Investing

If you’re looking for a solid investment option to begin your investment journey or diversify your portfolio, mutual funds are a great choice. With so many different funds to choose from, it can be tricky to know which ones are the best, especially if you’re new to mutual funds. Here is a list of the 10 best mutual funds in Canada, based on performance and stability. If you’re ready to start investing, be sure to check out one or more of these funds! What is a mutual fund? A mutual fund is an investment vehicle that pools money from numerous investors. The funds are used to invest in a portfolio of securities. These can include stocks, bonds, and other assets. Mutual funds are managed by a professional money manager who makes decisions about where to invest the funds. The fund’s performance is dependent on the performance of the underlying securities. Mutual funds offer investors several advantages. They provide diversification, which

Money market ETFs have been growing in popularity as an investment vehicle in Canada. These ETFs provide investors with a way to park their money and earn interest, without the risks associated with traditional investments like stocks and bonds. In this blog post, we will take a look at what money market ETFs are, and discuss some of the pros and cons of investing in them. We will also explore some of the best money market ETFs available on the Canadian market today. If you’re thinking about adding these products to your portfolio, read on! What is a Money Market? The concept of a money market refers to the various forms of short-term debt that are available in the global financial system. Short-term is usually defined as a year or less. Some of the most common examples include government treasury bills, certificates of deposit (CDs), commercial paper, and repurchase agreements. A key characteristic of these financial instruments is they tend

Mortgages are big business in Canada. In fact, according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), as of the third quarter of 2021, the mortgage market in Canada was worth $1.77 trillion. For this reason, Canadian homeowners are particularly concerned with anything and everything surrounding mortgages. But what about mortgage refinancing in Canada? If you’re a Canadian homeowner who’s looking to refinance your mortgage, it’s important to understand how the process works. In addition, it can help to understand the benefits and drawbacks of mortgage refinancing before you make the plunge. In this blog post, we’ll explore how refinancing works in Canada and what you need to know before refinancing your mortgage. Keep reading to learn more! What is refinancing a mortgage in Canada? Before diving into refinancing definitions, let’s chat about what a mortgage is. A mortgage is a type of loan that is used to purchase real property, typically a house, apartment, building or similar. The loan

When you’re looking to invest your money, one of the first things you’ll need to decide is what type of account to use. After all, you can’t exactly invest your money in stocks, GICs, and more unless you have an account! There are a few different types of investment accounts available, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Here is a breakdown of the most common type of investment accounts in Canada. What is an investment account? An investment account is a type of financial tool that is designed to hold investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and more. These accounts tend to provide a range of features and benefits to help investors manage and grow their assets over time. For example, many investment accounts offer the ability to seamlessly buy and sell securities online or through a smartphone app, with reasonable transaction fees. Additionally, many investment accounts also allow users to set automatic contributions. An investment account

Blockchain and cryptocurrency have been all the rage over the last few years. There is a lot of hype surrounding blockchain technology and its potential uses, but what is the best blockchain stock? These investments are still highly volatile and subject to high risk, but also high reward (or high loss). However, you may still be interested in getting involved in blockchain stocks. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the top contenders and try to figure out which one is the best investment. Keep reading to learn more. What is Blockchain? Blockchain is a decentralized form of ledger technology that allows for secure and private data storage. When compared to traditional methods, such as banks storing information on internal servers, blockchain’s unchangeable public ledger makes it a more reliable option. In addition, it provides greater security and privacy to the user which is something that’s becoming more and more important to Canadians. It’s worth noting that

Financial leverage is an important term that often comes up in personal finance and investing. But what is financial leverage, and why is it important? In this post, we’ll define financial leverage and explain why it’s such a critical element of success for savvy investors. We’ll also look at some of the risks and benefits associated with using financial leverage. By understanding leverage, you’ll be able to make better decisions when it comes to your finances and investments. What is Financial Leverage? Using borrowed money to finance the purchase of assets with the expectation that income or capital gain from the new asset will exceed the cost of borrowing is called financial leverage. In other words, financial leverage is the process of using debt to create wealth through income producing assets or capital gain. In many cases, income produced from an asset is used to repay the obligation, such as with a rental property. Most lenders will put a limit

