Gordon Powers, investing, saving, debt, RRSP, retirement, TFSA, tax free savings account

How to work together as a couple to realize your financial goals.

Managing your assets like a pension plan, particularly if you don’t actually have one, is the path to a successful retirement, according to a new report.

While the idea of merging households may seem attractive, make sure you’re on the same page financially before moving in together.

Once you’ve accumulated some assets, you have to decide where to put them — a decision that’s not as obvious as one might think.

Learning to wait for what you want is a valuable lesson, at any age. But it’s never too late to start.

There’s lots of information around about what makes a good advisor. But what about being a good client?

Looking to mutual funds to anchor your financial plan? Cheaper offerings tend to beat their more expensive counterparts time and time again.

Concerned about the stock market and fed up with paltry returns on term deposits, fewer Canadians contributed to their RRSPs this year. That’s likely a short-sighted decision.

Home prices in the U.S. Sunbelt have dropped sharply. But most Canadian buyers should still think twice before they jump in.

The Tax-Free Savings Account is now a little more than three years old but most investors still aren't taking advantage of its potential.

When it comes to retirement, when you make your money can make just as much difference as how.

The quality of life you want in the future will depend on how well you plan for your retirement now.

As baby boomers approach retirement, the cost to government of providing public pensions is set to skyrocket. And that means changes are afoot.

Too often, women delegate their financial security to a spouse or significant other only to have divorce or death drive them into poverty.

Exchange traded funds can be a great addition to your portfolio but some investors may be using them incorrectly.

Rather than worry about a magic number to save for retirement, workers may be better off knowing how much monthly income their nest egg might produce.

Behavioural finance attempts to explain why people make financial decisions that are often contrary to their own interests.

Parents who want to help their children buy their first home should think twice about how they provide financial support.

Interested in being better off? Getting married, or at least living together as partners or significant others, seems like the sensible thing to do.

While your 2011 taxes aren't due for another four months, there are only a few days left for you to save on taxes before year-end.

For most Canadians, the equity in their home represents a significant part of their wealth. But depending on it to carry you in retirement can be costly.

Most Canadians face a large 'preparedness gap' when it comes to matching their retirement hopes and their actual plans. And that's largely because they don't have all the facts.

If you’re already near retirement, capital preservation is paramount. But if you’re not there yet, being too cautious may hurt you.

The thought of running out of money worries many retirees but there are several steps you can take to reduce the risk.

While the Occupy movement may fade from the headlines, the questions it provoked likely won’t.

The federal government has introduced legislation to overhaul how some Canadians save for their retirements.

The current tax rules on retirement savings have created an unfair disparity between members in guaranteed pension plans and those struggling to save on their own.

Carrying a mortgage in retirement can be a bit of a burden but what if homeowners can receive a better return by investing the money elsewhere?

More companies are paying dividends than in the past and income-hungry investors are looking for the best way to get on board.

If all your advisor does is provide investment advice, then you’re probably paying too much for too little.

Unless you plan ahead, high cottage values can lead to succession challenges and surprisingly large tax bills.

Shared memories at the lake are priceless. But poor succession planning when it comes to cottages can still lead to bitter family quarrels.

Many Canadians believe investing skill increases with age, but studies show otherwise.

Measuring your ability to handle the ups and downs of the stock market is tricky. But one researcher thinks the financial industry could be doing a better job.

Stocks markets have produced some real gut-wrenching swings in recent weeks. Are things different this time around?

Changing jobs? Don’t be too quick to cash in those pension plan savings. They may be worth more than you realize.

While it’s generally more expensive to lease a car than to buy one, lots of Canadians are signing up anyway. But are they driving a ‘nicer’ car than they can really afford?

As life expectancy rises, more and more Canadians will face declining cognitive abilities. What will this mean for the quality of their financial decisions?

Worried about life after work? What if funding your future isn’t actually that difficult?

Spending money you don’t have isn’t usually a wise move, but it can work to your benefit on occasion.

Planning on living on just dividends in retirement? Good luck with that.

Market timing systems based on the stock market’s 200-day moving average may have worked in the past but not so much in recent years.

Retirement used to signal the end of a productive life for workers, but it’s really a transition point for the start of a new phase in your life.

Canada’s banks and insurance companies square off in fight to decide who should provide aging boomers with ‘guaranteed’ retirement income.

Is it possible to lend money to your adult kids without keeping them forever in your debt? Yes, providing you’re careful.

Most Canadians face a large ‘preparedness gap’ when it comes to matching their retirement hopes and their actual plans.

When it comes to mutual funds, buy and hold is generally sound advice. But it’s not the only road to wealth.

