A recent landmark study called 'Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Brokers in the Mutual Fund Industry' (Harvard Business School, 2006) has one big lesson for all investors: even if you are using ...

Would you like to:Ski at the same place each year - but avoid high resort fees? Take your family to the same summer spot each year - without the cost and worry of owning a cottage?Lower the cost of resort ...

Housing may be your biggest cost after you retire, even if you have paid off your mortgage . O ne way to make your money go further is to move where it isn't as costly to live. If you're worried ...

There are specific insurance packages for homeowners, tenants, and condo owners. Most cover these three things: 1. The building(s) on your propertyIncludes your house and other buildings like a separate ...

What factors affect the value of a home?Location: Real estate people always say "Location, location, location." That's because the area you live in will be the biggest factor affecting your ...

When your kids leave home, you don't just gain an extra bedroom or two. All the main areas of your finances may be affected. Make sure you understand: How will my taxes change? If you sell your home ...

Want to travel, but need to shrink many of your costs to match your budget? Here are three tips to help you travel cheap: Start with a less expensive destination. The same type of hotel in one place will ...

You buy insurance to protect your car. But how do you protect your investments? I know what you're thinking: as if the investment industry wasn't tough enough for consumers, now you have to evaluate ...

Canadians are now living longer than ever. You may live as a retired person for 20 or 30 years, or perhaps even longer. Are you worried about how you'll cover your bills for all those years? Here are ...

Here are three ways to create income from the money you borrow. Just remember: to qualify for some reverse mortgages , you (and your spouse) must be at least age 60. Example 1: Borrow a lump sum and invest ...

Older Canadians are living longer, but they still have to cope with illness and disability. Statistics tell us that almost half of all Canadians between the ages of 65 and 80 are disabled in some way.A ...

"There are no requirements for managing billions of dollars, but before somebody can trim your sideburns, he or she has to pass some sort of test. Given the record of the average fund manager over ...

As you plan to create a steady income after you retire, don't forget about taxes . A dollar in a Registered Retirement Income Fund ( RRIF ) is not the same as a dollar from a savings account or even ...

While you are planning your summer vacation, con artists are getting reading for their busiest season. Every year, consumers lose billions of dollars in travel-related scams. Vacation companies mysteriously ...

Take these five steps to check out a vacation offer:Start by researching the company or resort through independent sources. Ignore the company's website (which could be false) and try to check its ...

There are lots of reasons parents offer to help an adult child buy their first home. Some parents find it makes sense to buy a place for their child to use while they are away at university or college. ...

In recent surveys, almost half of those who answered had never put money in a Registered Retirement Saving Plan ( RRSP ). Two-thirds had not sat down to write a formal retirement plan. Yet, over 85% said ...

Financial planning is not regulated in most Canadian provinces. There are no required courses, either. This means that anyone can call themselves a "financial planner." Many financial planners ...

Where will you get the money you need to live on after you retire? Most Canadians need to have a mix of sources. The five most common are: 1. Money from the government Most of us will be able to get money ...

Before retiring, most people count on their jobs for money to pay the bills. When something in your life changes, such as taking time off work to have a baby, or losing your job, you need to find other ...

Most people think they could spot a scam . But research shows that experienced investors are vulnerable because they are more open to investment opportunities and more willing to take risks. It also shows ...

True or false? To get an adviser, you need to: Have lots of moneyKnow a lot about investingPay high fees.Answer: All false. The truth is, most people can use good financial advice and it doesn't have ...

For most of us, life gets more complex as it goes along. Your finances may also get more complicated. For example, you may get a new job that pays you a commission rather than a salary. You may choose ...

Every investment has some risk involved. There's a big difference, though, between taking a risk on a well-researched investment and being tricked into losing your money. Here are six key things you ...

The main reason people sell their own homes is to save money. In a deal where there are no real estate agents involved, you could save a sales commission of up to five or six percent of your sales price. ...

Here is a list of some common ways advisers are paid, and the kind of service you can expect. Click on the terms below to learn about advisers who get: A salary Service fees Sales fees and commissions ...

Know the local real estate market. Find out where property is expensive, where it isn't. Also look where property values have a good record of growth. Real estate varies widely, both in Ontario and ...

Most people think interest is interest. In fact, you could have two loans that charge the same interest rate , and yet charge two different amounts of interest. Two factors affect the cost of borrowing: ...

Buying and renting out vacation property in Canada Here's a quick summary of the benefits and drawbacks to renting out vacation property in Canada: Benefits Drawbacks You can use the rent to pay your ...

1. How much do I have to pay each month? Make sure you can afford the monthly payment. How much is too much for your budget ? The experts say if you have a mortgage , your debts , including your mortgage, ...

True or false? Sharing all your money as a couple is a sign of your commitment to each other.Signing a pre-nuptial agreement shows you don't trust each other.Having some money of your own to control ...

Do you own a second home or vacation property, such as a place in the country? If so, you have a few ways to create income if you ever need it: You can sell your vacation property to create some cash. ...

How much home insurance do you need? To answer that question, you have to decide what you want to insure, and then find out the costs. Getting good service is also important. Before you buy, ask yourself: ...