Thoughtful Personal Finance
Interest rates are low. But they're not as low as you might think if you've only been looking at big bank rates for Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs). Just look at these GIC rates from RBC: 0.15% for a one-year GIC! Why even bother? Fortunately (sort of), this is just the big banks taking advantage of … Continue reading Where Can You Find the Best GIC Rates?
Have you ever heard someone question whether a promotion would be worth it because it would push them into another tax bracket? That’s not how income tax rates work. But it's a common misunderstanding rooted in a confusion between average and marginal tax rates. Your average income tax rate is the total income tax you … Continue reading How do Tax Rates Work?
Most people are afraid of the stock market. They see it as a casino that is rigged by billionaires. In a 2018 Ontario Securities Commission survey, savers and investors were asked how much of their portfolio was in cash or Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs), and how much was in stocks, bonds, mutuals funds, ETFs and … Continue reading Is The Stock Market Risky?
Tangerine’s globally diversified index mutual funds have long been solid options for new investors looking for an easy way to start investing. But their fees have not been competitive for some time. With Management Expense Ratios (MERs) of around 1.06%, they are more expensive than robo-advisors, TD e-series mutual funds or the one-fund index exchange-traded … Continue reading Tangerine’s New Global ETF Portfolios Are Another Solid Option for Investors
A service that requires an iPhone, an Apple Watch an Apple TV, and some home fitness equipment for the full experience may not seem very frugal. But hear me out. Apple Fitness+ is really good, and it is an excellent value if you already have the required Apple devices. What is it? Apple Fitness+ is … Continue reading Apple Fitness+ Review