The Best Online Banks in Canada 2023

best online banks

Ever since I started writing about Canadian online banks nearly two decades ago, the industry has grown in fits and starts. Just when it looked like real challengers were going to take market share from our “Big 6” Banks, they would get bought out or decide to fold. Thankfully, over the last few years, EQ Bank…

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Canadian Dividend Kings & Aristocrats – April 2023

Dividend Kings List

Investing in Dividend Kings (aka Dividend Aristocrats) has come back into style again in as we approach the mid-way point of 2023. After a decade of cheap money-fuelled growth for unprofitable tech stocks the market has now clearly shifted toward the free cash flow darlings that I prefer. Click here to jump directly to my 2023…

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Questrade Review 2023

Questrade Logo

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…

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Best Canadian Online Brokers 2023

best brokers canada

As we head into summer and Canadian investors continue to deal with struggling markets, using our Best Canadian Brokerage Comparison for 2023 to save on fees is more important than ever. I’ve been using and writing about the Best Canadian Trading Platforms for DIY investors for 17 years now.  While it’s much cheaper and easier…

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45 Best ETFs in Canada – April 2023

best canadian etf

I remember nearly two decades ago when I started writing about the best ETFs in Canada, and the list was pretty darn short! There was no such thing as a Canadian Dividend ETF or a Canadian all-in-one ETF.   Today, I recommend the vast majority of Canadians use ETFs because of how low their annual fees have…

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Best Canadian Dividend Stocks – May 2023

best canadian dividend stocks

As we update our list of the Best Canadian Dividend Stocks for May 2023, we continue to focus on four key areas: With the first quarter of the year behind us, we’ve seen many of the world’s developed markets shoot out of the gates – and then come back down to Earth. Many economists are predicting…

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Best Canadian Chequing Account 2023

chequing account canada

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…

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Best Short Term Investments in Canada 2023

fast short investments canada

As we enter the summer months in 2023 the best short term investments in Canada continue to be GICs.  You can still find excellent short term GIC deals for 5%! Of course GICs aren’t the only safe, short term investment option in Canada. If you can’t stomach putting your money away for a full year to…

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Smith Manoeuvre Calculator/Spreadsheet

Smith Manoeuvre Calculator Spreadsheet

By now, most people here know that I’m interested in the Smith Manoeuvre. If you are new to this concept, you can read more about them in my article “Mastering The Smith Manoeuvre“. Originally, I discovered the Smith Manoeuvre, through a great thread on RedFlagDeals.com that talks exclusively about the strategy. This includes the tax…

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46 Ways to Save Money in Canada

How To Save Money

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 2023 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. If you are looking for…

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BMO Investorline Review 2023

Bmo Investorline Logo

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…

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Questrade vs Qtrade in 2023

Questrade Vs Qtrade

Back in 2008 when I started writing about Canadian online brokers, the Qtrade vs Questrade battle was already a major talking point amongst DIY investors.  Fifteen years later, the only thing that has changed is that these two independent online brokers have extended their lead over Canada’s big bank brokerages. In 2023 I can say…

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Ultimate Smith Manoeuvre Guide For Canadians

Smith Manoeuvre

When I started writing about the Smith Manoeuvre as a way to turn your mortgage into a tax deductible loan 16 years ago, I didn’t think it would become one of the most widely read articles on the website and generate hundreds of comments! Even though I started my Smith Manoeuvre at one of the…

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Vanguard vs. iShares All-in-One ETFs

vanguard vs ishares etfs

All-in-one ETFs are giving robo advisors a run for their money with their ease of use and low fees. All-in-one ETFs contain multiple ETFs, which means in one single purchase, you are essentially getting an entire well-balanced and hugely diversified portfolio at the tap of a button.  There are many Canadian all-in-one ETFs to choose…

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Investing in Canadian Bank Stocks 2023

Investing In Canadian Bank Stocks

March 2023 has certainly been an interesting time to be investing in Canadian bank stocks! Given the quarterly earnings that came out a couple of weeks ago, and then the recent headlines about bank failures, investors have gotten understandably more and more nervous about holding bank stocks as a pillar of their portfolios. From everything…

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Best High Interest Savings Accounts 2023

Top Canadian High Interest Savings Accounts

The best high interest savings accounts for 2023 combine a mix of high interest rates with elite usability and a wide variety of features, and many are offered by the best online banks in Canada. If you’re not planning to access your savings for 6 months or more, you’d be better off checking out our…

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The Best REIT ETFs in Canada For 2023

reit etfs

A Real Estate Trust (REIT) ETF is the most straightforward way to invest in real estate without becoming a landlord yourself or spending time researching the 30+ individual REITs on the Toronto Stock Exchange.  This article will give you all the details about REIT ETFs: Top REIT ETFs in Canada: Quick Comparison Name Ticker Number…

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The Best Joint Bank Accounts in Canada 2023

joint account canada

The best joint bank accounts in Canada offer a secure online experience, easy sign-up, low fees, and excellent value.  We consistently updated our list to include the latest interest rates, fees, and promotions so you can get up-to-date information fast, make comparisons easily, and find the account that works best for you. When you first…

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Investing on Behalf of my Kids

Investing On Behalf Of My Kids

One of the most rewarding things about becoming financially knowledgeable and secure is being able to pass that knowledge on to your own children. When they begin to make, save and invest their own money, you will be there to guide them. If you want to take it a step further, you can start investing…

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Wealthsimple Review 2023

Wealthsimple Logo

What is Wealthsimple? Wealthsimple was founded in 2014 by Michael Catchen, Brett Huneycutt and Rudy Adler. Today it has grown into one of Canada’s most popular robo service providers. Wealthsimple currently has more than $15 Billion worth of assets under management, and a dedicated team of experienced financial and technology experts. Wealthsimple maintains an office…

