Posts by FT
Top Blue Chip Stocks in Canada for 2023
A blue chip stock refers to stocks of high value companies. Think companies that are household names, have a widely recognized brand and are so big that they are unlikely to fail. The top blue chip stocks in Canada include companies from a wide range of sectors; utilities, industrial, financial and consumer staples. These companies…
Read MoreHow to Become a Millionaire in Canada
Becoming the next Canadian millionaire is something many of us aspire to, and can actually accomplish with the right knowledge and strategy. Contrary to popular belief, most millionaires didn’t become that way by receiving a large inheritance, or by getting lucky and winning the lottery. Time after time working class professionals, think educators and engineers,…
Read MoreBest Canadian Dividend Stocks – January 2023 Update
As we update our list of the Best Canadian Dividend Stocks for January 2023, we continue to focus on four key areas: Looking ahead to what the new year might bring, Canadian dividend stocks have held up much better against the market turmoil than almost any other asset class out there. The big tech “FAANG”…
Read MoreBest Canadian Robo Advisors 2023
Robo advisors are perfect for Canadians who want to grow their investments but aren’t interested in paying high fees for a financial advisor or figuring out how to trade on their own (if you’re more of a DIY person, check out the best online brokers in Canada instead). We compiled our list of the best…
Read MoreBest Low Risk Investments in Canada Right Now (2023)
Most Canadians don’t understand the difference between when low risk investments make more sense, and when higher risk investments are worth the trade-offs. Personally, I think that if you need your money in the next five years, then you should be looking at lower risk investments that are guaranteed by the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation…
Read MoreDividend Stocks Rock Review 2023
Investing on your own is not an easy task. From mutual funds to robo advisors and individual stocks, there are a wide range of strategies, information services and trading platforms to choose from. It can quickly become overwhelming. This is where the simplicity of dividend investing really shines. I started investing in mutual funds when…
Read MoreDogs of the TSX Dividend Stock Picks (January 2023 Update)
Over the past number of years, I’ve been writing about the investing strategy known as Dogs of the TSX (taken from “Dogs of the Dow” in the USA) – also known as the Beating the TSX Dividend Stock Strategy (BTTSX). (Click here to skip directly to my 2023 picks). The principle of this strategy is…
Read MoreCanadian Dividend Kings & Aristocrats – January 2023
Investing in Dividend Kings (aka Dividend Aristocrats) has come back into style again in 2022, after a decade of fast-paced outperformance for technology growth stocks. Click here to jump directly to my 2023 picks. As we head into 2023, the Canadian market has really shown its value relative to unstable peers around the world. Who…
Read MoreHow to Build a Dividend Growth Portfolio
If you’ve been following MDJ for a while, you will come to learn that I’m a fan of two investing strategies, index investing and investing for income through Canada’s best dividend stocks. I like index investing (also known as passive investing) for its ease, low cost, and ability to beat most active mutual fund returns…
Read MoreCanadian Stock Market vs U.S. Stock Market
We Canadians might like to argue with our U.S. neighbours about who makes better beer or who plays better hockey but when it comes to your portfolio, the real argument is who gets the better returns, the Canadian stock market vs the U.S. stock market? Both Canada and the U.S. are wealthy developed countries with…
Read MoreCIBC Investor’s Edge Broker Review 2023
What Is CIBC Investor’s Edge? If you are already a CIBC customer, you might already know that it has been around for a long time, over 100 years in fact. As a result, it offers an array of choices when it comes to how you save and invest your money. It offers the basics, such…
Read MorePre and Post Market Trading in Canada
Most Canadian investors are content to buy and sell stocks when the main North American stock markets are open. What that means is that you can buy and sell shares of companies and ETFs if they appear on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), and the NASDAQ, between the hours of 9:30am…
Read MoreBest High Interest Savings Accounts 2023
