Helping Canadians with Personal Finance Since 2006 Learn how to save money, build an investment portfolio, and become financially independent - from a middle-class Canadian who has actually done it! Get Started Index Investing Dividend Investing Banking Robo Advisor Retirement Portfolio Smith Manoeuvre Tax Minimization Reviews Credit Cards All Categories As Featured On Toronto Star Forbes CBC The Globe and Mail Global The Financial Post Most Recent Articles all Articles Best 2025 Broker Promo...| Million Dollar Journey
Any Canadian who’s traveled to (or ordered something from) the US knows about converting CAD to USD. It’s never fun to watch every dollar of your hard-earned money suddenly turn to $0.75 (or less!), and with additional foreign exchange fees, it can really add up. And exchange rates aren’t going anywhere. The cost of one US dollar has remained above $1.25 CAD since 2018. At the time of writing (mid-2023), $1 USD costs $1.34 CAD. The bright side is that anyone already holding USD or loo...| Million Dollar Journey
Once you have taken a hard look in the mirror and decided what your target asset allocation should be (with some help if you need it), it’s time to look at just how you should go about actually getting money from your paycheque into an indexed investment. An index fund is a general term that covers a few different specific types of investments. When we talk about an investing “index” - that’s just code for “all of the assets in a given market”. That given market could be all o...| Million Dollar Journey
An overview of all the tax changes introduced in the recent budget and how they'll affect everyday Canadians.| Million Dollar Journey
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 ETF portfolio. If you are living and earning an income abroad, or have maxed out your TFSA and RRSP, you may not be able to contribute to an RRSP or a TFSA. Read on to ...| Million Dollar Journey
One of the main decisions that every Canadian retiree has to make is in regards to at what age they want to convert their RRSP to a RRIF. Consequently, questions such as: What is the maximum age to convert my RRSP to a RRIF? Is there a penalty for not converting my RRSP to a RRIF before 71? Do I pay tax when I rollover my RRSP to RRIF? Are some of the most common ones that we get in regards to retirement planning. Ultimately the RRSP vs RRIF debate comes down to the age of you and your partn...| Million Dollar Journey
If you’re considering buying Royal Bank stock in 2025, then you need to be aware of not only the company’s individual performance, but also RBC’s current valuation, and the general prospects for Canadian banking as well. For more information on comparable investments check out our article on the Best Canadian Bank Stocks, and to decide if you’d rather go with a passive investing strategy rather than picking individual stocks, take a look at the Best ETFs in Canada. WANT TO BUY RBC SHA...| Million Dollar Journey
If you're considering investing in BCE stock in 2025, evaluating the company's performance, dividend growth, and the latest developments in the telecommunications industry can help you make your decision. Being informed about BCE's recent advancements is crucial in determining whether it is a wise investment choice, and comparing it with its fellow Canadian telecommunication competitors over at Telus and Rogers. If you're looking to diversify your portfolio with more dividend stocks, I recomm...| Million Dollar Journey
What is Neo Financial? Neo Financial is a Canadian fintech company offering a variety of products, including the Neo Everyday Account. It was founded in 2019 by veterans of the tech industry Kris Read and SkiptheDishes cofounders Jeff Adamson and Andrew Chau. Since the company’s inception, Neo’s mission has been “to reinvent how Canadians spend, save, and grow their money – all together, in one place.” Neo Financial aims to find new ways to streamline their offerings and make Canadi...| Million Dollar Journey
This was originally a guest post by credit card enthusiast and regular reader - Elbyron, written back in 2015. Now, it's the time to re-evaluate this card and see if it's still the best cash back card in Canada. Our no-fee Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card Review takes a detailed look at the ins and outs of this highly praised and much-awarded no-fee cashback credit card. Flexibility is the name of the game for Tangerine’s credit cards, as both cards offer users a unique opportunity to ch...| Million Dollar Journey
When digital bank Tangerine launched their no-fee World Mastercard in 2019, they announced that they were taking their award-winning Money-Back Credit Card “to the next level.” Our Tangerine World Mastercard review will break down the features, benefits, and drawbacks of this enhanced cash-back card to help you make an informed decision. The Tangerine World Mastercard has all the features of their original no-fee Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, but with additional perks and a higher m...| Million Dollar Journey
Not long ago, the Best Joint Bank Account in Canada lists were basically just the Big Five playing musical chairs. RBC, TD, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC, and maybe Tangerine getting an honourable mention. But let’s be honest: not much separated them, and none of them were offering anything remotely exciting. That all changed when EQ Bank came along and completely changed the game. With automatic high interest rates, $0 account fees, and a refreshingly easy digital experience, EQ Bank has taken wha...| Million Dollar Journey