Successful retirement planning involves identifying the factors that you can actually control.

Faced with mounting costs, more Canadian companies are seeking to shift pension risk back to employees.

While inflation is a fact of life for everybody, it affects some people much more than others — particularly those who have left the workforce.

Many middle-aged investors fear they haven’t saved enough and will run out of money during their retirement, a new study reports. They may be right.

RRSP oversights tend to last a lifetime. Don’t be caught out when it comes to choosing a beneficiary.

Choosing investments based on how they behave in relation to one another can reduce risk and help ease the tension in your portfolio.

Target-date funds take a lot of the work out of building a diversified portfolio. But not all investors appreciate the convenience.

How do you give to charity if you don’t have much money? Well, if you still want to help, you need to develop a longer-term view.

Losing your job is always devastating, but navigating your way through the legal morass that follows can make things even more stressful.

According to a recent survey of 500 major Canadian employers, fewer than half of provide medical coverage for their retirees.

The makeup of the average household has evolved into a web of relationships, forcing many families to rethink the ways they handle their money.

The Canadian dollar is now worth several cents more than its U.S. counterpart. What should you be doing to take advantage of the currency’s renewed strength?

Conservative leader Stephen Harper is promising a big tax break for two-parent families, although they'll have to wait a bit for it to happen.

Gauging your ability to handle the stock market’s gyrations can be tricky. But understanding a few key issues can make all the difference.

Raising children costs a ton of money, so it make sense to look for ways you can use your kids to offset some of those expenses.

From a tax point of view, how you generate income in retirement can be every bit as important as how much you actually make.

Despite a recent court ruling on sharing assets after the breakup of couples who live together, common-law splits are treated differently than marriages that end in divorce.

The numbers of employers providing retirement guidance to employees is rising slowly, but very few workers seem to be taking them up on the offer.

Tossing a few bucks into a lottery pool at the office can be fun. But what happens if you actually do hit the jackpot?

Figuring out how much of your current income you'll need to live on when you retire is tricky and the number may not be as high as you think.

Rather than concentrate solely on money, more and more people are starting to discuss the health and social aspects of retirement planning.

Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefit funds have been a huge hit in Canada and one more company is looking to gain shelf space.

What do you really want your retirement years to be like, how much is your dream going to cost you and how are you going to manage it all when you get there?

While a strong loonie has many Canadians thinking about a winter escape, longer stays across the border can have significant financial implications.

While avoiding probate taxes may seem appealing, transferring assets into joint ownership with your children can sometimes backfire.

What are the costliest money mistakes you can make?

An increasing number of couples are signing pre-nuptial agreements to protect themselves in case of divorce.

Making sure your medical wishes are clearly understood now can save a lot of heartache later.

Despite low interest rates, investors are anxious to protect more of their money as an uncertain economy continues to threaten their savings.

Rather than something to look forward to, retirement can be fraught with uncertainty for those who find themselves alone.

Investors looking for ways of improving income without piling on too much risk may want to consider an insured annuity.

Today’s students are graduating saddled with debt and taking much longer to become financially self-sufficient.

Tax planning should be a year-round event. But, for small business owners, important decisions have to be made before year-end.

Never quite enough cash to do the things you want to do? Tracking expenses can help your money go the distance.

Although described as an event, retirement is really a series of stages that we migrate through, not all of which are centred on money.

Popular wisdom suggests that regularly investing month after month is the best way to make money. But is it always?

Women face a retirement savings gap that’s more than twice the size of the one men face.

Money is an uncomfortable subject for many Canadians but understanding a few key issues can make all the difference.

Annuities can help anchor your personal pension plan, providing you understand the math and the tradeoffs.

Weddings are wonderful, but very expensive. Watch out for all those pricey extras that can slide in under the radar.

By redefining their needs and wants, boomers can ensure they are well prepared for their after-work years.

The retirement choices people make are often affected by the way their options are presented to them.

Don’t let debt haunt your retirement. Follow these tips to optimize your finances before you retire.

You’ll love them for always but don’t let your adult child move back in without a plan.

When money is tight, it's easy to understand why someone might want to get out from under a costly car lease that still has two or three years to run.

Getting a handle on retirement expenses and then creating a bucket for shorter-term income needs can help secure peace of mind.

Despite some recent misunderstandings, tax experts maintain that the TFSA is a useful financial planning tool when used properly.

Most people avoid budgeting because the process seems too confining. But a realistic spending plan can help change all that.

If you suspect your soon-to-be ex is keeping you in the dark financially, don’t let yourself be victimized.

Ensuring that there’s someone to look after your affairs down the road is a wise move. But choose your advocates very carefully.