Market Update for July 2020
July saw equity markets continue their recovery, with some even turning positive for the year.
Life Insurance Questions & Answers
Last summer, we published a blog post on the Top 5 Life Insurance Q&A. We explored such questions as: How much life insurance is enough? I have life insurance through my plan at work – is that good enough? Do I have to get medical testing? How much does it cost? Is it tax-free? Those are very important questions indeed. […]
Group Savings Plans: DPSPs and Group RRSPs
Should You Join Your Company Group Savings Plan? Question. I just started a new job recently, and have to make a decision about signing up for the company savings plan. In my last job, I was a member of a pension plan, and didn’t really have any decisions to make. But now, I have the option to enrol in a […]
Mental Health Maintenance During Coronavirus
As a result of the lockdown, many Canadians have now been forced out of the work. If you have lost your income due to COVID-19, and are in need of financial assistance, please see our previous post, Financial Assistance: Benefits to Get Through Coronavirus. Indeed, the economic fallout from COVID-19 and the corresponding lockdown is well-documented, and dominates the media […]
Market Update for March 2020
March was the worst month for global stock markets since the 2008-09 financial crisis. Bonds were down a little, while oil halved (!) in price as COVID-19 shutdowns decimated the demand for oil.
Working From Home During Coronavirus
Question. Like many other people, I am now working from home due to the lockdown. I’m wondering, can I now claim home office expenses as a tax deduction? Also, my employer gave me some money to buy things such as a new webcam for our virtual team meetings, so I can work from home properly. Is this a taxable benefit […]
Mortgage Deferral Options During Coronavirus
Question. Our family has been financially impacted by the shutdown due to COVID-19, and we are really having trouble making ends meet. I noticed recently that banks are offering people the option to defer their mortgage payments for a while. Is this something I should do? Are there any negative consequences? Answer. These are definitely challenging and unprecedented times. Many […]
Financial Assistance: Benefits to Get Through Coronavirus
No doubt, many of us are struggling these days as extreme social distancing measures continue, and vast segments of the Canadian economy are virtually shut down. While some of us are fortunate enough to still have our jobs and our incomes, others have not been so fortunate. For the week ending March 21st, there were over 500,000 employment insurance (EI) […]
