The article "Should You Buy Real Estate Just To Stay In The Market?" was originally published on MoneySense on September 11, 2018. Face it. There are plenty of other better options. Q: I just sold an estate home in the Greater Toronto Area very recently and decided to...

The article "Do You Really Need An RRSP To Retire?" was originally published on MoneySense on September 5, 2018. Riza is worried about retiring without an RRSP. But do you even need one? Q: What will happen if I retire and I don’t have an RRSP? —Riza A: The Registered...

The article "Is It Okay To Retire With Debt?" was originally published on MoneySense on August 28, 2018. Steve has debt but also has a generous DB pension. Should he retire? Q: I am eligible for retirement at age 57, as I have 30 years of service. I am now...

The article "‘I’ve Been Named An Executor. Where On Earth Do I Start?!’" was originally published on MoneySense on August 21, 2018. Executor duties can be overwhelming. Where do you start? Here’s advice. Q: We just placed my 99-year old bachelor uncle off his farm and...

The article "Are RRSP Contributions Worth It At Age 70?" was originally published on MoneySense on August 14, 2018. Q: We are a retired couple getting very close to converting RSPs to a RIF (my husband has one more year). We have a substantial capital gain to report...

The article "Investments To Use For A Down Payment On A House" was originally published on MoneySense on August 8, 2018. RRSP or TFSA? Likely, it’ll be both Q: My son has money in an RRSP (mutual fund) and TFSA (cash sitting in account) and he buys a condo this year....

The article "Simplify Your Investments To Save On Estate Tax" was originally published on MoneySense on August 1, 2018. William wants to plan his estate so that it is as seamless as possible for his children when he passes away Q: I am a 72-year old divorced male with...

The article "Can You Receive CPP Benefits From Two Partners?" was originally published in MoneySense on July 24, 2018. Twice the split CPP? It’s possible, to an extent. Q: Can I get CPP from a common law partner if he dies, even though I receive CPP from a divorced...

The article "Do Canadian Expats Have To Pay Income Tax?" was originally published on MoneySense on July 17, 2018. Taxation is based on residency, but expats coming back should watch out Q: I am Canadian citizen living in Pakistan since 2002. I have no home or family...

The article "The Right Way To Unwind Your Locked-In Retirement Account" was originally published on MoneySense on July 10, 2018. OM is trying to formulate a plan for a locked-in retirement account. What are some LIRA best practices to consider? Q: I am at the age...

The article "How To Earn A Risk-Free 4% Annual Return" was originally published on MoneySense on July 3, 2018. This reader doesn’t want to put her capital at risk. But there may be a few things she hasn’t considered. Q: I am a widow with $300,000. How realistic is it...

The article "Can You Inherit A TFSA Tax-Free?" was originally published on MoneySense on June 27, 2018. Linda wants to know if there are any tax or probate fee implications when you inherit a TFSA Q: Is the money from a TFSA tax free as an inheritance? Any probate...

The article "Can You Get Survivor Benefits From An Ex-Spouse?" was originally published on MoneySense on June 19, 2018. That may depend on whether you’re separated or divorced Q: Your article prompted me to think about my pension lost to my ex-wife, whom I very...

The article "How Cottage Renos Can Reduce Your Capital Gains" was originally published on MoneySense on June 12, 2018. Phylis and her son own a cottage together. She wants to understand the future tax and estate planning implications. Q: My son and I have purchased...

The article "What To Do When Your Withholding Tax Is Too Low" was originally published on MoneySense on June 5, 2018. Kersten is worried she’ll have a big tax liability next spring Q: I retired at 55 and I am collecting my full teaching pension. I have recently...

The article "Investment Fees You Can And Can't Claim On Your Tax Return" was originally published on MoneySense on May 29, 2018. Patti pays fees for financial advice related to her investments and wonders if those fees are tax deductible Q: I’d like to ask a question...

The article "These Are The Situations When Contributing To An RRSP Isn't Worth It" was originally published on MoneySense on May 22, 2018. Julia has a DB pension and is maxing out her TFSA. Is an RRSP worth it for her? Q: I’m a teacher of 11 years, and I’m wondering...

The article "How Much You Should Pay In Fees On Your Work Savings Plan" was originally published on MoneySense on May 21, 2018. Talk to your employer about lower-fee group savings options Q. I have been registered with an insurance company through my employer since...

The article "Work Abroad? Your Income Is Fair Game For The CRA." was originally published on MoneySense on May 8, 2018. To avoid this, you need to break ties with Canada Q: I am a permanent resident of Canada. I live here with my kids. My husband works in Dubai. He is...

The article "Spouses and Stocks: Is There A Way To Avoid Tax When Transferring Assets?" was originally published on MoneySense on May 17, 2018. Beware of spousal attribution Q: I have a non-registered discount brokerage account containing stocks and mutual funds. If I...

The article "Should I Raid My RRSP To Pay Off My Line Of Credit?" was originally published on MoneySense on May 6, 2018. It’s tempting to cash out RRSPs but watch out for the tax bite Q. My wife and I currently have a mortgage of $297,000. On top of that we’ve had to...

