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?

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

Are dividends magic? Some investors seem to think so. I get it, dividends are easy to love. It's nice to think that you could live off dividend payments without ever needing to sell any of your stocks. But should your investment strategy focus on dividends? Dividend investing strategies generally either target companies that have high … Continue reading Is a Dividend Strategy Right for You?

I want to start by making it clear that this post is not meant to bash robo-advisors. They are not dangerous, and moving from high-fee mutual funds to a robo-advisor would likely be a big improvement in your personal finances. Their relatively low fees, ease of use and focus on index investing have been a … Continue reading Robo-Advisors – Are You Getting Value for Your Money?