The best high interest savings accounts for 2023 combine a mix of high interest rates (getting higher weekly it seems) with elite usability and a wide variety of features. A quick note before we get to your high interest savings accounts comparison: If you don’t need to access your money in the next 6+ months,…
Read MoreScotia iTrade Online Brokerage Review 2023
What is Scotia iTrade? Scotia iTrade launched in 2008, after Scotiabank acquired E*Trade Canada and immediately rebranded it. This purchase was a smart move, effectively doubling the Scotiabank online client base overnight. Scotia iTrade made a name for itself in the active day trader community because of its discounted flat rate commissions for active traders.…
Read MoreTD Direct Investing Review 2023
The TD Direct Investing online discount brokerage is amongst the most popular of Canada’s online discount brokerages. TD has consistently been on the forefront over the last decade as investors have moved away from expensive “full service brokers”, to the much cheaper discount broker model that we see today. As one of Canada’s largest companies…
Read MoreBest Canadian Dollar (CAD) ETFs for U.S Equities
A reader recently emailed me about my thoughts on the best US Dollar USD ETFs vs CAD ETFs when it comes to getting portfolio exposure to the American market. You may already know that I’m a fan of index investing using the best ETFs available. Whether that’s all-in-one ETFs, Canadian dividend ETFs, or in this case,…
Read MoreNational Bank Direct Brokerage Review 2023
NBDB has made changes over the last two years to make their fee structure competitive among other discount brokers, and have now dropped their commission fees altogether for those trading on their online platform. It seems as though they have taken customer feedback to heart and made improvements to make those customers want to stay…
Read MoreInvesting in Canadian Bank Stocks 2023
With rising interest rates and subpar results last year, many folks have asked me if Canadian bank stocks are a good buy right now as we begin 2023. I honestly can’t think of an investment with a lower long-term floor than investing in Canadian banks. Canadian bank stocks are likely undervalued as we enter 2023,…
Read MoreBest Canadian Dividend ETFs for 2023 (And Why We Prefer Dividend Stocks)
Because I’ve been writing about dividend investing for nearly two decades now, I get a lot of inquiries every month about the best Canadian dividend ETFs vs the best dividend stocks in Canada. Obviously Canadians love their tax-efficient dividend income. The consistency of having those dividend payouts hit their accounts allows investors to better control their…
Read MoreThe Best Joint Bank Accounts in Canada 2023
My best joint bank accounts in Canada comparison is consistently updated to include the latest interest rates, fees, and promotions. I have personally opened up a joint bank account with each of the companies below in order to speak firsthand to their attributes. A joint bank account is most commonly associated with couples who want a…
Read MoreBest All-in-One ETFs in Canada 2023
In the past few years, the ever so simple passive investment strategy of choosing from a wide range of ETFs that reflects your investment style has become even easier. A new breed of ETFs, often referred to as ETF portfolios, or all-in-one ETFs, allow investors an easy way to invest, just the way they like…
Read MoreThe Best Online Banks in Canada 2023
Canadian Online Banks have done a great job keeping up with the demands of today’s consumers. I’ve personally used several of the options on our Best Online Banks in Canada for 2023 list, and can speak to how much the entire banking experience has improved in Canada over the last two decades. My updated comparison…
Read MoreQuestrade vs Qtrade in 2023
I’ve been writing about Canadian online brokers on Million Dollar Journey since 2008 and have personally used both Qtrade and Questrade for several years. We also have several writers on staff with accounts at both brokerages, and they assisted with this Qtrade vs Questrade comparison. The deciding factors in choosing Qtrade over Questrade are: 1)…
Read MoreQuestrade Review 2023
Is Questrade Safe & Secure? One of the most common questions that I have gotten in the comments below is: Is investing my money through a Questrade online brokerage account safe? Is Questrade as safe as RBC, TD, CIBC, ScotiaBank, and BMO? – MDJ reader The answer: Yes! Here’s the deal. Off the top Questrade is…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update Dec 2022 ($73.8k in Dividend Income!)
