The article "Cutting down capital gains tax on real estate sales" was originally published in MoneySense on February 23, 2022. Photo by Mart Production from Pexels. Defer RRSP contributions to mitigate taxes Is there any real estate investment I could invest my...

The article "Corporate investments for retirees" was originally published in MoneySense on February 15, 2022. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels. Retired with cash and investments in a corporation, and wondering how to withdraw with minimal tax implications? I’m...

The article "How to find a lost life insurance policy" was originally published in MoneySense on February 8, 2022. Photo by Sofia Alejandra from Pexels. A death in the family is always stressful, but money can make it more so. Here’s expert advice for rights to a lost...

The article "The process of unlocking a LIRA account in Canada" was originally published in MoneySense on February 1, 2022. Photo by cottonbro from Pexels. What can you do? What can’t you do? Let’s clarify some conflicting online information about locked-in retirement...

The article "Do you pay capital gains tax when separating or divorcing?" was originally published in MoneySense on January 24, 2022. Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels. Concerned about the potential capital gains tax implications of a principal residence after a...

The article "How do the RRSP contribution carry forward rules work?" was originally published in MoneySense on January 17, 2022. Photo by SHVETS production from Pexels. What are the rules about RRSP carry forwards? Should you ever contribute the full amount? If I have...

The article "Should you apply for OAS even if you have a high income?" was originally published in MoneySense on January 13, 2022. Photo by Mart Production on Pexels. If you are a high-income senior whose Old Age Security would be fully clawed back, find out if you...

The article "Principal residence exemption: Would a senior get a tax credit for selling their house if they move out?" was originally published in MoneySense on January 5, 2022. Photo by Georg Arthur Pflueger on Unsplash. Sometimes, seniors must move out of their...

The article "How to leave money to your grandkids" was originally published in MoneySense on December 28, 2021. Photo by Ekaterina Shakharova on Unsplash. In my experience, most people leave their entire estate to their children. But you can name other people to...

The article "CPP vs RRSP: Can you transfer your CPP to an RRSP?" was originally published in MoneySense on December 20, 2021.Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels. Is it possible to transfer CPP to RRSP? The answer is a quick one, but there’s more to an CPP and...

The article "What are the tax benefits of donating to charity?" was originally published in MoneySense on December 14, 2021.Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels. ’Tis the season for giving and some may be wondering how donating to charity saves tax on your tax...

The article "What’s involved with an owner withdrawal of cash from a corporation" was originally published in MoneySense on December 6, 2021. Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels. Linda is approaching retirement with cash in her corporation. She wonders how to withdraw it...

The article "How to invest as a teenager in Canada" was originally published in MoneySense on November 29, 2021. Photo by Creative Christians on Unsplash.   Birthday money burning a hole? Read our "investing for teens" guide for where to invest, how to buy...

The article "Do RRIF beneficiaries pay tax?" was originally published in MoneySense on November 22, 2021. Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels. Is it possible to avoid tax as a RRIF beneficiary? Find out if timing could be an issue, as well as rules around...

The article "Could a line of credit impact my mortgage application?" was originally published in MoneySense on November 16, 2021. Photo by Sarandy Westfall on Unsplash. Line of credit payments and other non-mortgage debt are factored into mortgage affordability...

The article "Should you take RRSP withdrawals to pay down debt?" was originally published in MoneySense on November 9, 2021. Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels. With a partner out of work, this reader is considering a RRSP withdrawal to try to reduce her mortgage...

The article "How to draw money out of your corporation in retirement" was originally published in MoneySense on November 2, 2021. Photo by Maria Lupan on Unsplash. When you have money saved in a corporation, retirement planning can be a little more complicated. But it...

The article "Affordability tips for first-time home buyers to securing a mortgage" was originally published in MoneySense on October 28, 2021. Photo by Jessica Bryant via Pexels. Irene and her partner want to buy a house with savings, some help from her dad and a...

The article "Reasons to consider early RRSP and RRIF withdrawals" was originally published in MoneySense on October 19, 2021. Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels. I get a lot of reader-submitted questions about early RRSP and RRIF withdrawals and how much to take out....

The article "Joint tenancy vs tenancy in common in Canada: Changing ownership of assets for married and common-law partners" was originally published in MoneySense on October 14, 2021. Photo by cottonbro from Pexels. The tax implications of changing land owned jointly...

