Posts by Jason Heath

The article “Are Vanguard Canada ETFs and other funds always a good investment?” was originally published in MoneySense on September 6, 2023. Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels. Here’s how you can access Vanguard ETFs in Canada and some pros and cons of ETFs to consider. “I’ve heard good things about Vanguard investment accounts in the U.S.,…

The article “What to do when you have insufficient or unused RESP funds” was originally published in MoneySense on August 14, 2023, reposted September 1, 2023. Photo by by AnthonyRosenberg from Getty Images Signature. RESPs often fall short of funding a child’s full education, but sometimes an account holder ends up with unused education savings.…

The article “Why inflation-linked bonds aren’t always the answer to high inflation” was originally published in MoneySense on August 28, 2023. Photo by Andrii Yalanskyi from Getty Images. Inflation-linked bonds can decline in a high-inflation year. Here’s how increases and decreases in inflation impact these types of bonds. “I don’t quite understand how inflation indexed…

The article “Should you pay off student debt before investing?” was originally published in MoneySense on August 22, 2023, reposted September 1st, 2023. Photo by MonthiraYodtiwong from Getty Images. If you want to start investing but you’ve got a Canada Student Loan or other student debt to repay, here’s how to decide where to put…

The article “A company I hold stock in was acquired or merged—do capital gains apply?” was originally published in MoneySense on August 8, 2023. Photo by by Daniel Balakov from Getty Images Signature. Shareholders cannot always prevent a company sale or merger from going ahead. When that happens, do you still owe taxes on capital…

The article “Can you trust AI with financial advice?” was originally published in MoneySense on July 31, 2023. Photo by Tara Winstead from Pexels. Advancements in artificial intelligence have begun to accelerate and are a hot investing topic in 2023. Can AI give financial advice you can trust? I am a mid-career financial planner who…

The article “When your child moves into your rental property: Capital gains and how to claim principal residence exemption” was originally published in MoneySense on July 24, 2023. Photo by by DAPA Images. When an adult child moves into their parents’ rental property, the family should be clear on a few things, including capital gains,…

The article “How annuities work in Canada” was originally published in MoneySense on July 17, 2023, reposted April 18, 2024. Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels. Annuities have faced headwinds over the past 40 years. But as interest rates climb and baby boomers retire, they’re gaining interest from Canadians. Annuities are life insurance products that…

The article “How to claim a child’s income below the basic personal amount” was originally published in MoneySense on July 10, 2023. Photo by evgenyatamanenko from Getty Images. Even if a child’s earnings are exempt from income tax, they may be entitled to tax credits or deductions. Here’s how their income should be reported come…

Whether to include a pension in your net worth statement is up for debate. If you choose to do so, know there are a few ways it can be calculated. “I recently retired from the public service here in B.C. and have a defined benefit plan pension. Is there a method that is commonly used…