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? When you buy a…

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 RRIF account.…

The article “Are interest payments tax deductible?” was originally published in MoneySense on August 9, 2021. Interest paid may be tax deductible under the right circumstances. Find out which scenario might apply to you. Taxpayers may be eligible to claim a tax deduction for interest paid on a loan or…

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 pension, or if other…

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 financial impacts, from daily cash flow to…

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 living in Canada for many…

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 Savings Plans for their kids, but only realize when it’s…

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 together. Q. My ex-husband died a month…

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 remains in the name…