The article "How much to take out of your RRSP in your 60s" was originally published in MoneySense on October 4, 2021. Photo by Marcus Aurelius from Pexels. Although RRSP withdrawals can be deferred no later than age 72, it may be necessary or advisable to make...

The article "How to figure out your investment fees" was originally published in MoneySense on September 28, 2021. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels. John is unclear about what he’s paying his advisor, and cannot seem to get a straight answer. Q. I was wondering...

The article "Financial gifts: What you need to know before giving money or investments" was originally published in MoneySense on September 21, 2021. Photo by Marcus Aurelius from Pexels. We humans are wired for generosity: we feel joy and satisfaction when we give to...

The article "How to avoid OAS clawback when you’ve had a temporary increase in income." was originally published in MoneySense on September 14, 2021. Photo by yerling villalobos on Unsplash. A one-time bump in Sam’s income triggered an Old Age Security benefit...

The article "Incorporated business owners: Should you pay yourself a salary?" was originally published in MoneySense on September 8, 2021. Photo by fauxels from Pexels. If you own an incorporated business, you can pay yourself a salary—but sometimes it’s the wrong...

The article "Transferring employer pensions to LIRAs, LIFs and RRSPs?" was originally published in MoneySense on August 30, 2021. Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels. Q. I have a new LIRA valued at $102,500 from leaving an old employer. Can I transfer this money to a...

The article "Home buyers: How large should your down payment be?" was originally published in MoneySense on August 23, 2021. Photo by SHVETS production from Pexels. Is it best to maximize your down payment on a house or condo purchase, or keep some money to invest?...

The article "How much should you withdraw from your RRIF?" was originally published in MoneySense on August 16, 2021. Sandy wants to deplete a registered retirement income fund by age 90 and wonders how much to take out each year. Q. I am 78 and have $330,000 in my...

The article "Are interest payments tax deductible?" was originally published in MoneySense on August 9, 2021.  Photo by Photo by Windows on Unsplash. Interest paid may be tax deductible under the right circumstances. Find out which scenario might apply to you....

The article "Can you change your mind about taking CPP early?" was originally published in MoneySense on August 3, 2021.  Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels. Rena started receiving Canada Pension Plan benefits at age 60 and wants to know if she can now defer the...

The article "Divorce over 50: managing your finances if you find yourself single in the run-up to retirement" was originally published in MoneySense on July 28, 2021.  Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels. "Grey divorce" is on the rise—and it can have significant...

The article "Can you receive a government pension if you live outside of Canada?" was originally published on MoneySense on July 19, 2021.  Photo by Frida Aguilar Estrada on Unsplash. Helen wants to know if her father can receive Old Age Security benefits, despite not...

The article "RESP guide: Making the shift from saving for your child's post-secondary education, to funding it" was originally published on MoneySense on July 12, 2021.  Photo by Zen Chung from Pexels. Parents may spend years contributing to Registered Education...

The article "Are you entitled to anything when your ex-spouse dies?" was originally published on MoneySense on July 5, 2021.  Photo by Teona Swift from Pexels. Ginette wonders if she can claim survivor benefits although she and her late former husband were no longer...

The article "What happens to real estate when a spouse dies and property isn’t held jointly?" was originally published on MoneySense on June 30, 2021.  Photo by Elina Fairytale from Pexels. Barb’s mother is living in a house that was owned by her deceased father, and...

The article "A guide to spousal RRSPs for married and common-law partners" was originally published on MoneySense on June 21, 2021.  Photo created by gpointstudio - www.freepik.com. There are benefits, but also potential pitfalls, to beware of when considering...

The article "What tenants need to know about buying out their rental" was originally published on MoneySense on June 14, 2021.  Photo by cottonbro from Pexels. Douglas is considering buying the property he rents from his landlord. There are considerations and...

The article "Tax planning for Canadians who invest in the U.S." was originally published on MoneySense on June 10, 2021.  Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels. There are good reasons for Canadians to invest in the U.S., including portfolio diversification. Just...

The article "When does it make sense to sell real estate in a larger city and buy in a smaller one?" was originally published on MoneySense on May 31, 2021.  Photo by Shelagh Murphy from Pexels. If Alison’s annual rent exceeds 5% of the cost to buy a comparable home,...

