Blog2023-09-30T12:50:21-04:00

Christine’s Latest Articles

Read all of Christine’s latest content below, so that you can always stay up to date with her latest columns.

Christine writes for 630 newspapers across the country, and is committed to increasing financial literacy, no matter what your age, background, or income level.

 

I want to tell you a story of a dear friend of mine…

But first, do you ever look back over your life with resentment? A missed opportunity, a career failure, job loss, divorce, or even financial ruin. We all do, some more than others, and the longer you live, the more you will have. It is hard to let go, especially when financial resentment can leave us open to even more self-sabotaging financial behaviour that grows over time if we don’t work to let it go. However, financial resentment is more of a mood than an emotional state and this behaviour often [...]

By |15 April 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

After going through the last few years with COVID, I have decided I don’t want to work anymore. Can you tell me how much I would “really need” to retire now?

Well, isn’t that a loaded question? Today, there are so many Canadians that have emailed me asking the exact same thing. They don’t want to go back to the pre-COVID work situation of 9 to 5 in the office with the added drudgery of commuting every day. Many people are now wanting to retire earlier or at least change their work situation after COVID. So, can you retire now? Having the financial means to retire earlier will be different for everyone. Basically, you will need to ensure you can be [...]

By |15 April 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

Can you explain what mutual funds are and which ones I should consider?

Let’s start by giving you a general overview of what a mutual fund is and why you should use it when investing. A mutual fund (MF), is just that – a fund of different types of products such as stocks, bonds, and money markets. When you invest in a MF you invest money into the fund with everyone else, and by doing so, your contribution is measured in units. You will be given a number of units based on the daily market price called a NAV price per share (net [...]

By |15 April 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

I’m in my 30’s and want to know how to save my first $50,000 – any help?

What a great question! There are some basic ways to save regardless of your age. Of course, if you are young and just starting out, adopting the right habits will benefit you immensely, perhaps even for your entire lifetime. Saving must be a conscious decision you make to yourself that requires long-term discipline. Actually James, these principles can be applied to anything that is important to you, such as, losing weight, kicking a bad habit, getting your dream job, or of course saving money. Most people want everything instantly, which [...]

By |15 April 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

Let’s talk about Option Trading – Have you tried it?

My son who is in his mid-twenties with two degrees in physics and mathematics, seems to think he can take on the stock market through options trading, so today we are going to talk about this type of investment strategy. Options and forwards are quite a complicated model even though there are many investors who think they can master them. Essentially you will use a security or derivative in an existing or anticipated position and speculate on the value of the asset. Options and forwards are both contracts between a [...]

By |15 April 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

Dear Money Lady Readers: Why do we have trouble saving money?

Everyone can agree that improving our daily habits should greatly impact our life and our future, yet we all tend to do the same things every day, rather than something better. Many people walk through life in a cognitive slumber, blindly following the norms attached to their identity. “I’m terrible with directions.” “I’m not good with technology.” “I’m not a morning person.” Why is it so easy to repeat bad habits and so hard to form good ones? This time next year – will you have made things better or [...]

By |26 February 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

Why are so many Canadians still struggling with money when we have such a large banking industry that says it wants to help us?

Today Canada is dominated by five large banks, that now control 91% of the entire Canadian financial service industry, with approximately $4 Trillion in assets. The Royal Bank’s recent purchase of HSBC only amplifies this fact. Many may think that there are larger industries in Canada, however as of 2021 the financial sector is now the largest industry in terms of employment in Canada. There now is so much information out there, it’s hard to know if someone is trying to truly help you or sell you something that is [...]

By |26 February 2023|Categories: Uncategorized|

I can’t believe the high price of groceries nowadays. Any advice?

You are so right – the cost of groceries has gone up 12.4% according to Stats Canada since January 2022 and with the continued trend that we are to experience a “mild recession” this year, we can expect the costs to rise a little more. Let’s go through five quick tips that will help lower your food expenses. 1. Go back to the old way of shopping – clip those coupons. There are many coupons on-line that you can print off and use from retailers or product manufacturers. I just [...]

By |26 February 2023|Categories: Uncategorized|

Is it possible to make money without investing in the stock market? Why is this the only option provided by my financial planner?

This is a very good question – and there are many other ways to make money instead of the traditional method of purchasing securities in the stock market. Let’s look at the top five. Remember, the key to investing wisely is to choose an investment that will monetize upon itself, to grow and compound over time. You want some type of appreciating asset that you can rely on to provide a revenue stream once in retirement. Financial planners and advisors want to do this through the stock market encouraging most [...]

By |26 February 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

Dear Money Lady,  My adult daughter just moved back home to save money and brought her boyfriend with her.  I like the boyfriend, but right now he doesn’t have a job…

I always told my kids I would help them as best I could – but I never thought they would come back to live with me.  I am 74 and I like living on my own and I don’t think I can afford to keep them here.  Please help.      (PS: they also have two big dogs and I have a 12-year-old cat – ouch!).     Margaret   I feel for you Margaret – you need to set some ground rules – NOW !! Today there are many parents like Margaret.  While [...]

By |22 January 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

Why not consider diversifying your portfolio in part with structured notes?

Dear Money Lady Readers, Many of you have sent me emails with genuine worry about your retirement portfolios as we ride the waves of high inflation, lending rates, and low stock market returns.  I want to introduce you to an alternative to securities, mutual funds or exchange traded funds (ETFs).  Why not consider diversifying your portfolio in part with structured notes?   There is something for everyone in the Structured Notes (SN) arena because they vary by complexity and risk.  They are certainly not for everyone; however, are still a [...]

By |22 January 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

Dear Money Lady Readers: I have written about legacies before, but wanted to share it with you again as we enter a new year.

I often travel across the country doing speaking events and had the privilege of speaking to a charity in December.  After the event, I spent some time with a group of ladies, (all over 70 years), who were very active in their communities.   As I worked my way through the group, meeting all these wonderful women, I realized each one had single handily enriched their retirements by supporting a cause they believed in.  They seemed younger than their years, they were happy, vibrant and all beautiful women.  All from various [...]

By |22 January 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|

Have you heard about the tax free First Home Savings Account, FHSA?

Many first-time home buyers have cooled off and ceased their house hunting searches as the market levels off with interest rates still climbing.  Home prices have still not dropped down as low as some buyers were hoping for; and as we sit poised for another year, it is now anyone’s guess what will happen. Many economists say the interest rates will climb even higher especially with the Canadian prime rate inching it’s way closer to 7%.  But there are also those, like myself, who approved mortgages for clients in the [...]

By |22 January 2023|Categories: Daily Advice Tips, In the News|

Dear Money Lady Readers: According to a recent Stats Canada study, 1 out of 5 Canadians have saved over $300,000 for their retirement. That means, there are still 4 other Canadians that obviously have less than $300,000 saved.

So, let’s talk about what to do if you have low-income or maybe the occasional no-income situation and are finding it hard to save. What can you do to budget and save for future expenditures, let alone a retirement fund? It is much harder for those impoverished to improve their situation than it is for those in our middle-class, especially today. That being said, there are many poor that have much more drive, determination, and fortitude than some who have money. I can guarantee you; many low-income Canadians struggle with [...]

By |30 December 2022|Categories: Daily Advice Tips|
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