Can I really go work in Qatar and not pay Canadian income taxes as an expat? This was one of my first thoughts when I started looking into teaching abroad. I mean, when you make a decision to move to the desert, adventure has to be the primary consideration, but let’s be honest here: If you care enough to be reading an article on MDJ, then you know that money and taxes are always a consideration. From August 2019 to January 2020 my wife’s and my evenings often consisted of the following...| Million Dollar Journey
What is portfolio rebalancing, and should you do it? If so, then how and when? We cover everything you need to know.| Million Dollar Journey
At any given time, there are numerous bonus offers and bank account promo codes available. But how do you decide which Canadian bank promotions are worth signing up for? To help, we've put together an updated list of the top offers. These promotions include deals from both online banks, as well as traditional brick-and-mortar banks. They cover standalone savings and chequing accounts, as well as “hybrid” accounts, and the offers range from no-fee accounts to premium packages. For a quick ...| Million Dollar Journey
While our EQ Bank Review details why it is our top pick for Canada’s best online bank and high interest savings account, Tangerine is our runner-up in more than one category. The Canadian online banking scene really boils down to a two-horse race between EQ and Tangerine. And seeing as Tangerine is our former top-recommended bank in Canada, we’re clearly fans of both. In this review we’ll give you the full details about Tangerine’s most popular offerings. We’ll also show you how...| Million Dollar Journey
Imagine racing across campus to make it to your early morning lecture when, suddenly, your coffee spills all over the front of your hoodie—the cleanest one you could find. You've got a lab report due, papers to write, midterms coming up fast, and you’re exhausted. Between paying rent, tuition, and buying next semester’s textbooks, your wallet has never been stretched so thin. You need a bank account that is flexible and accessible, but who has the time to research bank accounts? And w...| Million Dollar Journey
Is a recession coming and what should you do? How to prepare for a Canadian recession.| Million Dollar Journey
The recent 2025 Qtrade Promo Offer Code is one of the main reasons we have them at the top of Best Canadian Online Broker rankings. Every year the DIY brokerages put their best foot forward during the first few months of the year because they know it’s when Canadians pay the most attention to their finances. This is the first year I’ve seen an offer quite this good. (Last’s year’s Qtrade promo was also solid - but this one tops it for the folks with under $250,000 to invest.) To lock ...| Million Dollar Journey
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 can do this and retire in their 30's, and in some cases, their late 20's! In any case, the biggest concern with retiring early is running out of money. The earlier th...| Million Dollar Journey
What is RBC Direct Investing? The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) was one of the first banks in the country to pioneer DIY investing for the everyday investor. With RBC Direct Investing, you can trade Canadian and US stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and bonds. You can fund and manage your registered investment accounts (TFSA, RRSP, RRIF, RESP and more) and access a variety of investing tools to help you make informed decisions. If you already have an account with RBC, then opening an RBC Direct Investin...| Million Dollar Journey
Moving from the accumulation stage of my professional career, to withdrawing investments in early retirement was more difficult than I would have predicted a few years ago. For those who haven’t been following me since I started writing Million Dollar Journey back in 2005, I have slowly-but-surely detailed my rise from a very average net worth, to building an investment portfolio that allowed me to reach complete financial independence. Here are some of the key articles that I’ve written ...| Million Dollar Journey
If you’re not using the best free cashback credit cards in Canada, then you’re missing out on free money! We published our no-fee cashback credit card list back in 2007 and we’ve been updating it regularly ever since, so you always know which no-fee cashback cards to consider. We start our list with a quick chart comparing Canada’s best free cashback credit cards for easy reference. Then we follow up with some mini reviews so you get the full picture of what each card has to offer. We...| Million Dollar Journey
Canada’s online banks are innovating and stealing market share faster than most people thought possible a couple of years ago. According to the Canadian Bankers Association, 78% of Canadians now do most of their banking online - and that number just keeps climbing. This shift has proven to be a lot more than a short-term trend or pandemic blip. The move to digital banking appears to be permanent, and it’s not surprising when you think about it. For most people, managing money online is qu...| Million Dollar Journey
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 stocks, and that gives me enough exposure to Canadian real estate - which is why I have three of the banks amongst my picks for best Canadian dividend stocks. Canadian Real Estat...| Million Dollar Journey