Tax loss harvesting is a helpful strategy to reduce your tax bill. However, it can be tricky to understand and navigate. Especially if this is your first time utilizing tax loss harvesting in Canada. Although, if you have capital gains for the current tax year, you won’t want to miss out. It’s not too late to reduce your upcoming tax bill either — you have until December 31 to execute your tax loss harvesting strategy. In this blog post, we’ll break down tax loss harvesting for Canadians, so you can make the most of this valuable tax strategy. We’ll cover what it is, how it works, and some additional tips and tricks. Read on to learn more. What is tax loss harvesting in Canada? A capital loss can only be used to offset a capital gain, according to Canadian tax laws. You may have incurred a capital gain by selling investments, such as stocks, bonds, real property and virtually any

An exchange is an organized marketplace that connects buyers and sellers. Within an exchange, parties can buy and sell assets such as currency, stocks, bonds, futures and options. Exchanges can either be centralized or decentralized. But what exactly is the comparison between centralized vs decentralized exchanges? Generally speaking, most exchanges are centralized, such as the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). However, with the arrival of cryptocurrency in financial markets, a new concept of decentralization has come about. In this post, we’ll explore the key differences between centralized and decentralized exchanges. By the end of this article, you’ll understand how both kinds of exchanges compare and contrast. Centralization vs Decentralization: What does it mean? Sometimes the terms centralization and decentralization describe how businesses operate. Centralization refers to companies that have one core function where all business activities flow through. On the other hand, decentralization refers to companies where various functions of the business operate autonomously and independently of one another. In many

In Canada, it is a common investment strategy to purchase a property and rent it to a third party. By doing so, investors earn stable rental income and have the opportunity to profit on a capital gain of the property itself. Another popular investment in Canada is real estate investment trusts, or REIT for short. This asset is often publicly traded on stock exchanges and tends to yield high dividends. So which is better in the rental vs REIT debate? Both rentals and REITs have their corresponding pros and cons. The investment that is better for you depends on your preferences and what kind of investor you are striving to be. Continue reading to learn more about how REITs and rentals compare and contrast. Rental vs REIT: What are they? There are many different types of real estate investments. It can be confusing to navigate, especially if you’re new to the real estate market. Two of the most popular options

There are a number of ways to invest your money in Canada. As an investor, it’s up to you to decide where to put your money with the goal of turning a profit. While profit is great for building wealth, it is often coupled with a tax bill. Taxes, among other financial and investment management fees, eat into your profits which can be frustrating after a big win. You might be wondering, is there a way to facilitate tax efficient investing in Canada? The answer is yes! To make the most of your money and minimize your tax bill, it’s important to understand your obligations and choose the right investment strategy for you. This guide provides an overview of taxes you can expect on your investments and how to maintain a tax efficient investing position with your portfolio. Tax on Investing in Canada In Canada, investment income must be classified before tax obligations can be determined. There are three main

The Bank of Montreal, or BMO for short, is the eighth largest North American bank. BMO offers a number of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Investors have many investments to choose from when it comes to building a portfolio. In this article, we will compare the 10 best BMO ETF products based on numerous benchmarks. These ETFs track the performance of equity markets, but there are some key differences among them. By the end of this read, you should have a good idea of which BMO ETFs are right for you. What is an ETF? An exchange-traded fund, or ETF for short, is a type of investment fund that tracks a certain index or asset. They hold a basket of assets which provides broad exposure to general markets. ETFs are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold like stocks. They are often seen as a good investment because they offer diversification and are usually cheaper than mutual funds. In

Vanguard is one of the largest and most well-known providers of exchange-traded funds in the world. With over 100 ETFs available, Vanguard offers a wide range of options for investors of all experience and risk levels. With so many choices, it can be challenging to determine which ETF you should invest in with Vanguard. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best Vanguard ETFs to help you make an informed decision. What is an ETF? An ETF, or exchange-traded fund, is a type of investment that offers the owner a way to pool their money and invest in a basket of assets. ETFs trade on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. This means the value of an ETF fluctuates during stock market hours. ETFs typically track an index, such as the S&P 500, but this is not always the case. ETFs offer investors several benefits, including diversification, liquidity, and lower costs. For example,

