Slow down, don’t move too fast; we’ve got to make the money last — particularly since a new economic forecast, released today by TD Financial, says Canada’s economic slowdown is on par with our southern neighbour’s economic downturn. The projection by TD economists shows that Canada’s slowdown is occurring at the same time and to […]
(March 2008) Identity theft. It is a crime about information and in the information age, identity theft is becoming the fastest growing form of consumer fraud in North America. The crime is identified when a person assumes another individual’s identity using personal information (eg: name, date of birth, address, credit card, social insurance number and […]
Pre-budget analysis and shadow budgets are floating freely near Parliament Hill these days in anticipation of the federal government’s third budget since taking power in January 2006. While each forecast offers unique perspectives on what should or could happen in Tuesday’s upcoming budget, the general consensus is that the Harper government will stay the course, […]
Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has charged the Ontario government with the outright failure to stimulate a lagging provincial economy by providing tax breaks to businesses. In a speech delivered this morning to an crowd of small- and medium-sized business owners in Toronto, Flaherty bluntly stated that the government of Dalton McGuinty suffers from a […]
(February 2008) Just about everyone has heard of Dale Carnegie — the author made famous for teaching people around the world How to Win Friends and Influence People (his 1937 bestselling book). In his book, and through subsequent independent observations and research, Carnegie points out that 85% of job success comes from a person’s personality […]
There was a time when RRSP season was all about smoking out the good deals — pun intended. These days many investors are looking not just for good returns but for feel-good good returns. Initially, this meant negatively screening investments — a term used to refer to weeding out companies that manufacture or contribute to […]
(January 2008) There’s no question about it — inflation is back, according to Gavin Graham, chief investment officer at Guardian Group of Funds. Speaking to a packed house at the Financial Forum Expo this past weekend, Graham’s pronouncement was not earth-shattering — former Bank of Canada governor David Dodge tackled the potential of inflation and […]
Very few global companies are headquartered in Canada, yet our global economy requires professionals to interact on the world stage. As such, many professionals, seeking an edge, opt to work abroad. As can be expected, this choice comes with a plethora of logistical problems; it also can mean significant financial losses or gains depending on […]
The baby-boomer transition into full retirement will not happen anytime soon, and this is good news, according to Dr. Sherry Cooper, executive vice-president and global economic strategist at BMO Financial Group. Cooper, a high-energy 57-year-old with no plans for retirement herself, believes that given contemporary quality of life standards, market statistics and current demographics, the […]
(November 2007) A soaring currency. The threat of inflation. A potential recession prompted by a slowing U.S. economy. Despite today’s volatile market, investors in Canadian resources are poised to cash in on a bullish market, according to Fidelity Investments Canada. The mutual fund giant predicts that the nation’s economy is set to surge in the […]