Personal Finance
Towards a Healthier Financial Future
Topic: "Money Management"
← Curating the web to find the most interesting and helpful
information about your money.
Did you know?
CNN found that 33% of those surveyed do not know what "annual percentage rate" means. Further, 33% also believe that mortgage lenders are required to charge all borrowers the same fees.
Neontra can help you keep track of interest rates, loan amortization, and monthly mortgage payments →Infographic of the week
Chart: The Declining Value of the U.S. Federal Minimum Wage
This graphic illustrates the history of the U.S. federal minimum wage using data compiled by Statista, in both nominal and real (inflation-adjusted) terms. The federal minimum wage was raised to $7.25 per hour in July 2009, where it has remained ever since.
Nominal vs. Real Value of the U.S. Federal Minimum Wage →Infographic of the week
Ranked: What People Value Most in a Financial Advisor
Are advisors putting their focus where it matters? You might think that positive reviews and recommendations would be a top consideration for people choosing a financial advisor. However, other qualities appear to be much more important.
The Qualities Investors Value in a Financial Advisor →Saving
Tips to visualize your way to better money management by Emma Edwards
Visualization can help you develop positive money habits and set you up for financial success. →Serious stuff
When couples move in together for the first time, many financial questions and tasks arise, leaving room for disagreement and awkwardness.
Ana Teresa Sola on financial tips for couples moving in together for the first time →Saving
Save money on streaming services. NPR TV critic and media analyst Eric Deggans shares a streaming strategy to help you get the most bang for your buck.
NPR Life Kit Podcast: Refresh your budget with these simple finance tips →Infographic of the week
Charted: Investment Preferences by Generation in the U.S.
Different generations grow up with different values and different economic realities, causing investment preferences by generation to vary across the board. The above graphic shows how different generations invest—from millennials to boomers—based on June 2023 survey data from Charles Schwab.
The Visual Capitalist: Investment Preferences by Generation →Investing
Three Investing Trends for 2024 and Beyond
Longevity, decarbonization and technology disruption could provide long-term investment opportunities.
Michael Zezas of Morgan Stanley on investing trends for 2024 →Did you know?
At one time, Queen Elizabeth II appeared on at least 33 different currencies, more than any other monarch, an achievement noted by Guinness World Records.
Neontra creates a 360° view of all your $CAD, $USD, £GBP, €EUR and ¥YEN financial activities →Investing
Why work with a financial advisor
Managing your investments can be difficult. You may not be comfortable investing on your own. A professional financial advisor or planner can help you.
Choosing a financial advisor →Saving
So, you splurged. Now what? The urge to splurge is universal. After the bleakness of the pandemic, people are spending more on the big and little things that bring them joy.
Stress Test Podcast: Rob Carrick and Roma Luciw speaks with Shannon Lee Simmons, a certified financial planner and founder of the New School of Finance →Infographic of the week
Holiday Survival Guide
The winter holiday shopping season is the most expensive time of year for most households. This year, spending is expected to be even higher due to rising prices. This infographic helps you start planning to shop and save for the 2023 holiday season.
How to plan and save for the 2023 holiday shopping season →Word of the week
Time Value of Money (TVM)
The idea that money that is available now is worth more than the same amount in the future is known as the time value of money, or TVM. This is due to the fact that money that is invested has the ability to grow, and the longer it is invested, the more value it will gain. Money acquired later is viewed as having less value since it has less time to increase through investments.
Model and forecast the growth of your money. Define projected growth rates & visualize likely scenarios →Infographic of the week
Visualizing the Pyramid of Global Wealth Distribution
Who controls global wealth? In 2022, the world’s millionaires held nearly half of net household wealth. Decades of low interest rates led equities and real estate values to soar, and these assets are disproportionately held among the world’s wealthiest.
The distribution of global household wealth, based on the annual 2023 UBS Global Wealth →Serious stuff
6 Estate Planning Must-Haves Everyone benefits from ensuring assets and finances are managed as they wish.
Here is an estate planning checklist of items every estate plan should include →Did you know?
According to economists, coins and banknotes make up only 8% of the world's cash. The great bulk of money in circulation today is digital.
Follow every bank note & penny - Track and analyze your cash flow →Infographic of the week
The 20 Most Common Investing Mistakes, in One Chart
No one is immune to errors, including the best investors in the world. Fortunately, investing mistakes can provide valuable lessons over time, providing investors an opportunity to gain insights into investing—and build more resilient portfolios.