These days, there are tons of investments available for purchase. You may have come across the term REIT, but may not know what it is or how this investment works. REIT stands for real estate investment trust. It is an asset that investors can purchase to be part of the real estate market without actually owning real estate. In this post, we’ll answer the question of what is a REIT, how it works, and what are the different types. Are you ready to learn? Let’s go! What is a REIT and how does it work? A REIT, or Real Estate Investment Trust, is a company that owns or finances income-producing real estate. Typically, REITs have a corporation or trust structure and are available for trade on major stock exchanges. The purpose of a real estate investment trust is to provide investors with exposure to the real estate market without the need to directly own or finance property. REITs typically focus

Are you feeling bullish or bearish? Depending on your outlook, you may view the stock market in one of two very different ways. Some investors are confident and optimistic, expecting the market to continue its upward trend. Others are more conservative, anticipating a downturn spiral that could send stock prices tumbling. So which is it: bull or bear market? Honestly, it’s hard to say. The stock market is a complex system with many moving parts, and predicting its exact trajectory is virtually impossible. However, by understanding the key factors driving stock prices up and down, we can make informed decisions about where to invest our money. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at bull vs bear markets – what they are, how they work, and what factors influence them. What is a bull market vs bear market? What is a bull market? A bull market is a market with rising prices or where there is an anticipation

Over the years, there have been various trends in the world of finance and investing. One of the most talked about has been crypto, but a lesser known investment is the all-in-one ETF. Over the years, all-in-one exchange traded funds have become a popular investment for Canadians. You might be wondering, what exactly is an all-in-one ETF and should I invest in them? To learn more about all-in-one exchange traded funds and for a Canadian ETF list, continue reading below. What is an ETF? An ETF stands for exchange traded funds. As the name implies, they are funds that trade on an exchange, usually tracking against a specific index. When you own exchange traded funds, you own a bundle of assets. Like stocks, the price of an ETF rises and falls throughout the day. You are free to buy and sell exchange traded funds as you wish during market hours. Why invest in ETFs? When you own an exchange traded

Picture it: You graduate from university and start working, learning to save and invest. Next thing you know you’re married and starting a family. Finally, you’ve built up considerable savings or maybe even started a business. You start thinking about wealth preservation. You want to be sure your assets can be passed down to the next generation —i.e. generational wealth. What does this process look like? We’ve outlined 8 tips to help. What is generational wealth? Generational wealth refers to the assets —cash, real estate, investments, small businesses, etc —that you pass to your children/grandchild. In turn, they’ll pass this wealth to the generation after, and so on. This type of wealth is often called ‘legacy wealth’ or ‘family wealth.’ How much money qualifies as ‘generational wealth’? As Willful explains, “for any amount of wealth to be considered generational wealth, it simply has to be passed down by at least one generation.” Here is an example they use: “If you

Investing money is a great way to build your wealth over time. It can also help you stay ahead of inflation in many cases. If you have an extra $1000 or have saved up $10,000 — or even $100,000 — you have plenty of options for investing. Our guide will explore how to invest different amounts of money, but also help you make the right investment decisions. Is it better to save your money or invest it? While we know investing can be a great way to build your wealth over time, there are also some risks. Because of this, many people wonder if it is better to invest or simply save their money in a bank account where it is safe from potential losses. Saving your money is good, and everyone should have some emergency savings available. Investing is generally a better idea for those looking to see their money grow over time. See, most savings accounts only offer

Investing is a fantastic way to grow your wealth over time and protect yourself from rising inflation. There are many ways to invest, but one of the best and most popular are certainly ETFs (exchange-traded funds). ETFs are a great way to diversify your portfolio, manage your risk, and keep your investing-related costs relatively low. However, choosing the right one isn’t always easy. There are many choices out there! Of the options, BMO ETFs and Vanguard ETFs continue to be among the most popular. But which is the best? Read on to learn more about both BMO ETFs and Vanguard ETFs, as well as how they stack up against each another. What is an ETF? First, let’s take a closer look at ETFs. These are pooled investments that operate quite similarly to a mutual fund or index fund. These will generally track a particular index or sector. For example, an S&P 500 ETF will track the S&P 500. These can

There are two different ways to benefit from investing in stocks, cash payouts and dividends. A dividend is basically an additional stock added to your account bucket. For each dividend stock you own, you are paid out a portion of the company’s earnings.

Learning the difference between a mutual fund and an exchange-traded fund (ETF), for example, can help you choose the best option for you today, and into the future. To help you decide, here is a complete guide to ETFs.