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey December 2022 Financial Freedom Update – the final update of the year! If you would like to follow my whole financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my focus to…
Read MoreBMO Investorline Review 2023
Is BMO Investorline Safe and Trusted? In a word, YES. As one of Canada’s oldest and most trusted companies (founded in 1817) the Bank of Montreal is as safe, trusted, and legit as you can get. InvestorLine has been around longer than the internet – BMO introduced self-directed trading way back in 1988 before moving…
Read MoreUltimate Smith Manoeuvre Guide For Canadians
I’ve been writing about how to start the Smith Manoeuvre and transform your mortgage in a tax deductible loan since 2007. In fact, it was one of the first articles that I ever wrote on MDJ! My Smith Manoeuvre portfolio is still increasing its dividends, and with interest rates going up so drastically in pipe,…
Read MoreBest Canadian Online Brokers 2023
As we celebrate the Holiday Season, it’s time to update our Best Canadian Brokerage Comparison for 2023. When I started MDJ back in 2006, I spent considerable time determining the Best Canadian Trading platform for DIY investors. That commitment has not changed over the last sixteen years, and with several Canadian DIY investors now on our…
Read More45 Best ETFs in Canada – January 2023
Back in 2006 when I began blogging about the best ETFs in Canada (before my favourite Canadian Dividend ETFs and all-in-one ETFs were even around) there was limited selection, and while the fees were a massive improvement on what mutual funds were charging, they were still much higher than today. I’m a bit envious of…
Read MoreSmith Manoeuvre Portfolio – 2022 Update
For those of you just joining us, this is an update (it’s been a while!) on my portfolio that is leveraged with money borrowed from my home equity line of credit (HELOC) – otherwise known as the Smith Manoeuvre. What is the Smith Manoeuvre? The Smith Manoeuvre, in its simplest form, is a leverage investment…
Read MoreTax Efficient Index ETF Portfolio for Non-Registered Account
There may come a point during the year that you max out your registered Canadian investment accounts, or if you are living abroad, there might be certain restrictions on what you can contribute to tax-advantaged accounts. The great news is that no matter what your situation is, you can still open a non-registered tax efficient…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update Oct 2022 Update ($73k in Dividend Income!)
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey Oct 2022 Financial Freedom Update – the third update of the year! If you would like to follow my whole financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my focus to…
Read MoreLow Cost Currency Conversion with DLR/DLR.U ETF
With foreign exchange fees as high as 2.5% for discount online brokers, low-cost currency conversion methods are a great way to keep a little extra money in your portfolio. If you’re dealing with larger trades, those FX fees can really add up! For example, say I wanted to purchase $10,000 worth of Walmart stock with…
Read MoreNorbert’s Gambit – Save Money With USD to CAD Foreign Exchange
If you’re looking to save money on foreign exchange, you’re in luck. There is a simple and effective way to convert your CAD to USD so you can make US stock purchases. It’s called Norbert’s Gambit, and it can save you hundreds of dollars on trading fees. Smart investors know that investing in US stocks…
Read MoreCanadian Undervalued Stocks January 2023
Undervalued stocks in Canada are usually identified as having a market value that is for one reason or another below their true value. The idea is that if you as an investor are able to identify these stocks while their purchase price is still low. Then, someday in the future, when the rest of the…
Read MoreDon’t Miss the 2022 Canadian Financial Summit
It’s that time of the year… the kids are back in their school routine, the world is somewhat back to normal, and for MDJ’s Kyle Prevost – it’s back to the Canadian Financial Summit. Kyle asked me to write something this week as he’s pretty busy putting the final touches on interviews, emails, etc. Click…
Read MoreBest Real Estate Stocks in Canada 2023
I like the idea of owning real estate – but I don’t want the headaches of being a landlord. If that sounds like you, then you basically have two options: Invest in Canadian Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Or Invest in Canadian real estate stocks. Personally, I’m a massive fan of investing in Canadian bank…
Read MoreQtrade Guided Portfolios Review 2023
What is Qtrade Guided Portfolios? (Formerly VirtualWealth) Qtrade Guided Portfolios is the new robo advisor put out by our #1 rated online brokerage company. Much like other robo advisors, the Qtrade Guided Portfolios mission is to: The folks behind Qtrade Guided Portfolios are Aviso Wealth. Aviso is a national financial services company that works with businesses…
Read MoreBest Cannabis Stocks in Canada 2023
In October of 2018, Canada became the first North American country to completely legalize marijuana, opening the doors for the cannabis industry to expand into new territory, and for Canadian cannabis stocks to begin trading on the TSX. While in the US, weed isn’t Federally legal, the majority of states allow the purchase of marijuana…
Read MoreBest Tech Stocks in Canada For 2023
While Canadian technology stocks have been some of the fastest growing stocks on the Toronto Stock Exchange over the last decade (especially during the pandemic), they are still a relatively small part of our investing ecosystem. We have a lot of great Canadian dividend stocks, Canadian bank stocks, Canadian energy stocks, etc. But when it…
Read MoreBest Emerging Market ETFs to Buy in Canada 2023
I have to admit that due to my focus on Canadian dividend stocks, I am guilty of having a bit of an overall home country bias in my portfolio. I’m fine with that, as I really like Canada’s current valuations and long-term prospects. That said, when I want quick diversification, I tend to look for an…
Read MoreBest Pipeline Dividend Stocks In Canada
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Canadian dividend stocks here at MDJ, and while we have given some shine to Canadian energy stocks over the last couple of years, we have always just sort of tossed the Canadian pipeline stocks in alongside those big energy producers. The fact is the Canadian pipeline stocks…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update June 2022 – Q2 Update ($70.5k in Dividend Income!)
