All that is fun about university and college has been pretty much wrecked by COVID-19 and physical distancing. But what students give up on the social side of their postsecondary education will be offset by... read more
The vise is closing on savers. After holding up nicely through the spring, interest rates on savings accounts and guaranteed investment certificates are on the decline. The timing couldn’t be worse for the people who... read more
Insurance companies are quick to increase their premiums when facing higher claim costs, so it’s reasonable to expect the opposite when claims fall. Physical distancing to combat the pandemic has meant people are doing a... read more
Hard lessons in personal finance have rained down on us since the pandemic began. The Pandemic Personal Finance Update has tried to keep track of them. The first instalment appeared March 23 and covered falling stocks and... read more
There appears to be a pandemic generosity effect. In the last edition of this newsletter, I asked people who are financially secure in these uncertain times what ideas they had to help others who are struggling. A... read more
We need to raise our game in teaching teenagers about money and, no, that does not mean finding new ways to explain the wonders of compound interest. Equipping young people for financial success today requires... read more
When the coronavirus outbreak passes and the economy starts to rebound, we can get back to racking up travel rewards through our loyalty programs. “Right now, travel points are worth almost nothing,” says Stephen Weyman,... read more
What’s best for you and your family in the months ahead may not be good for your credit score. Remember that if you have to do something financially in the months ahead that hurts your... read more
We learned Monday that the stock market isn’t an elevator headed to the basement level. The worst week for stocks since the 2008 financial crisis was followed by a resounding bounce higher. Enjoy the respite... read more
So much for the adult supervision of our housing market. The federal government was onto a good thing when it introduced a stress test for home buyers a few years ago that demanded they be... read more
Financial stress is all about not saving enough. Income levels play a role, too, but not as big as you might think. Generational differences between, say, millennials and older people mean little. These are the... read more
The must-have accessory for all homeowners will never be featured in a TV series or in magazines about decorating. Having at least a few thousand dollars safely parked in a savings account makes both financial... read more
Karen Thomson thought a technology glitch was at fault when she tried to use her 75,000 Aeroplan miles to book a flight and found out she had only 6,138. Then Ms. Thomson looked at her... read more
By Friday, your postholiday buzz will be gone and so will a lot of your motivation to follow the New Year’s resolutions you made. For your financial resolutions, let’s see if we can buck you... read more
