Learn
How money actually works in Canada โ fees, investing, registered accounts, mortgages and tax. New here? Begin with the Start here guides below.
Start here
New to all this? Read these first.
-
How Big Should Your Emergency Fund Be?
An emergency fund is the foundation of a stable financial life. Here's how much to save, where to keep it, and why it matters more than investing at first.
Read โ -
The Order of Operations for Canadian Investing
Not sure what to do with your next dollar? The Canadian order of operations โ debt, emergency fund, employer match, then registered accounts, in priority order.
Read โ -
What Is an ETF? A Beginner's Guide for Canadians
An ETF is one of the simplest, cheapest ways to invest โ but the jargon scares people off. Here's what an ETF actually is, and why Canadians use them.
Read โ
New to Canada
Setting up your money after you arrive.
Investing & ETFs
Grow your money and keep more of it.
-
Active Trading vs Index Investing: Why Most People Should Just Index
Stock-picking and active trading feel like the way to get ahead โ but the evidence says most people do better owning the whole market cheaply. Here's why.
Read โ -
Inflation in Canada: The History, the Outlook, and Your Cash
Inflation quietly shrinks what your money can buy. Here's how it works, Canada's track record, why cash left alone loses value, and what to do about it.
Read โ -
One-Ticket ETF Portfolios (XEQT, VEQT & Friends) Explained
A single ETF can be your entire investment portfolio โ globally diversified and automatically rebalanced. Here's how all-in-one ETFs work and how to pick one.
Read โ -
The Power of Compound Interest (and the Rule of 72)
Compound interest is how money grows on its own โ returns earning returns. Here's why time matters more than amount, plus the Rule of 72 mental shortcut.
Read โ -
What a 1% MER Really Costs You
A 1% or 2% fund fee sounds tiny, but it quietly compounds into tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime. Here's the math, with Canadian examples.
Read โ -
Where to Hold Your ETFs: TFSA, RRSP, or Taxable?
The same ETF is taxed differently depending on the account it's in. A guide to asset location for Canadians, including foreign withholding tax.
Read โ -
Why ETFs Beat Bank Mutual Funds in Canada
Most Canadians still hold high-fee bank mutual funds without realizing the cost. Here's why low-cost ETFs usually win, with the numbers.
Read โ
Registered accounts
Use the TFSA, RRSP, FHSA and RESP well.
-
RESP & the CESG Grant: Free Government Money for Education
Open an RESP and the government adds 20% to your contributions through the CESG. Here's how RESPs and the grant work, how much you can get, and how to claim it all.
Read โ -
TFSA vs RRSP: Which Should You Use First?
The classic Canadian question, answered simply. A clear rule of thumb for choosing between a TFSA and an RRSP โ plus when to just use both.
Read โ -
The FHSA Explained: Canada's Best Account for First-Time Buyers
The First Home Savings Account gives you an RRSP-style tax deduction AND tax-free withdrawals. Here's how the FHSA works, its limits, and how it beats the alternatives.
Read โ
Tax & paycheque
Brackets, capital gains and what you keep.
-
How Capital Gains Are Taxed in Canada
Only half of a capital gain is taxable in Canada โ and nothing is taxed inside a TFSA or RRSP. Here's how the 50% inclusion rate works, with a clear example.
Read โ -
Marginal vs Average Tax Rate (and Why a Raise Never Costs You)
The myth that a raise can bump you into a higher bracket and leave you with less is false. Here's how Canada's marginal tax brackets actually work.
Read โ
Mortgages, credit & cars
Borrowing, credit and big purchases.
-
Credit Scores in Canada: What They Are and How to Build One
Your credit score affects mortgages, car loans, even renting an apartment. Here's how Canadian credit scores work, what moves them, and how to build credit from zero.
Read โ -
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Pays Off Debt Faster?
The avalanche method saves the most interest; the snowball method keeps you motivated. Here's how each works, the real trade-off, and how to choose.
Read โ -
How Canadian Mortgages Actually Work
Term vs amortization, semi-annual compounding, and the accelerated-payment trick โ the Canadian mortgage basics that surprise a lot of first-time buyers.
Read โ -
How Credit Cards Actually Work (and How to Use Them Well)
Credit cards are a tool that's brilliant if you understand them and expensive if you don't. Here's how interest, grace periods and rewards really work in Canada.
Read โ -
Land Transfer Tax in Canada โ What You'll Pay in Every Province
Land transfer tax is usually the biggest closing cost when you buy a home in Canada, and it ranges from $0 in Alberta to tens of thousands in Toronto. Here's how it works in each province, and every first-time-buyer rebate.
Read โ -
Lease vs Buy a Car: Which One Actually Saves You Money?
Leasing has lower monthly payments, but buying and keeping a car is usually cheaper in the long run. Here's the real trade-off, and when leasing makes sense.
Read โ -
Norbert's Gambit: How to Convert CAD to USD Cheaply
Brokers often charge ~1.5% to exchange Canadian and US dollars. Norbert's Gambit lets you do it for the cost of two trades โ here's the step-by-step.
Read โ -
Rent vs Buy: The Real Math Behind the Decision
"Renting is throwing money away" is the most misleading line in personal finance. Here's how to actually compare renting and buying โ and what really tips the scales.
Read โ -
What You Need to Qualify for a Mortgage in Canada
Down payment, the stress test, and the debt-ratio rules lenders use to decide how much you can borrow. Here's what it really takes to qualify for a Canadian mortgage.
Read โ
Retirement
Make your savings last.
-
Sequence of Returns Risk: The Hidden Retirement Danger
Two retirees, same average return, wildly different outcomes โ because the order of returns matters once you're withdrawing. Here's why it matters.
Read โ -
The 4% Rule: How Much You Need to Retire (and What It Misses)
The 4% rule is the famous shortcut for how much you can safely spend in retirement โ and how big a nest egg you need. Here's where it comes from, and its limits.
Read โ -
When to Take CPP and OAS: Early, On Time, or Late?
Taking CPP at 60 vs 70 can change your monthly cheque by 75%. Here's how the early/late adjustments work, the break-even age, and what should actually drive your choice.
Read โ