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey June 2022 Financial Freedom Update – the second update of the year! If you would like to follow my whole financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my focus to…
Read MoreThe Best Industrial Stocks in Canada For 2023
With the market shifting to defensive mode, Canadian industrial stocks are back in style. Investors are clearly in the mood for solid (boring?) dependable earnings that can keep up with an inflation-heavy environment. While Canadian railroad stocks and Canadian airline stocks are technically considered Canadian industrial stocks, we decided that they needed their own articles. While…
Read MoreInvesting in Canadian Airline Stocks 2023
Now that travel has opened up again, many MDJ readers have been asking us if now is the time to invest in Canadian Airline stocks. Truthfully, we might be the wrong folks to ask about this one. If you take a look at our best Canadian dividend stocks and/or Canadian Dividend Kings articles, you won’t…
Read MoreBest Canadian Chequing Account 2023
Most of us have memories of our parents or grandparents whipping out their chequebooks at the store or at the kitchen table when it was time to pay bills. While we may not need to spend hours a month writing out cheques and balancing our chequebooks, we still need quick access to cash for daily…
Read MoreTop 6 Indexing Options for Your Portfolio in 2023
If you’ve started your research on investing, but still aren’t quite sure how or where to get started, you are not alone. Plenty of almost-investors get stuck at the starting line for reasons like not feeling educated enough, feeling like they don’t have enough money to start investing, or simply feeling unclear on which type…
Read MoreBest Utility Stocks in Canada 2023
There is a reason why so many of Canada’s best utility stocks are also on our overall list of best dividend stocks in Canada: They are natural oligopolies/monopolies, meaning that can pass along increasing costs almost instantly, and have really solid yields for income-seeking investors. This combination makes them a natural fit for Canadian investors…
Read MoreBest Renewable Energy Stocks in Canada
With all of the attention on Canadian energy stocks due to the recent run up in oil prices, many experts are arguing that now is the time to look into Canadian renewable or “green energy” stocks. If you are a longtime MDJ reader, you’ll notice a few crossover companies from our best Canadian dividend stocks…
Read MoreWealthsimple Review 2023
* A Wealthsimple Promo Offer Coupon for You Wealthsimple has provided me with a promotion code for our readers – providing a $50 cash bonus on a $500 min. deposit. This means you don’t pay any management fees for 12 full months as you test the platform out! Try this top Canadian robo advisor. To…
Read MoreInvesting In Gold In Canada 2023
As one might expect in a market pullback (and geopolitical crisis) we’re getting many requests about how to invest in gold in Canada, as well as how to invest in commodities (which we covered not so long ago). The awkward truth is that while this should be gold’s time to shine (see what I did…
Read MoreBest High Yield Canadian Stocks 2023
Given that our best Canadian dividend stocks list is consistently the most popular article on our site, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised at the number of questions we get that go something along the lines of: “Why do you guys like Canadian National Railway so much, there is barely any dividend yield there. Why…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update March 2022 – First Update of the Year ($68,100 in Dividend Income!)