20 Investment Mistakes to Avoid →Serious stuff
How to talk to your parents about their money. There comes a time when it's the kid's turn to take care of mom and dad. Here's how to broach this sensitive subject with your parents.
Life Kit NPR: Yes, end-of-life planning is a tough subject. How to talk to your parents about it →Infographic of the week
Charted: Retirement Age by Country
The retirement landscape can look completely different depending on what country you’re in. And charting the retirement age by country reveals a lot of differences in the the makeup of a labor force, both for economic and cultural reasons.
Exploring retirement age trends around the globe →Investing
The Golden Rules of Investing
Investing can help you meet your financial goals and the better the investment decisions you make, the more chance you have of succeeding. While nobody can make the best investment decision every single time, following these golden rules could help you to get more from your investments over the long term.
Following these golden rules could really help you to InvestSmart →Word of the week
The 30% Rule
How much should you pay in rent? As a general rule, housing should be no more than 30% of your total monthly income, including utilities. The 30% rule is based on how much you can reasonably spend and have money left over for everyday expenses like food, clothes and transportation.
Neontra auto-categorizes your expenses so you can quickly see how your budget is tracking →Investing
Investing Made Simple for Beginners and Everyone Else
Managing your money for the long run can be easier than you might imagine.
The New York Times on Investing for Beginners (Paywall) →Saving
Who Should You Trust With Your Money?
Half Banked Podcast: Hosts Cadeem and Bethan break down the difference between financial advisors and planners and the red flags you should watch out for →Investing
Financial advisors agree: These are the 3 best investing tips for beginners
1. Audit your finances before you even start to invest 2. Utilize retirement accounts as much as you can 3. Know you don’t have to be an expert
If you’re just getting into investing, consider these 3 tips. →Word of the week
Financial Advisor
A financial adviser is a professional that possesses the certifications, abilities and experience to help with a number of financial matters. The term's broad definition encompasses a variety of specialities and qualifications. A financial advisor may assist you in deciding how to manage your finances for long-term goals like retirement and your children's education, purchasing a home, or more immediate goals.
Choosing a financial advisor →Infographic of the week
How Long Does it Take to Double Your Money?
At first glance, a 7% return on your investment may not seem that impressive. Yet what if you heard that your money could double in roughly 10 years?
Why it Pays to Know the Math →Infographic of the week
The Monthly Cost of Buying vs. Renting a House in America
With home prices and mortgage rates both rising, the U.S. is now witnessing the biggest numerical gap in the monthly cost between owning a home and renting in over 50 years. Americans, however, have seen similar scenarios occur since the early 1980s.
See the difference of buying vs. renting a single-family residence in the U.S. since 1970, adjusted for inflation. →Budgeting
Diving into the world of money management might feel a bit like riding down a river that’s full of twists and surprises. No need to worry - having a good plan can make this entire experience much easier.
Budgeting Tips: 5 Successful Ways to Boost Your Money →Budgeting
Investing
Making Smart Investments: A Beginner’s Guide
- Why should you invest? - How much should you save vs. invest? - How do investments work? - How do you make (or lose) money?
See Matthew Blume of the Harvard Business Review answers →Saving
Investing against climate change - Climate change is a growing concern for many young Canadians, with some questioning where they should live, what they should be saving for and how they should invest.
Podcast: Stress Test by columnist Rob Carrick - How climate anxiety is shaping small and large financial decisions →Serious stuff
You might not realize it, but there is something called financial personality, and it can play a big role in your ability to handle and manage money.
How Your Personality Is Affecting Your Finances →Serious stuff
4 Common Money Philosophies (And What They Say About You). Struggling with your finances? Your deepest-held beliefs about money might be to blame.
Which Script Do You Follow →Investing
Motley Fool outlines Warren Buffett's investing philosophy in 9 steps
1. Look for a margin of safety 2. Focus on quality 3. Don't follow the crowd 4. Don't fear market crashes and corrections 5. Approach your investments with a long-term mindset 6. Don't be afraid to sell if the scenario changes 7. Learn the basics of value investing 8. Understand compounding 9. Research and reflect
How to Invest Like Warren Buffett →Budgeting
What Is Kakeibo? Kakeibo, pronounced “kah-keh-boh,” translates as “household financial ledger.” Invented in 1904 by a woman named Hani Motoko (notable for being Japan’s first female journalist), kakeibo is a simple, no-frills approach to managing your finances.