The article "Estate planning changes in Ontario" was originally published on MoneySense on May 25, 2021.  Photo created by pressfoto - www.freepik.com.   Estate planning changes in Ontario Virtual signing and remote witnessing are now permanent options for...

The article "IVF and adoption costs in Canada" was originally published on MoneySense on May 17, 2021.  Photo by Justin Groep on Unsplash.   Having kids can be expensive for every family—but for Canadians with fertility issues, there are added financial and...

The article "Selling your house? Here’s where to invest the proceeds" was originally published on MoneySense on May 14, 2021. What to do with the proceeds of a house sale, RRSPs and TFSAs? Invest. Here's how robo-advisors might work. Q: My wife and I recently sold our...

The article "How to stop debt or pension payments after someone has died" was originally published on MoneySense on May 10, 2021. Jarnail’s son passed away recently, yet his student loan payments continue to be withdrawn. What should his next steps be? The difficult...

The article "Understanding Income Attribution And How To Deal With It At Tax Time" was originally published on MoneySense on April 5, 2021. Paul and his wife have a non-registered investment account and want to make sure they are...

The article "New Investment Approaches For Risk-Averse Canadians" was originally published on MoneySense on April 28, 2021. Old-school investors may find the capital preservation techniques they have relied on in the past won't work the same in the future. Bonds have...

The article "Where Do We Pay Income Tax If We Retire Abroad?" was originally published on MoneySense on April 20, 2021. There are tax implications in both countries if Marianna moves to Mexico full-time. Q. We're thinking about moving to Mexico full-time when we...

The article "How Financially Viable Is Your Rental Property?" was originally published on MoneySense on April 12, 2021. Rental real estate has been a great investment for many Canadians. But how do you assess whether yours is likely to work out? After rising steadily...

The article "Marriage Or Mortgage: Which Is The Better Investment?" was originally posted on MoneySense on March 29, 2021. Couples are sometimes torn between making their wedding a big celebration and starting their financial life together on the right foot. Weddings...

The article "Maximizing Spousal RRSP Contributions In Your 70s" was originally published on MoneySense on March 22, 2021. Don wants to know exactly when is the cutoff for contributions in his wife's case, and when to convert the savings to a registered retirement...

The article "Should You Always Split Your Pension Income?" was originally published on MoneySense on March 15, 2021. Narayan wants to know the best ways to save income tax, given the disparity between his income and his wife's. Q. Is it always advantageous to use...

The article "How To Invest Down Payment Funds While Timing The Real Estate Market" was originally published on MoneySense on March 8, 2021. Liz sold her home in anticipation of becoming an empty nester, but prices keep rising while she rents and waits to buy again....

The article "Tax Implications Of Building A Laneway Suite" was originally published on MoneySense on March 1, 2021. Any time a homeowner becomes a landlord, there may be GST/HST and income tax owing—and the amounts can be quite large. Q. I read your “capital gains on...

The article "You May Be Able To Claim These Commonly Overlooked Medical Expenses On Your Tax Return" was originally published on MoneySense on February 23, 2021. Several medical expenses are eligible for a tax credit. Here are a few Canadians should consider at tax...

The article "How Do Mortgage Brokers Get Paid?" was originally published on MoneySense on February 27, 2021. Adil is about to close on a home purchase and is surprised that his mortgage broker is asking for a cash payment for the broker fee before the funds are...

The article "Financial Planning In Your 70s" was originally published on MoneySense on February 9, 2021. Be mindful of these money concerns, even after retirement. When most people think about financial planning, they think about saving and investing for retirement....

The article "When Are Tax-Deferred And Tax-Free Accounts Actually Taxable?" was originally published on MoneySense on February 2, 2021. A new investor, Tawheeda is looking for clarification on the tax payable on U.S. and Canadian stocks in her RRSP and TFSA. Q. I saw...

The article "What To Consider If You Still Have RRSP Contribution Room" was originally published on MoneySense on January 25, 2021. With just weeks left before the contribution deadline, a Certified Financial Planner rounds up key facts and common RRSP myths....

The article "Capital Gains On Subdivided Land" was originally published on MoneySense on January 18, 2021. Devon was lucky enough to buy a lot that he was able to subdivide, sell some of the land and build a house on the rest. Does he owe tax? Q. Our primary residence...

