Articles

The Canadian housing market has been a hot topic of conversation for years, with booming house prices, gyrating interest rates, and a broader concern over affordability. In this article, in addition to pointing out the general topics of unaffordability and rising house prices, we also want to study past levels of affordability compared to today, and how generational buying waves have played an important role. In the sections following, we will be examining a series of charts that analyze housing growth rates, inflation-adjusted affordability levels, generational buying cycles, and a shift in debt priorities.

The United States has had income tax expatriation rules for many years, which may apply taxes when individuals give up their U.S. citizenship, or properly surrender their green cards. The rules are a bit like the taxes that can apply to Canadians moving out of Canada as far as a deemed disposition of assets is concerned.

When many people think of prenuptial agreements (prenups), they might envision them as a safeguard for the wealthy, an uncomfortable formality that presupposes the end of a marriage before it even begins. However, prenups offer far more than just financial protection—they can be a powerful tool for preserving the integrity of marriage by creating a clear, mutual understanding of expectations and providing both partners with the freedom to navigate their relationship honestly and openly.

Let’s be real: money is one of the top reasons couples call it quits (second only to infidelity, yikes). But what makes financial disagreements hit so much harder than fights about chores or parenting? Money isn’t just numbers—income in, expenses out; it’s tied to some of our deepest values, security, freedom, and even control. This is why the weight loss industry, as of 2024, is worth over USD$160 billion, because we know weight loss is so much more than the basic equation of calories in, calories out, the deeper-seated emotions and societal norms make for a very complicated formula, and the same can be said about personal finances.

2024 was a strong year for the U.S. equities market in general, given the tailwinds from declining inflation and a new cycle of easing interest rates.

That being said, not all sectors performed. The Energy sector overall was up slightly, around 2% (dividend included) for the year, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq have provided returns of approximately 25% and 32%, respectively. The drastic underperformance made energy relatively attractive compared to the overall market which is trading at premium valuations compared to historical averages.

While Valentine's Day is a time to show some appreciation to those we love, and maybe even a chance to ignite a spark with that special someone you have known for some time, there is also a darker side to Valentine's Day. Maybe it is me, as I was never one to have a mailbox overflowing with Valentine's requests back in the day (believe it or not!), but this special day often seemed to be a day where many would also re-evaluate their relationships and benchmark them against their more popular peers. Many might conclude that “It’s not you; it’s me”, and decide that Valentine's Day (or at least after waiting a reasonable period after the day) is the time to break up and move on.

I’ve been dating a lovely man for the past couple of years, and I suspect he is planning to propose to me on Valentine’s Day. I’m a little nervous since this would be my second time at the altar, and there were money issues in my first marriage. We haven’t really talked about our attitudes towards money. What suggestions do you have?

It will likely be no surprise to dividend investors that the Beat the TSX (BTSX) portfolio lagged its benchmark index in 2024. BCE (BCE Inc.), a stalwart dividend stock for decades, has been crushed to prices not seen since 2010. And Algonquin Power & Utilities (AQN) continued the brutal slide it began in 2022, with another dividend cut and accompanying price drop.

Investors across all ages may be curious about their individual retirement goals, and the largest question of them all, is how much is needed for retirement. In this article, we wanted to discuss not only a quick and simple way to measure the approximate amount one might need at retirement but also, a study on the 4% withdrawal rule and how that has performed across different investment types.