A little more than one left to make your RSP contribution for the 2011 tax year! Why do it you may ask? Save for your future Reduce the amount of tax paid now

How’s it going with your 2012 resolutions? Even though it’s already the beginning of February, 2012 is hardly underway and there’s always time to get started on the right financial path. Many of us start the year with fresh resolve to improve, change and/or get organized. What can you get done before that impetus to […]

You may ask what these have in common? Even if you didn’t watch any of the games, you may have heard that they achieved their goal of qualifying for the summer Olympics. Even though they didn’t win or score against the US team, they competed in the tournament with a disciplined focus on their objective. […]

Last post outlined our family case study. What should Mr & Mrs B do? Their concerns about a large amount of mortgage debt, retirement and lack of confidence with respect to the day to day finances are very common and can add a great deal of stress to a household or relationship. It seems their […]

It seems that there’s a lot more in and out transactions to keep on top of in a family situation. More people = more responsibilities and keeping track of them all on a month to month basis is no easy feat! What about planning for the future? Does it often get put off until next […]

What should Betty do? Her concerns are quite clear. What can she do to increase her confidence with respect to her finances? The first step is to take a look at past patterns. How much does she make each month (after tax) and how does spend it? Does her income cover her expenses? This is […]

I opened our mail today and it was full of bills! It’s that time of year when the holiday spending catches up with us. Income tax preparation and RSP marketing are in full swing. What to do? Betty has been back at work for a couple weeks and is feeling the pressure to start the […]

2012 Post #1 was about deciding what you want and Post #2 was about knowing what you spend and your current financial condition. Post #3 will give you some ideas on how to make it happen. Set a budget – it’s easier than you think Integrate your goals Set up a system to achieve your […]

Part 1 of Ringing in the New Year with a Fresh Financial Plan was about deciding what you wanted, in what order and what it would cost. Part 2 focuses on using your past to reset the path for your future. It won’t take long! Gather whatever information you have: Bank statements Pay stub Credit […]

2012 has begun. Are you ringing in the new year with a solid plan? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep it simple and make it yours. 3 easy steps: Decide what you want. Take a look at the past. Plan the future This post will address #1. a) State 3 goals and prioritize them. […]