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The Financial Independence/Retire Early, or FIRE, movement is an investment practice and lifestyle that focuses on saving aggressively and spending frugally so individuals can move toward financial freedom and perhaps even retire decades ahead of schedule.  The movement has been around since the 90’s and has gained more exposure recently as the financial fallout from…

As you’re finishing up your 2021 tax return, you may be thinking your tax work is done until next spring. But getting a jump-start on next year’s taxes can help you get organized, saving you time and money when April 2023 rolls around. Here are four steps you can take now to prepare for next…

Improve a job offer by thinking beyond your salary. It’s a job seeker’s market. The unemployment rate has fallen from its double-digit high in 2020 to around 6%, creating a tight labor market in which employers must compete for talent. As a result, employees are in a good position to negotiate for higher salaries and…

Rising inflation is a concern among investors. Here are five ways to protect your investments.  Over the past year, investors have become increasingly worried about how inflation might impact their portfolios. One measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), climbed to 5.1 percent in January, its highest level in three decades. Supply chain issues,…

A company that wants to supplement its employees’ salary with equity compensation can do so with an employee share ownership plan (ESOP). Besides offering employees a potentially valuable ownership stake in the company, ESOPs can be an important tool for companies, particularly in succession planning. What is an employee share ownership plan? An ESOP gives…

Income investing is a strategy that seeks to provide investors with passive income from the assets they hold. This strategy may be attractive to people working toward financial independence or who need a predictable stream of income in retirement. Investors looking to embark on an income investment strategy may consider adding dividend stocks, bonds, and…

The start of a new year is a great time for introspection and evaluating the areas of your life you want to improve. When setting New Year’s resolutions, individuals often think about career or physical health, but financial wellness is just as important. It’s no surprise then that January is Financial Wellness Month.  Financial wellness…

In an attempt to control inflation, the Bank of Canada has signaled that it may raise its policy rate (currently set at 0.25%) in the middle quarters of 2022. This will effectively raise interest rates across Canada, making it more expensive to borrow. Even small increases in rates can have an impact on what investors…

Financial planning is not a set-it-and-forget-it activity. Rather, financial plans are ever-evolving based on your changing life circumstances. Your goals and priorities may shift as your career evolves and big changes like marriage, having a child, or getting a new job may warrant adjustments to your long-term plan.  Here is a look at the situations…

Building a portfolio is a big effort. It requires considering your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Once that’s settled, you’ll have to choose investments that match these criteria. And this is only the beginning. Portfolios require regular monitoring and performance evaluation to ensure that the assets you own are still working together to help…