The article "Financial Priorities For The New Year" was originally published on MoneySense on January 11, 2021. January is a good time to review your investments, tax and debt management planning. Here's how to get started. The new year is often a time for resolutions...

The article "Can Life Insurance Be Used As A Fixed Income Investment?" was originally published on MoneySense on December 21, 2020. Emerging from a serious health scare, Dana wonders if she can use her life insurance to replace the bonds in her investment portfolio....

The article "Halal Investing in Canada" was originally published on MoneySense on December 18, 2020. Investing can be challenging for Muslims, as solutions that are both Shariah-compliant and effective at helping achieve long-term financial goals are limited. Canadian...

The article "Ways To “Unlock” Retirement Savings In A LIRA" was originally published on MoneySense on December 7, 2020. Keith wants to know what to do with his DPSP now that it has been transferred to a locked-in retirement account. Q. When I retired at age 63, the...

The article "Unique Ideas For Your Last Will and Testament" was originally published on MoneySense on November 30, 2020. A straightforward will can work well for many people but, for some, there are clauses to consider that might better convey your wishes. When you...

The article "Managing Tax In A “Tenancy In Common” Situation" was originally published on MoneySense on November 24th, 2020. Claudia wants to minimize the tax payable when selling her share of a cottage to the co-owner. Q. I am a co-owner of a cottage in Ontario. The...

The article "Financial Literacy For Seniors" was originally published on MoneySense on November 16, 2020. If one spouse makes most or all the financial decisions, the uninvolved spouse can be left vulnerable. That's one reason seniors, their family and their advisors...

The article "Calculating Expected Returns On The Sale Of Real Estate" was originally published on Moneysense on November 10, 2020. Yan is selling his home and wants to know how to price it to ensure he turns a profit. Q. How do I calculate the capital gain on real...

The article "Should You Set Up A Personal Real Estate Corporation (PREC)?" was originally published on MoneySense on November 2, 2020. Ontario recently joined several other provinces by allowing the establishment of personal real estate corporations. What are they,...

The article "How Does Assisted Dying Impact Survivor Pensions?" was originally published on MoneySense on October 26, 2020. Content warning: This article contains discussion of assisted dying and suicide, which may be upsetting to some readers. We have turned off...

The article "Potential Tax Changes Due To COVID-19" was originally published on MoneySense on October 20, 2020. The pandemic has led to a significant amount of spending by the federal and provincial governments. How will the country pay for it all? Speculation is...

The article "Should You Sell Your Home To Your Kids?" was originally published on MoneySense on October 13, 2020. Graham is considering a creative strategy to access his home equity with the help of his grown children. The end goal: to build a vacation property for...

The article "Separation and Divorce: How Do We Split Up Our Investments?" was originally published on MoneySense on October 8, 2020. When a relationship breaks down, there are tax implications arising from the division of investment assets. The end of a relationship...

The article "Should You Hold Your Mortgage Inside Your RRSP?" was originally published on MoneySense on September 29, 2020. Yvonne wants to know how she can use her RRSP to reduce the mortgage on her current home, or to help with the purchase of a second property....

The article "Should You Buy Real Estate Through A Corporation?" was originally published on MoneySense on September 25, 2020. It can make sense to purchase rental or vacation properties through a corporation, but often it's simpler—and less risky from a tax...

The article "What Does A Fee-Only Financial Planner Do, Exactly?" was originally published on MoneySense on September 15, 2020. And if they don't sell any financial products, how do fee-only planners get paid? Q. How do you make money, Jason, if you don't sell any...

The article "What A Stock Split Means For Your Portfolio And Tax Situation" was originally published on MoneySense on September 8, 2020. After recent stock splits for big names like Apple and Tesla, investors may be wondering: What are the tax and investment...

The article "Could Selling A Vacation Property Affect Government Pensions?" was originally published on MoneySense on September 1, 2020. Colleen wants to sell her trailer but is worried about the impact on her CPP, OAS and GIS benefits. Q. I was wondering what would...

The article "Should You Buy A Vacation Property?" was originally published on MoneySense on August 24, 2020. A cottage or other vacation property can provide a great way to unwind and spend time with family. But what are some of the financial implications? The...