13 Mar

Canadian Employment Gains Strong in February

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

    Today’s StatsCanada Labour Force Survey for February was a mixed bag and shows the dramatic effect of surging immigration. Canadian employment rose by a much stronger-than-expected 41,000, dominated by a 71,000 rise in full-time jobs. The employment rate–the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who are employed–fell a tick to 61.5%. This […]

Read More
6 Mar

Rates Held Steady But Cut Still Anticipated Mid-Year

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

Today, the Bank of Canada held the overnight rate at 5% for the fifth consecutive meeting and pledged to continue normalizing the Bank’s balance sheet. Policymakers remain concerned about risks to the outlook for inflation. The latest data show that CPI inflation fell to 2.9% in January, but year-over-year and three-month measures of core inflation […]

Read More
29 Feb

Canadian Inflation Falls to 2.9%, Boosting Rate Cut Prospects

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

  The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.9% year-over-year in January, down sharply from December’s 3.4% reading. The most significant contributor to the deceleration was a 4% decline in y/y gasoline prices, compared to a 1.4% rise the month before. Excluding gasoline, headline CPI slowed to 3.2% y/y, down from 3.5% in December. Headline inflation […]

Read More
7 Feb

Estate Planning: Are Those You Care About Covered?

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

  “New Year, new you” may be a cliché, but a new year really can get us thinking about where we are now and where we want to go. When it comes to your personal goals, a review of your finances and estate might be close to the top of your list. A little advance […]

Read More
31 Jan

Leap to Action With a Simple RSP-Mortgage Strategy in 2024

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

    Given it’s a leap year, the deadline to contribute to your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) for 2023 is technically extended by one day as the deadline lands on February 29th, 2024.  For those who have both a mortgage and who contribute to Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RSPs), the two combined offer a […]

Read More
26 Jan

The Bank of Canada Holds Rates Steady and Forecasts a Soft Landing

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

  The Bank of Canada held the overnight rate at 5% for the fourth consecutive meeting but provided an outlook suggesting that monetary easing will begin by mid-year. The Bank forecasts a soft landing for the Canadian economy, with inflation falling to 2.5% by the end of this year. While some economists predict a recession, […]

Read More
18 Jan

Downsizing and An Alternative

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

      Many Canadians consider downsizing during their retirement years. Once their children have left the nest, the choice seems obvious: relocate to a smaller residence or a more affordable town and capitalize on the price difference. For many retirees, the funds from the sale of their home can significantly impact their overall lifestyle […]

Read More
10 Jan

Cozy Up! Eight Steps to Winterize Your Home

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

  We Canadians are no strangers to the chill of the winter season. Double-checking your list of home-winterizing to-do’s could help you save on bills, prevent future repair costs, and be more comfortable all winter long.  Here are eight items to keep on that cold-weather list to button up each winter: 1) Inspect Your Fireplace: […]

Read More
14 Dec

Why Look Around At Mortgage Renewal Time?

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

  The end of your mortgage term brings opportunities you might not be aware of.  Yes, signing to renew your mortgage with your existing lender is easy, typically requiring just a signature.   And applying to switch your mortgage does entail 1) completing a new mortgage application and 2) providing all the required documents to verify […]

Read More
8 Dec

Bank of Canada More Neutral and Holding Rates Steady

General

Posted by: Karli Shih

  It was widely expected that the Bank of Canada would maintain its key policy rate at 5% for the third consecutive time. It will continue to sell government securities (quantitative tightening) to normalize its balance sheet. Market participants weighed and measured each word of the BoC press release and assessed that the Bank took […]

Read More