Most 20-year olds scare me just a little bit. They are very clever, tech-savvy and often worldly, with opinions on almost everything. They can even be intimidating, in that you think they must know something you don’t.
Many seem to believe they know an awful lot, and we old fuddy-duddies are either scared or [...]

The bankruptcy rate in Canada continues at a high level, though recent statistics show the rate down slightly in the last few months.
It makes sense that a recession and rising unemployment would make the bankruptcy rate increase.  Perhaps more alarming is the fact that the rate had also increased throughout the last economic expansion and [...]

I think I’ll buy a convertible.  The ads in today’s paper say that I can buy for no money down and teeny, tiny payments every month, and look very sexy with my (remaining) hair blowing in the wind.
Can it really be that easy?
When you see itty bitty payments advertised, you can usually be certain that [...]

OK, folks, it’s down to your last week to prepare and file your income tax return.
The fine, overworked people at the Canada Revenue Agency need to receive your return and any money owing by midnight on April 30, for you to avoid penalties.  I know from experience that some 50% of you have not yet [...]

As you know, eligible medical expenses create a medical expense tax credit that may be able to reduce your taxes.
However, medical expenses are only claimable to the extent that they exceed a threshold of $2,011 or 3% of the taxpayer’s net income for the year.  The expenses over and above the threshold reduce federal income [...]

As we get older, we inevitably start to think about issues like mortality.  Lately, though, I have found myself thinking about people who have achieved a measure of immortality, by making a lasting difference in their community.
Think of a few such people.  Who is on your list?�
Internationally, there are many examples, such as Alfred Nobel, [...]

I read recently that some 20,000 big screen TVs will be purchased in North America in the week leading up to the Super Bowl and the Olympics.  That makes me very afraid that you might use your entire income tax refund in a similar manner.
Think carefully about how to spend your refund, and whether you even want one [...]

Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before – you need to have a Will.
Having a valid, accurate, up-to-date Will is going to save your family a ton of hassle when you die, will reduce legal and other fees associated with death, may save taxes, and will ensure that your estate goes to the [...]

The Canadian economy is expanding consistently, after a contraction and recession in 2009.  In the last few months, in fact, economists have been increasingly surprised and pleased by the statistics, suggesting the economy has moved past recovery mode into expansion.  The latest GDP results show that the economy has grown for five consecutive months.
Even more [...]

Question:
Hello David,
I continue to read your articles with interest. I’m interested in the following sentence from your article entitled “Investing – when is active management worth the cost?”:
“Our clients pay an average of 1.2% or less for active management, not the 2.2% or more of retail funds.”
More specifically, the 1.2% seems low to what [...]