By Bruce Sellery  |  MoneySense  |  April 18, 2012 Question My husband and I are both in our 30s and we withdrew from our RRSPs under the first-time Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP). Our question is whether it is worth it for us to pay off the HBP loan, which is…

JASON HEATH | Special to the Financial Post  | Published April 13, 2012 When used responsibly, home equity lines of credit can help facilitate investments, improve tax-efficiency and provide liquidity. But when credit lines are used for household appliances, vacations, new cars and dinners on the town, the advantages quickly disappear. A report…

JASON HEATH | Special to the Financial Post  | Published April 10, 2012               Ontario sent a clear message to Ottawa in the provincial budget last week, raising several concerns about the current Pooled Registered Pension Plan (PRPP) proposal that was tabled at the federal level…

By Bruce Sellery  |  MoneySense  |  April 2, 2012 The fees you pay to invest your money can have a profound impact on your returns over time. This goes for any type of investing, not just RESPs. And that fact is scholarship trusts cost more. Jason Heath is a CFP…

JASON HEATH | Special to the Financial Post  | Published March 31, 2012 For three years, the word on the street has been that interest rates have nowhere to go but up. But few Canadian commentators – other than David Rosenberg – got the call on rates right. Although the prime rate has…

JASON HEATH | Special to the Financial Post  | Published March 26, 2012   This time of year can be intimidating for any taxpayer, but perhaps none more so than the business owner. Whether you have a sole proprietorship or a corporation, the need to pull together records and receipts or the potential…

By MoneySense staff  |  MoneySense  |  March 22, 2012 History presents a useful guide as to what type of mortgage to choose. “In recent years you would have been better off in variable-rate mortgages,” says Jason Heath, a fee-only financial planner with Objective Financial Partners in Toronto. “But that’s because we’ve…

Published on monsense.ca  |  March 15, 2012   RRSPs aren’t just for retirement If you’re having a year or two where you’re making much less money than normal—say you’re on maternity leave, you lost your job, or you’re backpacking around Asia—you might want to think about pulling some money out…

JASON HEATH | Special to the Financial Post  | Published March 15, 2012 According to a study by Financial Finesse, a U.S. provider of employee financial wellness programs, 19% of employees reported high or overwhelming financial stress in 2011. That’s down from 32% in 2010, but still represents a significant cost to employers…

JASON HEATH | Special to the Financial Post  | Published March 08, 2012 Canadians have many reasons for refinancing, but strategic refinancing can be a good financial planning tool. There are three main refinancing strategies: interest savings, cash flow management and tax planning. Globally, refinancing has taken on a bit of negative undertone…

JASON HEATH | Special to the Financial Post  | Published March 08, 2012 There seems to be a trend these days in financial planning. Consumers are playing the role of Tom Cruise’s Lt. Kafee in the classic movie, A Few Good Men, and demanding answers – answers they feel they are entitled to. The…

GAIL BEBEE | Globe and Mail Update | Published Thursday, Mar. 01, 2012 Video: Financial planning tips for spousal survivors   According to Jason Heath, a financial planner at Objective Financial Partners Inc., the biggest mistake many couples make is not ensuring that both spouses are knowledgeable about the family’s financial affairs. An…