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey March 2022 Financial Freedom Update – the first update of the year! If you would like to follow my whole financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my focus to…
Read MoreIndexed Family Education Fund (RESP) Portfolio Update – 2022 Edition
Welcome to the annual Registered Education Saving Plan (RESP) update where I show transparency on our indexed investment strategy to help pay for our children’s future education costs. Since we’ve been posting about these accounts since my kids were born (my oldest was born in 2008), it shows the power of long-term compounding of a…
Read MoreThe RESP Strategy
An RESP, or Registered Education Savings Plan, is a tax-deferred investment account designed to help pay for a child’s education. RESPs are eligible for government grants (re: Free Money) of up to $7,200 and are a great way to help minimize a young adult’s student loan debt. In this post, we’ll fill you in on…
Read MoreHow To Track Your Net Worth
This post was originally published in early 2009, but brought to the forefront as I believe it’s one of the more important strategies for growing wealth. For those of you who have been following my journey, you’ve probably noticed that I’m a big believer in tracking and managing progress to help achieve desired goals. I…
Read MoreWhen to Buy Dividend Stocks
I wrote my original thoughts on when to buy dividend stocks roughly a decade ago – and with my best dividend stocks in Canada article one of the most popular on the site, I thought it was the perfect time for an update. Dividend investing can mean a couple things. It could include investing for…
Read MoreTop Premium Cash Back Credit Cards in Canada 2023
A premium cashback credit card with an annual fee is a great way to maximize your cashback rewards – especially if you make most of your purchases on credit cards. The best paid cashback credit cards in Canada feature high earn rates and some truly excellent perks – significantly better than Canada’s best no-fee credit…
Read MoreHow Do I Maximize RESP Withdrawals?
With my oldest child turning 11 this year, my mindset and strategy for our family RESP is starting to shift from accumulation and growth to a more balanced portfolio. This has many similarities to retirement planning but on a smaller scale. In your younger years, there is a focus on growth, but as retirement approaches,…
Read MoreTFSA Contribution Room In 2023 + TFSA Rules and Limits
There is a TON of investment advice out there. Some should only be taken into consideration after a thorough investigation and planning. Some – like contributing to a TFSA – is just sound advice that should be acted on quickly. The reason? Two words: tax free. That is not something you hear often, and that’s…
Read MoreShould I buy Whole Life Insurance for my Children?
A reader, Arlene, recently asked a question in my article “investing on behalf of kids” about obtaining “Whole Life Insurance” for their young children. A financial planner suggested that obtaining permanent insurance for their children is a good idea to invest in their future. Here is the question: Hello! A financial planner thinks it’s a good idea…
Read MoreThe Best No-Fee Cashback Credit Cards in Canada 2023
If you’re not using the best free cashback credit cards in Canada, then you’re leaving free money on the table! We launched this no-fee cashback credit card list in 2007 and we update it regularly, so you always know which no-fee cashback cards to consider. You’ll find our best free cashback credit cards in Canada…
Read MoreSimple Low Cost Diversified Index ETF Portfolios 2023
We’ve been writing about low-cost ETFs in Canadian index portfolios since 2008. Below is our 2023 update. Unless you have been living under a rock (which we would actually understand considering the times we are in), you have definitely heard of diversified indexing. Diversified indexing is a popular investment strategy for a lot of reasons.…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update Nov 2021 – Big Dividend Raises Edition
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey November 2021 Financial Freedom Update – Big Dividend Raises Edition! If you would like to follow my whole financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my focus to achieving financial…
Read MoreThe Best Low Cost Ways to Convert CAD to USD
Updated November 2021 to provide additional information in regards to converting large amount of CAD to USD using Currency Brokerages/Money Transfer Comparison Back in late 2014, we wrote about how great it was to be holding US Dollars (USD) due to the declining Canadian dollar (CAD). At the time of that post, it cost $1.13CAD…
Read More5 Ways to Get Your Credit Score and Credit Report for FREE
It’s now easier than ever to get a credit score check in Canada for free! I mean… a credit score check is only really important if you hope to: Get a mortgage Purchase a car Rent an apartment Get a great credit card Qualify for certain types of insurance Even gain specific types of employment…
Read MoreUltimate Options Trading Guide in Canada 2023
As calls and puts have become more popular over the last two years, we’ve been getting more and more emails from Canadians asking if options investing is right for them, and what the best options trading platform in Canada is. Note that if you plan to do more than simply trade options on your DIY…
Read MoreWays to Maximize the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
After filing my income tax return in mid-April (yes, I tend to procrastinate), I noticed on the bottom of the screen the amount that we will receive for the Canada Child Benefit. While we’ve been receiving this benefit since the Trudeau administration has been in power (2016), what really got me thinking is that we’ll…
Read MoreTop No Fee Rewards Credit Cards in Canada
I’ve written about the top free cash back credit cards in Canada before, and even modified my top pick to be Neo Financial in 2021, which is also the overall best credit card in Canada in my opinion. However, there are an abundance of other rewards based credit cards out there that deserve a look.…
Read MoreHow To Pay Off Your Mortgage In 3 Years
In the October 2010 net worth update, I briefly mentioned that I was planning on paying of the mortgage balance this month and I’m happy to say that we officially became mortgage free in 2010! As this is a significant milestone in any financial journey, I thought that it deserved a post all on its…
Read MoreThe Biggest Risk of Early Retirement (FIRE) – Sequence of Returns!