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 the Toronto Stock Exchange isn’t exactly teeming with great industrial stocks - aside from the railway d...| Million Dollar Journey
When I first wrote about the Smith Manoeuvre (18 years ago!) - a method to transform your mortgage into a tax-deductible loan - I never imagined it would become one of our most popular topics, racking up hundreds of comments. Even though I kicked off my own Smith Manoeuvre at practically the worst time in the last half-century (back in 2007), it still turned out pretty well for me. As we move into 2025, it’s becoming clear that high mortgages might be coming down a bit, the days of ultra-lo...| Million Dollar Journey
We've been writing about low-cost ETFs in Canadian index portfolios since 2008. Below is our 2025 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 created tools that make index investing easier than ever. All-in-one ETFs, or “portfolio ETFs” mean that you’ll never have to worry about rebalancing you...| Million Dollar Journey
Are you curious about how investing taxes are calculated on capital gains, dividends, and interest in Canada? I’m not a tax expert, but with tax loss harvesting season coming out, I figured it might be a good time to review some of the basics between how Canadian investment returns are taxed in your RRSP, TFSA, and non-registered accounts. Investing Taxes in an RRSP Let’s start with RRSPs. As you probably know, RRSP contributions and investment growth are taxable only upon withdrawal. A...| Million Dollar Journey
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
Many people love investing in dividend stocks for their predictable income stream. One of our most popular articles is our best Canadian dividend stocks list. Many investors are looking in particular for the best high yield Canadian stocks, so each year we provide the updated list below. You may notice we haven’t picked the stocks with the absolute highest dividend payouts and may be curious why we wouldn’t simply load up on those. Well, different investors have different goals. Some in...| Million Dollar Journey
What is RBC InvestEase? Some people prefer to stick with the familiar and trusted, especially when it comes to choosing a robo advisor - and if this sounds like you, RBC InvestEase could be a good fit. Offered by one of Canada’s most well-known banks, RBC InvestEase offers clients the ability to dip their toes in passive investing while sticking with a tried and true financial name. In this RBC InvestEase review, we’re taking a look at how it compares to the best robo advisors in Canada s...| 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
RRSP Deadline/Contribution Limit For those of you coming here through Google search looking for the RRSP deadline for tax year 2018, the deadline is: March 1, 2019. Basically 60 days into the new year. There is an abundance of choice out there for RRSP accounts, but here is a review of the best online brokers for RRSPs. If you're not sure if RRSPs are right for you, check out my article on 'How to maximize an RRSP?'. Also note that your RRSP contribution limit should be on last years Not...| Million Dollar Journey
This is a column by our resident real estate expert Rachelle. I actually live and work in the Toronto area, in Ontario and this post is about different kinds of properties you can invest in and the benefits and pitfalls of developing a portfolio of properties that is not residential. Law Residential Property The law in Ontario for residential property is not kind to investors. Landlords are not protected and a lot of waiting is required before being able to get non-paying tenants out. Twice I...| Million Dollar Journey
Options are one of the best ways to capitalize on market trends and enhance profitability - if you get your prediction right. While buying options has a limited downside on a per contract basis, it is also one of the “best” ways to lose your money in the market - or as WSJ put it “More Men are Addicted to the Crack Cocaine of the Stock Market”. Options trading is not for the faint of heart, and shouldn’t be used by novice traders. Honestly, the average Canadian investor has no need ...| Million Dollar Journey
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 I was 16-year-old. Since then, I evolved into a mix of ETFs and dividend growth investing strategies. This was the beginning of a long investing jou...| Million Dollar Journey
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 investment risk out over thousands of companies and bonds. For example, the average Canadian 45-year old investor might fit pretty well into a portfolio that is 60% equities and 40% b...| Million Dollar Journey
What is Wealthsimple Trade? Wealthsimple Trade is an online brokerage platform that allows you to build and manage your own investment portfolio. It’s one part of Wealthsimple, a company with 1.5 million customers and $8.4 billion in assets under management. Wealthsimple has been around since 2014 and Wealthsimple Trade launched in 2019. Unlike Wealthsimple Invest and robo-advisors like it, Wealthsimple Trade is a 100% active investing platform. Investors with Wealthsimple Trade research, c...| Million Dollar Journey
Canadians have fantastic options when it comes to registered accounts. Registered accounts are beneficial for many reasons, the main reason being that they are tax advantaged. Tax advantage accounts are those that allow you to grow your money tax-free or allow you to defer paying taxes until later. However, all registered accounts are not created equal, and before you invest, you want to read our detailed TFSA vs RRSP guide to better understand what these two registered accounts can do for yo...| Million Dollar Journey