The article "How To Reinstate OAS After It’s Clawed Back" was originally published on MoneySense on May 1, 2018. There is a form to fill out, but it’s entirely optional Q: My father’s OAS was completely clawed back last year because his net income for 2016 was well...

The article "The Benefits And Flexibility Of Family RESPs" was originally published on MoneySense on April 25, 2018. Grants and growth can be allocated amongst any beneficiaries of the plan Q: Can you write an article on how family RESPs work once the oldest children...

The article "Why Incorporation Isn’t Always A Magical Tax Fix" was originally published on MoneySense on April 18, 2018. Sandie’s wife has a small business she plans to run for the next few years. Is she better off incorporating her business or not?   Q: My wife...

The article "Should We Take Dad’s Money Now To Avoid Probate?" was originally published on MoneySense on April 10, 2018. Hold your horses! It’s not your money just yet… Q: My mom just passed away. Everything went to my dad. My sister and I are trying to decide if we...

The article "Avoiding Tax And Probate When Passing Down A Rental Property" was originally published on MoneySense on April 3, 2018. Putting a child on the title of a rental house could be like playing a game of whack-a-mole Q: My husband and I would like to put my son...

The article "Timing CPP And OAS With Workplace Pensions" was originally published on MoneySense on March 28, 2018. Even if you expect a ‘bridge’ payment from your DB pension, deferring CPP makes sense Q: My husband is retired military and will turn 60 this year. He’s...

The article "Cutting Down Capital Gains Tax On Real Estate Sales" was originally published on MoneySense on March 20, 2018. Defer RRSP contributions to mitigate taxes Q: Is there any real estate investment I could invest my capital gains in, without being robbed of...

The article "When To Watch Out For OAS Clawbacks" was originally published on MoneySense on March 14, 2018. Working in retirement? Beware clawbacks. Q: I have been trying to find out how much extra income a person can earn without having to report the income while...

The article "RRSP Top-Ups In Retirement Could Cost You" was originally published on MoneySense on March 7, 2018.   Remember: It’s not worth saving $5,000 of tax today to pay $10,000 of tax tomorrow Q: I retired in May 2009 and was under the impression that I...

The article "When Income Drops, Should We Tap The RRSP And Feed The TFSA?" was originally published on MoneySense on February 27, 2018. If one partner is home with the kids, it sometimes makes sense to withdraw from an RRSP I’ve been contributing to a spousal RRSP...

The article "Giving Money To Your Grandchildren" was originally published on MoneySense on February 20, 2018. Consider a formal trust, among other options Q: A senior couple would like to transfer shares in individual companies to five different grandchildren. All are...

The article "How Safe Are My Retirement Savings If The Bank Fails?" was originally published on MoneySense on February 19, 2018. What to do to make sure your savings are protected Q: I am considering retiring early (at 55) and based on advice from my financial...

The article "How To Start Investing Late In Life" was originally published on MoneySense on February 11, 2018. It’s never too late to start playing catch-up Q: I am a late bloomer. I finally have an empty nest, but I had low income employment and always lived with my...

The article "Financial Planning And Mental Illness" was originally published on MoneySense on February 7, 2018. Advice for a reader who’s been unable to save due to her chronic mental illness Q: I am 43 with no children or spouse. I have a mental illness that is...

The article "Become A Millionaire By Investing The Wage Hike?" was originally published on MoneySense on January 23, 2018. It’s hard to invest money when you’re making minimum wage. But you can make the boost add up. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne increased the...

The article "Pension Income Splitting Explained" was originally published on MoneySense on January 16, 2018. The kind of pension that qualifies, when it makes sense to defer and the tax consequences to watch out for Q: I am 62 years old and I receive a pension from my...

The article "What Happens To Your Spouse’s TFSA If They Die" was originally published on MoneySense on January 9, 2018. It depends on whether you’re their beneficiary, a successor holder or neither —Updated Jan. 16, 2018 to clarify TFSA rules for those who live in...

The article "The Best Way To Transfer RESP Money To An RRSP" was originally published on MoneySense on January 2, 2018. Transferring in-kind versus cashing out, plus keep in mind penalties due Q: When transferring my unused RESP accumulated income into my RRSP, am I...

The article "When To Load Up On Defensive Stocks" was originally published on MoneySense on December 28, 2017. Timing the market is difficult; instead, focus on your own asset allocation and risk tolerance Q: Is it reasonable or practical to shift to defensive stocks...

The article "Do I Need To Retire My Debt, Before I Retire Myself?" was originally published in MoneySense on December 21, 2017. It might make more sense to pay off debt later Q: So, I’m retiring (single male 65) with $850,000 total in RRSPs and a DCP where I currently...

The article "How Can I Use My Extra RRSP Room When I Retire?" was originally published in MoneySense on December 13, 2017. You can’t use up next year’s room this year, but there are ways to put that room to work Q: In 2019, I will retire. I will contribute $26,000 to...