The concept of financial independence/retire early (FIRE) is all the rage in the personal finance space. The idea is to save a large percentage of your income (50% or more), live as frugally as possible, and retire in a short period of time while continuing to live frugally. Sometimes, fortunate young people with higher incomes…
Read MoreBMO SmartFolio Review 2023
I’m a huge fan of robo advisors, and BMO’s robo advisor: SmartFolio is no exception to that. If you’re not familiar with robo advisors the basic idea is that you will determine your overall risk tolerance, and that BMO will set you up with an automated portfolio using big broad index funds that spread your…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update Sept 2021 – Market Highs Edition
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey September 2021 Financial Freedom Update – Market Highs Edition! If you would like to follow my whole financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my focus to achieving financial independence.…
Read More25 Ways to Save Money in Canada
Editor’s Note: This article was originally written by FT back in 2017. Due to its popularity, we have asked FT to update it for 2022 with more relevant advice. As always, we encourage you to comment below and tell us how you save money in your day to day life. Out of all the strategies…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update (Q3) 2021 – Sequence of Returns Risk Edition
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey 2021 (Q3) Financial Freedom Update – the third update of the year! If you would like to follow my whole financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my…
Read MoreHave I Given Up on the Smith Manoeuvre?
Out of many investing topics written about on Million Dollar Journey, the Smith Manoeuvre was one of the first and among the most popular investment strategies discussed. What is the Smith Manoeuvre? But, what is the Smith Manoeuvre and why is it so popular? This investment strategy was named after Frasier Smith, a financial advisor who…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update (Q2) 2021 – Portfolio All-Time High Edition
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey 2021 (Q2) Financial Freedom Update – the first update of the year! If you would like to follow my whole financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update (Q1) 2021 – First Update of the Year
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey 2021 (Q1) Financial Freedom Update – the first update of the year! If you would like to follow my whole financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my…
Read MoreIndexed Family Education Fund (RESP) Portfolio Update – 2021 Edition
Welcome to the annual Registered Education Saving Plan (RESP) update where I show transparency on our indexed investment strategy to help pay for our children’s future education costs. What is an RESP? At a high level, an RESP is an investment account for future post-secondary students and stands for Registered Education Savings Plan. It can…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update (Q4) 2020 – Volatile Stock Market Edition ($61,850 in Dividend Income)!
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey 2020 (Q4) Financial Freedom Update – Volatile Market Edition! If you would like to follow my latest financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter and/or Facebook. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June 2014 (age 35), I have shifted my focus to…
Read MoreMy Favorite Free Personal Finance Apps
Readers often ask what my favourite personal finance apps are. It’s not an easy question to answer, as the apps we choose are highly personalized to our particular needs, goals, habits and more. The good thing is, there are so many apps out there, that anyone can find exactly what they are looking for. But…
Read MoreThe Pros and Cons of the New Aeroplan
The new Aeroplan was just announced and there were a lot of changes. This wasn’t a minor refresh, it’s a complete redesign that will benefit most people, but there’s no denying that some travellers will be disappointed. To give you some context, Air Canada was going to cut ties with Aeroplan (owned by Aimia at…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update (Q3) 2020 – New Market High Edition ($61,050 in Dividend Income)!
