What is an Asset Mix?
An asset mix is the percentage distribution of assets in a portfolio among the three major asset classes: cash and …
Investing
How to Invest in Stocks
Learn how to invest in stocks, including selecting a brokerage account and researching stock market investments. When you invest in …
Stock Market
The stock market isn’t a physical location to visit but rather a dynamic platform for trading shares that represent ownership …
Canada Life Insurance
Today, Canada Life provides insurance, wealth management, and healthcare benefit products and services in Canada, the United Kingdom, Isle of Man …
Audit
A professional review and examination of a company’s financial statements are required under corporate law for the purpose of ensuring …
How to Live Off Dividends
Dividend investing offers a simple solution to the problem of separating your income from your time, a key requirement for …
Home Country Bias
Home country bias refers to investors’ tendency to favour companies from their own country over those from other countries or regions. …
Beta
A measure of sensitivity (i.e., volatility) of a stock or a mutual fund to movements in the overall stock market. …
Bank Rate
The bank rate is an important tool for central banks to manage the economy and is closely watched by economists, …
Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF)
The Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) is a tax deferral vehicle available to Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) holders. A RRIF account needs to …
Foreign Withholding Tax in Canada
Depending on how investors hold foreign securities, they may encounter foreign withholding taxes. For Canadians, when US assets distribute dividends, …
Mutual Funds
A mutual fund is an arrangement under which shares or units are sold to raise capital. Investors purchase units if the mutual …
Sequence of Returns Risk
The sequence of returns can significantly impact cash flow, as financial markets fluctuate over time. While short-term returns are less …
ZLB: BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETF
To view this content, you must be a member of Nic’s Patreon at $10 or more Unlock with PatreonAlready a …
Financial Advisor
Selecting a reliable financial advisor can help you mitigate costly mistakes and stay focused on your financial goals. Collaborating with …
Succession Planning
What is Succession Planning? Succession planning is the process of identifying the critical positions within your organization and developing action plans …
Tax Planning Guide
Most Canadians wish to contribute to society by paying their fair share of taxes and understand that the services provided …
Retirement Planning Guide
It’s never too early to start saving for retirement. This may make saving and planning for retirement easier than starting …
Non-Registered Account
A non-registered account refers to an investment account devoid of special tax privileges. Any investment profits, including interest, dividends, fund …
Amortization
Gradually writing off the value of an intangible asset over a period of time. Commonly applied to items such as …
Algorithmic Trading
The use of sophisticated mathematical algorithms to execute equity trades over electronic trading systems. What is Algorithmic Trading? Algorithmic trading …
Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a monthly payment accessible to individuals aged 65 and above. GIS eligibility is determined …
Old Age Security (OAS)
The Old Age Security (OAS) is a federal pension program in Canada that provides a basic monthly income to eligible …
Management Expense Ratio (MER)
Management Expense Ratio (MER) is the total expenses of operating a mutual fund expressed as a percentage of the fund’s …
CPP Payment Dates in 2024
On January 29, 2024, the first Canada Pension Plan (CPP) payment for this year will be made. The CPP is a …
Adjusted Cost Base (ACB)
The deemed cost of an asset representing the sum of the amount originally paid plus any additional costs, such as brokerage fees and commissions…
What is the Average Retirement Age in Canada?
The typical age to start retirement is 65, aligning with the initiation of pension plans. Nevertheless, you have the option to begin receiving it…
Minimum Wage in Canada by Province for 2024
In Canada, the determination of minimum wage within each province or territory is the responsibility of the respective jurisdiction. Simply …
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to…
Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a mandatory contributory pension plan designed to provide monthly retirement, disability and survivor benefits for …
The Best Growth Mutual Funds in Canada
Growth mutual funds are for investors looking for a higher potential return on their investment. These higher-risk funds primarily invest …
Segregated Funds
A segregated fund is an investment fund available through a life insurance company. Companies keep these funds separate from the company’s …
Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)
The Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a special investment account for your children’s post-secondary education using after-tax dollars. It …
The Best Locked-In Retirement Account (LIRA) Guide
The locked-in retirement account (LIRA) is a type of registered , tax-deferred investment vehicle in Canada with some restrictions. The …
The Best Life Income Fund (LIF) Guide
A life income fund (LIF) is a type of registered retirement income fund (RRIF) offered in Canada that can be used to …
What is a Portfolio?
Holding of securities by an individual or institution. a portfolio may contain debt securities, preferred and common stocks various types …
What is a Bull?
One who expects the market generally or the market price of a particular security will rise.
What is a Bear?
One who expects that the market generally, of the market price of a particular security, will decline.
What is a Stock?