What is TD Direct Investing Brokerage? The TD Directing Investing online brokerage is a solid option, even though it doesn’t quite make it to the top of my list of Canada’s best online discount brokerages. As Canada’s second biggest bank (and one of our largest companies, period) it’s probably not a surprise that the TD trading platform has evolved over the years and consistently gotten better. The problem (and it’s a problem not unique to TD Direct Investing, as the other Big Bank ...| Million Dollar Journey
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 as well as attract new ones. In 2019 they were ranked dead last, 8 out of 8, by J.D. Power, but merely one year later in 2020, they moved up considerably to 4th o...| Million Dollar Journey
Once the new disruptive force on the online discount brokerage scene, Robinhood’s “gamification” of commission-free stock trading changed the way millions of young people thought about the stock market. Robinhood’s commission-free trades, as well as their sleek and easy-to-use interface, appealed to first-time investors. However, the company has been vilified since it went public, perhaps most notably the star-laden film “Dumb Money” in 2023. Unfortunately for Robinhood investor...| Million Dollar Journey
I’ve been writing about the “Dogs of the TSX” Canadian investing strategy for about twelve years now. I can’t claim that I was the creator of the idea though. In fact, no Canadian can really lay claim to the “Dogs’” principles. The Dogs of the TSX can trace its roots back to the “Dogs of the Dow” strategy in the USA. The first place that I saw the idea being applied to Canada was when MoneySaver magazine started writing about the BTTSX or Beating the TSX Dividend Stock Strat...| Million Dollar Journey
An RESP, or Registered Education Savings Plan, is a registered tax-deferred investment account designed to help pay for a child’s education. In other words, RESPs are the best possible way to pay for your child’s eventual college and/or university bills! RESPs are eligible for government grants (re: Free Money) of up to $7,200. In this post, we’ll fill you in on all the basics of RESPs, from how (and where) to set up an RESP, and how to maximize your RESP contributions. What is an RES...| Million Dollar Journey
With the government having launched the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) in 2023, more first-time home buyers should really be looking to take advantage of the tax-free benefits of the FHSA in 2024. The idea is obviously to make it easier for Canadians to buy their first home. In addition to the more straightforward benefits, there are a couple of unique ways that you can use your FHSA account. It’s also important to get the details right (especially when combining your FHSA with a partner...| Million Dollar Journey
When I initially wrote this article about building RRSP wealth in your 30s, 40s, and 50s, my goal was to create an easy visual that illustrates just how much you would have to begin saving today if you wanted to be a millionaire “tomorrow” (when you retired). Five years later, the data stands up pretty well. I’m happy to say that my personal RRSP is well on the way to million-dollar status! Now, the more relevant question might be, do you actually need a million dollar RRSP to retire? W...| Million Dollar Journey
What is Wealthsimple? Wealthsimple was founded back in 2014 by Michael Katchen, Brett Huneycutt and Rudy Adler. I gotta say that I really liked the company more in its first few years than in its current iteration. For the first five years of its existence, Wealthsimple was solely focused on the product that is now known as Wealthsimple Managed Investing. Some people called this a “robo advisor,” others called it a “automated wealth manager” – whatever you wanted to call it, Wealths...| Million Dollar Journey
Why Justwealth? As I’ve updated my Justwealth review over the years, they have risen from a solid-but-not-elite option to the best robo advisor in Canada. How did they do it? By focusing on what matters. Frankly, while Justwealth has made great strides in the way their website looks, they still aren’t the most aesthetically-appealing option out there. They aren’t taking your money and paying a giant team of coders to make and update some beautiful app or clever TV marketing campaign. ...| Million Dollar Journey
Oaken Financial is a Canadian digital bank offering very competitive rates. We review and compare it to other options.| Million Dollar Journey
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 comes to tech stocks in Canada, they only make up about 5-6% of our publicly traded stocks. (That’s according to the FTSE Canada All-Cap Index.) By co...| Million Dollar Journey
If you have been like many investors and sticking with an easy, passive all-in-one ETF, but looking to try out something a bit more active, investing in commodities in Canada could be just the thing to scratch that itch. Commodities are consumer products such as energy, metals and agriculture tend to fare particularly well in times of high inflation. As inflation rates continue to rise worldwide, we can expect commodities to continue to surpass stock returns. So, now is the perfect time to co...| Million Dollar Journey