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey 2020 (Q3) Financial Freedom Update – New Market High Edition! If you would like to follow my latest financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter or Facebook, and/or you can sign up for the monthly Million Dollar Journey Newsletter. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M…
Read MoreCalculating Your Adjusted Cost Base (ACB)
If you’ve invested in a non-registered portfolio you’ve likely come across the tax-preparation question: How to calculate your adjusted cost base (ACB). It’s certainly a pain in the portfolio, and can be tedious and complicated at times. But it’s a necessary ‘evil’. You need to know your ACB in order to calculate the capital gain…
Read MoreThe Hot Potato Investing Strategy
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know that most of my wealth is in the stock market for the long-term. While there are many short term stock trading strategies, many of these strategies just don’t work out for regular investors. In fact, the initial losses often turn beginner investors away from…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update (Q2) 2020 – V-Shape Recovery Edition ($60,550 in Dividend Income)!
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey 2020 (Q2) Financial Freedom Update – the V-Shape Recovery Edition! If you would like to follow my latest financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter or Facebook, and/or you can sign up for the monthly Million Dollar Journey Newsletter. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M…
Read MoreHow Flow Through Shares Work
One of the more interesting Canadian-specific investment tax strategies available is flow through shares. I’ve written several articles over the years on how flow through shares work, what they are, their associated advantages. As I began to update my knowledge on these unique investment tools, I decided to combine the piecemeal articles that I had…
Read MoreInvesting Taxes: Dividends, Interest & Capital Gains
Are you curious about how investing taxes are calculated on dividends, interest, and capital gains across the various accounts in your portfolio? I am by no means a tax expert, but I do have enough knowledge to give general guidelines on how you can figure out your own investing taxes and prioritize your subsequent investments.…
Read MoreIndexed Family Education Fund (RESP) Portfolio Update – 2020 Edition
During this time of uncertainty, many readers have contacted me for continued portfolio updates. One group in particular – parents – are asking me what I’m doing with my RESPs. What is an RESP? At a high level, an RESP is an investment account for future post-secondary students and stands for Registered Education Savings Plan. …
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update (Q1) 2020 – Bear Market Edition ($59,500 in Dividend Income)!
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey 2020 (Q1) Financial Freedom Update – the Bear Market Edition! If you would like to follow my latest financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter or Facebook, and/or you can sign up for the monthly Million Dollar Journey Newsletter. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M…
Read MoreWill a Mini-Split Heat Pump Save You Money? Our Results After the first Year!
In late 2018, we installed a mini-split heat pump for the purpose of reducing our electricity bill. Around here in the most easterly parts of Canada, most of the houses use electric baseboard heating as the primary source of heating. While baseboard heating is a lower cost option during installation, the operating costs can rack…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update (Q4) – 2019 Year End Update ($55,200 in Dividend Income)!
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey 2019 (Q4) Year-End Financial Freedom Update. If you would like to follow my latest financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter or Facebook, and/or you can sign up for the monthly Million Dollar Journey Newsletter. For those of you new here, since achieving $1M in net worth in June…
Read MoreRunning out of HELOC Space with the Smith Manoeuvre
If you’ve been following the blog for a while, you may have heard about the Smith Manoeuvre. At a high level, it’s a long-term investment strategy for investors with high risk tolerance. Essentially, it’s where an investor borrows against his home (using a HELOC) to invest in the stock market, business, and/or real estate. The plan…
Read MoreFinancial Freedom Update (Q3) – September 2019 – Reaching the Cross Over Point ($53,400 in Dividend Income)!
Welcome to the Million Dollar Journey September 2019 (Q3) Financial Freedom Update – the third update of 2019! If you would like to follow my latest financial journey, you can get my updates sent directly to your email, via Twitter or Facebook, and/or you can sign up for the monthly Million Dollar Journey Newsletter. For those of you new here, since achieving…
Read MoreLate Starting your RESP? Here’s how to Catch UP!
A friend of mine, Gary, recently asked me about registered education savings plans (RESPs) and if it’s too late to get started. Gary’s kids are 14 and 12, and while a bit late in the game, there is still time to take advantage of free government money. What is an RESP? An RESP stands for…
Read MoreIncome Splitting Tax Strategy – Spousal Investment Loan
A couple of years ago, I wrote about income splitting strategies to help reduce family taxes in the scenario that one spouse makes significantly more income than the other. Strategies such as: Contributing to the lower-income spouses TFSA (no attribution rules for TFSA contributions); Maintaining separate bank accounts where the higher income spouse pays for…