Understanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration in investing. You may have heard of the term ESG integration, but what does it mean in practice? Simply put, environmental, social and governance criteria are a set of factors that investors can use to analyze potential investments. Back in the early 2000s, there was growing recognition that factors associated with ESG issues – traditionally not part of financial analysis – affected the financial performance of a business or the economy. Today, research has clearly established the link between long-term sustainable performance and good financial results. At the same time investors are increasingly aware of issues such as en

Mortgages, and everything else you should know. A guide to buying your first home. Millennials in Canada are facing a very different home‑buying environment than their parents. Soaring real estate prices, high levels of student debt and precarious employment are making it difficult for young people to get into the housing market. Despite these challenges, a recent survey found that 80 per cent of Canadian millennials want to own their own home. What’s more, 27 per cent already do.[1] If purchasing a home is a goal for you, here are some tips to guide you through the process. See what it will cost Look at home prices in and around your desired location and be realistic about what you can affo

Connecting healthy lifestyle choices with insurance to achieve your goals. We’ve all heard about the importance of healthy living, but let’s face it – becoming a fitness buff or nutrition guru isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Maybe you don’t feel the need to change your habits. Perhaps you have a medical condition and aren’t sure how it fits with your healthy living goals. Or maybe you have a full schedule and can’t commit to a disruption to your routine. Change can be a good thing It’s been proven that our overall wellness is affected by the lifestyle choices we make – we also know habits can be hard to break. But what if there were a way to get rewarded for making better choices? Good news – t

With long-distance travel out of reach for now, hit the road for your next adventure. With respect to the government’s advice to avoid travel outside the country in response to COVID-19, many Canadians are readjusting their vacation plans this year. And, since living in the world's second-largest country means every destination of interest isn’t just a short stroll away, maybe now is the time to embrace a great Canadian cultural tradition and embark on that road trip you’ve always dreamed of. Some people seek out ghost towns, picturesque locations or the quirkiest roadside attractions. Perhaps you’ve thought about revisiting your hometown to see how it’s changed over the years. Tracing the p

Embrace a less-is-more attitude and start living your best life. Canadians are busy – the demands of work, family life and running a household leave little room for downtime. The quest to have it all and do it all means many people are cramming as much as possible into jam-packed schedules. Some even wear busyness as a badge of honour. But according to Statistics Canada, nearly one-quarter of people aged 18 to 34 years old said they felt “quite a bit” or “extremely stressed” most days. That number rises to nearly 30 percent among those 35 to 49 years old.[1] What if everyone just slowed down a little? Making the effort to simplify areas of your life can drastically help to improve mindfulnes

Understanding the importance of having a creditor protection strategy. The Canadian economy is fuelled by the enthusiastic hard work of the small business owner. The Business Development Bank of Canada estimates that 70 per cent of the country’s private labour force is employed by small businesses,[1] and the diversity is amazing – from make-your-own jewellery storefronts to microbrew pubs to the dental clinic in your neighbourhood. A small business venture may be a deeply personal dream come true, but even dreams don’t always work out. Surprisingly, many owners, officers and directors don’t realize their personal assets can be at risk of creditor claims in the event that something goes wron

How to recognize scams and protect your financial assets. In 2019 in Canada, there were 19,285 victims of fraud and $98 million lost to fraud, not including unreported cases.[1] Scams affecting individuals come in so many different forms that the Canada Anti-Fraud Centre has compiled an alphabetical list.[2] One challenge is that those who perpetrate fraud are constantly trying out new strategies that don’t yet appear on a list. As COVID-19 spread around the world, for example, private companies started trying to sell “faster” tests, people showed up on doorsteps offering “decontamination” services and fraudsters posing as workers for charitable organizations offering free medical products (