiving retirement income leaves many people weak at the knees. Will you have enough income? Should you take CPP early or late? When should you withdraw from RRSPs? Should you buy an annuity or move to a RRIF? What should you do with your company retirement pension or group RRSP when you retire? There are a lot of decisions to make, and it is important to make them informed decisions. Will you have enough income? The most important step here…


A New Job

So you’ve just accepted an offer for a new job, or received a nice promotion. Congratulations! With extra money coming in, it’s important to know how to take care of it properly. What are your goals? Does this extra income put you in a good spot to check something off your list? Maybe it’s finally moving out of your parents’ house, and getting your own place. Maybe it’s buying a new car, or maybe it’s saving for something special, or maybe, just maybe, you actually want to start putting more into your long term savings plan. The first course of…


Financial Planning = Lifestyle Planning

We are all so busy living day to day, we often don’t take the time, or see the value in looking at the big picture. Or we are afraid of what that picture will look like so we actively avoid thinking about it. The beginning of any plan, financial or otherwise, involves having a vision for your life, both now and in the future. What would you like to do when you stop working at your full time job? Are you someone who is content to be at home surrounded by familiar things, with family and friends? Are you someone…