Since the inception of this blog, I've received numerous emails from readers asking where to put larger deposits. Most know about CDIC (Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation) and how it protects most accounts up to $100,000, but what about amounts greater than $100,000? What do you do then? What exactly happens to your money if a bank or brokerage goes bankrupt? Since I haven't written about them yet, lets take a look at the two major account insurances in Canada, CDIC and CPIF. Canada D...| Million Dollar Journey
After writing a deep dive article on whether the 4% safe withdrawal rate still works for retirement at various ages, I received a lot of questions basically asking: “Ok, so 4% is a good rule of thumb, but when I actually go to withdraw money from my various investment accounts, to put into my chequing account & high interest savings account in order to pay for day-to-day expenses, what is the best way to avoid taxes?” Upon reading many of these types of questions, I realized that I wasn...| Million Dollar Journey
Editor's note: This review was originally written by FT back in 2014. Back then, he concluded this card is one of the best rewards card in Canada. We now set out to examine its status in 2024. The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite is Canada’s highest awarded cash back credit card. Our review will illustrate why the card has attained its elite status as the Moneysense and CreditCardGenius Best Overall Cash Back Card, as well as a few potential drawbacks and limitations. You can also check out ou...| Million Dollar Journey
Most Canadians never stop to consider when low risk investments are the most appropriate use of savings versus when higher-risk long-term investments are the better route. The truth is that most Canadians choose their investment by “gut feel.” You likely don’t need me to tell you, that’s not an ideal process. When choosing between higher risk and low risk investments, it’s important to consider your personal goals and risk tolerance. Personally, I think that if you need your money i...| Million Dollar Journey
What Is Motive Financial? Motive Financial, which is under the Canadian Western Bank, is one of Canada’s best known online banks. They offer chequing, savings, RRSP, TFSA, and GIC accounts. Since Motive Financial has no brick and mortar physical locations, they are able to cut down on overhead costs and offer clients some pretty great deals including allowing clients to earn interest on their chequing accounts. Is Motive Financial Safe & Legit? Safety is always a concern when it comes to ...| Million Dollar Journey
What is Scotiabank? Scotiabank, officially known as the Bank of Nova Scotia, is one of Canada’s Big Five banks. Established in Halifax in 1832, it has grown to be considered as Canada’s most international bank, serving over 25 million customers worldwide. It is one of Canada’s oldest and most trusted banks with a full range of banking products. In this Scotiabank review, I’m going to focus on Scotiabank’s Ultimate Package and Preferred Package, which offer the most value to custom...| Million Dollar Journey
With more and more options available, choosing the best chequing account in Canada isn’t as easy as you might assume. When was the last time you wrote a cheque anyways? You’re probably not pulling out a cheque book at the grocery store or using it to settle monthly bills. I’d reckon you’re paying most bills these days via e-transfer, with a credit card, or with a mobile banking app. While we no longer spend hours each month writing cheques or balancing our checkbooks, the need for...| Million Dollar Journey
When I first started writing about Canadian personal finance twenty years ago, my list of the best ETFs in Canada could fit on a napkin. There were no Canadian all-in-one ETFs, no catchy tickers, and definitely no slick marketing campaigns. ETFs were basically niche tools used by hardcore index investors and a handful of spreadsheet-loving DIY types. Fast-forward to today, and the landscape has completely changed. While I still hold a solid chunk of Canadian dividend stocks in my portfolio, l...| Million Dollar Journey
If you prefer to do all your banking from the comfort of your home and don’t mind not having access to face-to-face help if required, then a bank that offers high interest savings accounts is a good choice for you. But not all online banks are created equal. Simplii Financial (as it has been known since 2017) has been around for a number of years, but how does it stack up to other online banks like EQ and Tangerine? In this Simplii Financial review, we are sharing our take on this online ...| Million Dollar Journey
Now that second quarter earnings are in, I felt like it was an optimal time to update our 2024 Canadian bank stocks article. Ever since I started this website back in 2008, Canadian bank stocks have been reader favourites. The slow-steady-dependable nature of these companies makes them a natural fit for dividend lovers and Canadian retirees, and that’s why several of the banks occupy prominent spots on our Best Canadian Dividend Stocks List. Interest rates can’t go down fast enough for Ca...| Million Dollar Journey
Is now the time to lock in Canada’s Best GIC Rates? With the Bank of Canada suggesting a potential rate cuts in 2025, and with Trump’s tariffs knocking on the door, the best GIC rates in Canada may be hovering at their peak -which could mean now’s a great time to snag something above 3.3%. A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) is essentially the Canadian counterpart to an American CD (Certificate of Deposit), offering a stable way to grow your money. GICs shine when you’re aiming ...| Million Dollar Journey
EQ Bank Account Options and Interest Rates Account TypeInterest RateBest ForDaily High Interest Account1.25%* (Plus 2.75% if you direct deposit your pay)People who want the highest consistent interest rate in Canada + free e-transfers + super cheap international money conversion + FREE BANKING + USD Accounts for Canadians EQ GICs2.60% - 3.60%Folks looking to get a high ultra-safe return EQ TFSA Account3.60%The highest guaranteed rate of return in a TFSA in Canada.EQ RRSP Account3.60%The hig...| Million Dollar Journey
Picking the best Canadian Dividend Stocks for 2025 isn’t an easy task! After such a stellar year in North American equities in 2025, there is much more room to move down than up. That said, my dividend stocks portfolio is all about long-term cash-flowing companies with large financial moats to protect them. Each month I take a look at the stocks that I highlighted at the beginning of the year, and I focus on the following key dividend stock comparison points: Dividend Yield Dividend Growth ...| Million Dollar Journey