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Top 10 Wealthiest Canadians in 2023

wealthiest canadians

It’s been over a decade since we first wrote about the richest Canadians, and we thought it was a good time to update the list! While some have remained on the top 10 wealthiest Canadian list for years, some have not been able to maintain that title. Others have been able to retain their top…

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Simple Low Cost Diversified Index ETF Portfolios 2023

low cost etfs portfolio

We’ve been writing about low-cost ETFs in Canadian index portfolios since 2008. Below is our 2023 update. ETFs, or exchange-traded funds, first entered the Canadian market over a decade ago. From day one, they impressed us as an excellent tool to help you build a low-cost, diversified portfolio.  As time has passed, ETF providers have…

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Top Blue Chip Stocks in Canada for 2023

blue chip stocks canada

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…

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How to Become a Millionaire in Canada

canadian millionaire money

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,…

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Best Canadian Robo Advisors 2023

best robo advisors canada

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…

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Best Low Risk Investments in Canada Right Now (2023)

investment growth graph

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…

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Dividend Stocks Rock Review 2023

Dsr Logo

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…

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How to Build a Dividend Growth Portfolio

build dividend 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…

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Canadian Stock Market vs U.S. Stock Market

Canadian Vs Us Stock Market Graph

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…

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CIBC Investor’s Edge Broker Review 2023

cibc investor edge new logo

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…

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Pre and Post Market Trading in Canada

after hours trading

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…

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Scotia iTrade Online Brokerage Review 2023

Scotia Itrade Logo

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.…

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TD Direct Investing Review 2023

Td Direct Investing Logo

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…

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Best Canadian Dollar (CAD) ETFs for U.S Equities

us equity etf

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,…

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National Bank Direct Brokerage Review 2023

National Bank Direct Brokerage Review

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…

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Best Canadian Dividend ETFs for 2023 (And Why We Prefer Dividend Stocks)

Best Canadian Dividend Etfs

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…

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Best All-in-One ETFs in Canada 2023

best all in one etfs

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…

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Financial Freedom Update Dec 2022 ($73.8k in Dividend Income!)

financial freedom update december 2022

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…

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Smith Manoeuvre Portfolio – 2022 Update

Using The Smith Manoeuvre

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…

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Financial Freedom Update Oct 2022 Update ($73k in Dividend Income!)

milliondollarjourney dividend income update oct2022

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…

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Low Cost Currency Conversion with DLR/DLR.U ETF

currency conversion 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…

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Canadian Undervalued Stocks January 2023

undervalued stocks canada

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…

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Don’t Miss the 2022 Canadian Financial Summit

canadian financial summit 2022

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…

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Best Real Estate Stocks in Canada 2023

real estate stocks canada

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…

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Qtrade Guided Portfolios Review 2023

qtrade guided portfolios logo

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…

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Best Cannabis Stocks in Canada 2023

canadian weed stocks

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…

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Best Tech Stocks in Canada For 2023

canadian tech stocks

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…

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Best Emerging Market ETFs to Buy in Canada 2023

emerging markets etfs

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…

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Best Pipeline Dividend Stocks In Canada

canadian pipeline stocks

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…

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Financial Freedom Update June 2022 – Q2 Update ($70.5k in Dividend Income!)

financial update june2022 graph

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…

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The Best Industrial Stocks in Canada For 2023

industrial stocks canada

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…

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Investing in Canadian Airline Stocks 2023

air canada logo2

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…

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Top 6 Indexing Options for Your Portfolio in 2023

how to build index portfolio

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…

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Best Utility Stocks in Canada 2023

canadian utility stocks

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…

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Best Renewable Energy Stocks in Canada

renewabale energy stocks chart

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…

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Investing In Gold In Canada 2023

invest in gold

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…

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Best High Yield Canadian Stocks 2023

best yield stocks canada

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…

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Financial Freedom Update March 2022 – First Update of the Year ($68,100 in Dividend Income!)

milliondollarjourney dividend income 1

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…

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The RESP Strategy

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…

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How To Track Your Net Worth

how to track 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…

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When to Buy Dividend Stocks

best time to buy 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…

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Top Premium Cash Back Credit Cards in Canada 2023

Premium Cash Back Credit Cards

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…

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How Do I Maximize RESP Withdrawals?

How 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,…

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Should I buy Whole Life Insurance for my Children?

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…

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Financial Freedom Update Nov 2021 – Big Dividend Raises Edition

financial update nov 2021

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…

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The Best Low Cost Ways to Convert CAD to USD

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…

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Ultimate Options Trading Guide in Canada 2023

Options Trading

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…

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Ways to Maximize the Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

maximize child benefits

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…

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Top No Fee Rewards Credit Cards in Canada

best free rewards cards 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.…

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How To Pay Off Your Mortgage In 3 Years

Mortgage Free

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…

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BMO SmartFolio Review 2023

bmo smartfolio logo

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…

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Financial Freedom Update Sept 2021 – Market Highs Edition

chart 19

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.…

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Have I Given Up on the Smith Manoeuvre?

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…

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Financial Freedom Update (Q4) 2020 – Volatile Stock Market Edition ($61,850 in Dividend Income)!

Financial Freedom Update (q4) 2020

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…

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My Favorite Free Personal Finance Apps

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…

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The Pros and Cons of the New Aeroplan

The 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…

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Financial 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…

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Calculating Your Adjusted Cost Base (ACB)

Calculating Your Adjusted Cost Base

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…

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The Hot Potato Investing Strategy

Hot Potato Investing

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…

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Financial 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…

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How Flow Through Shares Work

How 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…

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Investing Taxes: Dividends, Interest & Capital Gains

Canadian Investing Taxes

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.…

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