Ownership interest in a corporation that represents a claim on its earnings and assets. It is important to keep long-term …
The Best Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) Guide
Any amount contributed to the Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), as well as any income earned in the account is generally …
A Complete Guide to Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSPs)
The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is intended to help people who receive a Disability Tax Credit (DTC) save for …
A Complete Guide to Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)
The Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is a registered Canadian investment plan that you can contribute to for retirement purposes …
A Complete Guide to Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs)
A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) provides investment options that give you fixed rates of interest for set periods of time. …
Wealth Management Guide
Wealth management combines other financial services to address the needs of affluent clients. Using a consultative process, the advisor learns …
A Complete Guide to Financial Planning in Canada for 2024
Financial planning covers a broad range of topics, and in the best cases brings them together in an orderly, integrated …
Estate Planning Guide
As challenging as discussions around estate plans may be, having them can help ensure your objectives, assets and beneficiaries are …
A Complete Guide to 529 Plans in 2024
College? Grad school? Private school? Not sure yet? No problem! The assets in your 529 plan can be used in …
First Home Savings Account (FHSA)
The tax-free First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is a new registered savings account announced by the government of Canada last …
Epilogue
56% of Canadian adults don’t have a Will. Most people don’t have a Will either because they don’t think they …
Qtrade
Who is Qtrade Direct Investing™? Qtrade is on a simple mission to help everyone to invest with confidence. They do …
Target Date Funds
Target date funds combine stocks, bonds and other investments in a single solution to help you prepare for retirement. By choosing …
A Simple Canadian 2 ETF Portfolio for Beginners
Want to build a simple diversified portfolio? This can be accomplished with just 2 ETFs to reach your global diversification …
Securities
Paper certificates or electronic records that evidence ownership of equity (stocks) or debt obligations (bonds). What are Securities? Securities are …
Yield Curve
A graph showing the relationship between yields of bonds of the same quality but different maturities. A normal yield curve …
Volatility
A measure of the amount of change in the daily price of a security over a specified period of time. …
Stock Split
An increase in a corporation’s number of shares outstanding without any change in the shareholder’s equity or market value. When …
NYSE
Oldest and largest stock exchange in North America with more than 1,600 companies listed on the exchanges. What is the …
Partnership
A form of business organization that involves two or more people contributing to the buses and legislated under the federal …
SEC
The Securities and Exchange Commission, a federal body established by the United States Congress, to protect investors in the U.S. …
REIT
An investment trust that specialized in real estate related investments including mortgage, construction loans, land and real estate securities in …
Quick Ratio
A more stringent measure of liquidity compared with the current ratio. Calculated as current assets less inventory dividend by current …
P/E ratio
A value ratio that gives investors an idea of how much they are paying for a company’s earnings. Calculated as …
NASDAQ
An acronym for the National Association od Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. NASDAQ is a computerized system that provides brokers …
Option
A right to buy or sell specific securities or properties at a specified price within a specified time. What is …
Microeconomics
Analyses the market behaviour of individual consumers and firms, how prices are determined, and how prices determine the production, distribution, …
KYC
The cardinal rule in making investment recommendations. All relevant information about a client must be known in order to ensure …
Liquidity
What is liquidity? Liquidity refers to the ease with which an asset can be converted into cash or other liquid …
Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics focuses on the performance of the economy as a whole. It looks at the broader picture and to the …
Capital Loss
Selling a security for less than its purchase price. Capital losses can only be applied against capital gains. Surplus losses …
Limit Order
A client’s order to buy or sell securities at a specific price or better. The order will only be executed …
Liabilities
Debts or obligations of a company, usually divided into current liabilities – those due and payable within one year – …
Leverage
The effect of fixed charges (i.e., debt interest or preferred dividends, or both) on per-share of common stock. Increases or …
Income Splitting
A tax-planning strategy whereby the higher-earning spouse transfers income to the lower-earning spouse to reduce taxable income. What is Income …
Junior Bond Issue
A corporate bond issue, the collateral for which has been pledged as security for other more senior debt issues and …
Inflation
A generalized, sustained trend of rising prices. What is Inflation? Inflation is a sustained increase in the general price level …
Hedging
A protective maneuver is; a transaction intended to reduce the risk of loss from price fluctuations. What is Hedging? Hedging …
Index
A measure of the market as measured by a basket of securities. An example would be the S&P/TSX Composite Index …
High Frequency Trading (HFT)
A sub-set of algorithmic trading. High frequency trading is characterized by a very large number of orders for individual trades …
GDP
The value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year. What is Gross Domestic Product (GDP)? …
Hedge Fund
Lightly regulated pools of capital in which the hedge fund manager invests a significant amount of his or her own …
Equity
Ownership interest in a corporation’s stock that represents a claim on its revenue and assets. What is Equity? Equity refers …
Futures
A contract in which the seller agrees to deliver a specified commodity or financial instrument at a specified price sometime …
Fund Facts
A disclosure document designed to give mutual fund investors key information about a fund. The document is limited to two …
Debt
Money borrowed from lenders for a variety of purposes. The borrower typically pas the interest for the use of the …
Capital
Has two distinct but related meanings. To an economist, it means machinery, factories and inventory required to produce other products. …
Earnings Per Share (EPS)
A value ration that shows the portion of net income for a period attributable to a single common share of …
Depreciation
Systematic charges against earnings to write off the cost of an asset over its estimated useful life because of wear …
Cash Flow
A company’s profit for a stated period plus any deductions that are not paid out in actual cash, such as …
CDIC
A federal Crown Corporation providing deposit insurance against loss (up to $100,000 per depositor) when a member institution fails. What …
Capital Gain
Selling a security for more than its purchase price. For non-registered securities, 50% of the gain would be added to …
Asset Allocation
Apportioning investment funds among different categories of assets, such as cash, fixed income securities and equities. The allocation of assets …
Book Value
The amount of net assets belonging to the owners of a business(or shareholders of a company) based on a statement …
Beneficiary
The individual or individuals who have been designated to receive the death benefit. Beneficiaries may be either revocable or irrevocable. …
Bond
A certificated evidencing a debt on which the issuer promises to pay the holder a specified amount of interest based …