The US government partially shut down Saturday 22 December after Congress and the White House failed to agree on a short-term spending bill to keep it funded through 8 February 2019. While Congress works to resolve the impasse over whether to provide funds for additional border security measures, investors may have questions about how a shutdown could affect markets. Understanding a partial government shutdown A shutdown occurs when either Congress does not meet a deadline to

WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT CANADA’S HOUSING MARKET in the news – record home sales and steadily rising prices. In fact, house prices in Canada’s biggest cities more than doubled from June 2005 to April 2017. As year-over-year growth rates reached over 14 per cent in July 20171 , some Canadians were rethinking home ownership and embracing the lower cost and flexibility of renting.2 Making the decision When it comes to deciding whether to rent or buy, the housing market isn’t the only

“DON’T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET.” That’s common advice for investors, and for good reason. Spreading assets across different baskets – such as stocks and bonds – can help to lower risk if one or more baskets hit a rough patch in the markets. This type of diversification can get quite sophisticated, breaking down the big asset baskets into smaller ones such as small-cap, large-cap, Canadian, U.S. and international stocks, as well as government, corporate, Canadian, U.S.

CANADIAN FAMILIES COME IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. About one in eight (12.6 per cent) are blended families (or stepfamilies) in which one or both adults brought children from a previous union into a married or common-law relationship.1 Merging two households with children can be full of promise, joy and excitement – but it can also be financially complicated. As couples with children from previous marriages or partnerships start to consider joining their lives together, they als

IF YOU’RE A MILLENNIAL who is considering starting your own business, or if you’ve already taken the leap into entrepreneurship, you’re in good company. A recent multi-country study1 found that people under age 35 are becoming business owners earlier in life and running larger enterprises than those age 50 and older. Millennials start their first business when they are an average age of 27, while baby boomers started theirs at an average age of 35. Meanwhile, millennial entre

DO YOU HAVE AN “ESTATE”? It may sound grand, but you probably do. Your estate may include many kinds of assets – such as money, property, a bank account, investments, a car, a house or other possessions. So, if you have an estate, you would be wise to consider the benefits of an estate plan. Estate planning is an essential part of overall financial planning. It enables you to identify your beneficiaries. It helps you protect your family. It can also reduce taxes. There’s no q

IT MAY NOT SEEM IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS, but financial wellness is a key element of our overall physical and mental health. When people feel financially well, they exercise more, eat more fruits and vegetables, and get health checkups more regularly. They tend to worry less about money. However, according to a recent study, 40 per cent of Canadians feel financially unwell. They are less knowledgeable about investments than their financially well peers, are less likely to feel pre

FOR A LONG TIME, INSURANCE HAS BEEN REGARDED as simply part of a smart financial plan. Traditional products provide protection “just in case” – often purchased and then forgotten about – and certainly not what anyone would call fun or engaging. That’s starting to change. Innovative companies have designed new solutions to keep pace with a broader trend of encouraging healthy living, offering rewards and savings to help motivate people to achieve their health goals. By connect

The Financial Infidelity survey, commissioned by Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) and Credit Canada in time for Valentine’s Day (February 14), reveals more than one third (36%) of Canadians are victims of financial infidelity. The Leger poll asked Canadians the following question: “What is the worst form of financial infidelity you have been a victim of from a former or current partner?” Here are some of the standout findings: 34 percent of those in a relationship

WHEN MOST PEOPLE THINK OF REGISTERED EDUCATION SAVINGS PLANS (RESPs), they think of a savings vehicle to help fund a child’s future college or university education. But savvy investors can benefit from the plan as well. In fact, self-funded RESPs can be a great investment for adults who are planning to go back to school, and they can even be used as an income-splitting tool. How do they work? By opening an individual RESP and naming yourself both the subscriber and the benefi