‘Kakeibo’: The Japanese method of saving money →Infographic of the week
Visualizing the Hierarchy of Financial Needs
Behavioural scientist Abraham Maslow wrote “A Theory of Human Motivation” in 1943, arguing that humans worldwide are influenced by a “hierarchy of needs”. This theory organizes human needs across five levels, where needs in the lower end must be satisfied before progressing onto the next level.
See the steps to creating a strong financial foundation →Investing
Financial advisors agree: These are the 3 best investing tips for beginners
CNBC Select shares three tips for any beginner investor just starting out. 1) Audit your finances before you even start to invest 2) Utilize retirement accounts as much as you can 3) Know you don’t have to be an expert
If you’re just getting into investing, read more →Serious stuff
Learn the 101 of financial literacy with a fun, dynamic guide that makes money feel empowering, financial literacy becomes a life-long habit that pays dividends.
Financial literacy 101 from the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education →Budgeting
Non-essential costs are probably getting in the way of your financial goals. - Take-out food - Restaurants - Alcohol - Uber/Lyft instead of public transportation - Subscriptions Do you know how much you spent in the last three months?
Neontra auto-categorizes your expenses so you can quickly see where your money is going →Did you know?
Canada’s Food Price Report 2023 predicts Canadian families will spend up to $1065 more on food than in 2022.
See predictions on annual food expenditures for individual consumers based on their age and gender. →Investing
The Basics of Investing
Read about some of the most common types of investments including the Canada Savings Bond (CSB), Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) and Treasury bill (T-bill).
Jargon-free investment terms →Budgeting
Why create a budget? - To accomplish a financial goal - To save money - To reduce expenses - To understand your true relationship with money better Invest the time in yourself and create sound financial practices that can last you a lifetime.
Budgeting is the first step towards financial wellness →Did you know?
The first Canadian woman to appear on a bank note was Viola Desmond. She appears on Canada's first vertical banknote issued in 2018.
Learn more about Viola and the $10 notes' unique features →Budgeting
In a 50/30/20 budget you should aim to spend your net income in this way: - 50% on your essential needs - 30% on your non-essential expenses - 20% on savings contributions/debt repayments
Neontra auto-categorizes your expenses so you can quickly see how your 50/30/20 budget is tracking →Serious stuff
Warren Buffett’s ‘secret sauce’ for investing success: Be ‘business pickers’ not ‘stock pickers’
Learn what value investing means and how it can help grow your Net Worth →Investing
Investing for Young Canadians
If you’re a young person thinking about making your first investment but not sure where to begin, you’re not alone.
RRSP, TFSA or FHSA? Young Canadians looking to invest face wide range of options →Budgeting
You know a lot more about budgeting than you probably think. Even if you’ve never done any kind of household budgeting at all, you almost certainly already have had significant experience with it.
How To Make A Budget: 5 Time-Tested Approaches →Serious stuff
The Canada Pension Plan enhancement – Businesses, individuals, and self-employed: what it means for you
How does the CPP enhancement affect you →Budgeting
You know a lot more about budgeting than you probably think. Even if you’ve never done any kind of household budgeting at all, you almost certainly already have had significant experience with it.
How To Make A Budget: 5 Time-Tested Approaches →Serious stuff
Despite labour disruptions, the tax filing deadline has not changed. Canadians should take steps to ensure their return is filed by May 1, 2023, along with payment for any balance owing.
Filing dates for 2022 taxes →Budgeting
We believe financial planning should be simple, engaging and understandable for everyone.
Why is budgeting an essential personal finance tool →Serious stuff
Tax season is upon us. Find key dates including filing and payment due dates and dates for receiving credits and benefit payments from the CRA.
Due dates and payment dates →Word of the week
GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate)
"Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) and term deposits are secured investments. This means that you get back the amount you invest at the end of your term. The key difference between a GIC and a term deposit is the length of the term. Term deposits generally have shorter terms than GICs."
Learn about the key details before buying a GIC →Budgeting
How the magic of a three-pay cheque month can give you a financial head start
There are lots of ways to play that extra payment →← Curating the web to find the most interesting and helpful information about your money.