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 why we want to help you start contributing to your TFSA as quickly as possible to achieve maximum money saving and investment earning results. If you turned 18 on or before 2009...| Million Dollar Journey
For income-oriented Canadian investors the choice between a Bond (or Bond ETF), a GIC, or a high interest savings account has become more important than ever. With interest rates at historic lows (for a little while longer anyway) choosing the best option for the “safe, low risk investing” part of our portfolio can make a big difference! Read on to find our picks for the best Bond ETF, the best GIC rates in Canada, and our pick for top Canadian high interest savings account. Best Cana...| Million Dollar Journey
We’ve had hundreds of Canadians email us or comment, “Should I buy Bitcoin?” throughout the latter part of 2020, and it has only increased in 2021 as the Canadian Bitcoin ETFs have come online. The truth is that I’m not a Bitcoin (BTC) guy. Yes, I know what it is. Yes I’ve heard Bitcoin enthusiasts tell me why I’m wrong. I know that it’s worth $1.2 Trillion or so at this point. No, I still don’t want to buy bitcoin. It could go to $1Million and I will still sleep so...| Million Dollar Journey
The best stock trading apps in Canada have really improved since I started Million Dollar Journey seventeen years ago. New fintech companies have really pushed the old school banks to lower their fees, improve their usability, get more efficient at bringing on new customers, and just creating a better mobile stock investing experience. While I’m still a big advocate of using a desktop for DIY investing, (hence my focus on that platform for my best online brokers in Canada comparison) I have...| 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
EQ Notice is a new product not offered by any other Canadian bank - a hybrid between a HISA and a GIC. We review it and let you know if it's safe & good to use.| Million Dollar Journey
I am a cautious investor given that I am in the semi-retirement stage. While I would acknowledge that growth is important for a retiree or near-retiree, I want most of our equity positions to be in the quality or high-quality camp so that I can sleep easy at night. That’s why a portfolio that invests in wide moat stocks such as grocers, railways, and utilities - plus a couple of semi-wide moat stocks - are a great fit (and one that I have a lot of confidence in). This low-risk mix has off...| Million Dollar Journey
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 often have very little - if any - competition, which is a great thing if you are one of their investors. On top of having a large market capitalization, and the ...| 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
Long-term investing is one of the most powerful ways to grow your wealth. As the name implies, long-term investing means that an investor buys an asset with the intent to hold it for some time. The time frame can be years or even decades. Over time, long-term investing has the potential to produce excellent returns due to the magic of compound interest. While this strategy might not appeal to everyone, especially those with a high risk tolerance, it has historically proven to be an effectiv...| Million Dollar Journey
The best Canadian high interest savings accounts for 2024 combine a mix of high interest rates, with no-fee banking, and elite user-friendly platforms. One thing to note right off the top: If your savings goal is more than 6 months in the future, you should likely be checking out our Best GIC Rates in Canada Comparison instead of using a high interest savings account. That said, our top HISAs are an excellent short term investment option when it comes to saving for a trip, storing an emergenc...| Million Dollar Journey
For many DIY investors the Wealthsimple vs Questrade comparison comes down to fees - but there are several other points of comparison that are worth considering given how important choosing your trading platform is. While both Questrade and Wealthsimple are both included amongst my personal rankings of the best Canadian online brokers, there are some major differences between the two platforms. Quick Note: It’s important to understand right from the beginning that Questrade and Wealthsimple...| Million Dollar Journey
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 behaviors and stay focused on the long-term. What the dividend ETFs vs individual stocks decision ultimately boils down to for mos...| Million Dollar Journey
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: What they are and how they diversify your portfolio How they’re different from Real Estate Trusts (REITs) How to recognize good REIT ETFs Which Canadian REIT ETFs are the best picks for 2024 Top REIT ETFs in Canada: Quick...| Million Dollar Journey
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 of investment to choose. When it comes to investing, the best time to start is now, and index investing is the perfect way to begin. It’s simple, easy to manage,...| Million Dollar Journey
Because I’ve written a lot about the Best Canadian ETFs and the top dividend ETFs, I tend to get a lot of questions and comments asking me about the MER and taxes on ETFs that hold equities from other countries. Obviously when you’re asking those types of in-depth questions you already understand the value of index investing, and instant diversification. Personally, I like to balance my love of Canadian dividend stocks, with non-Canadian ETFs to get super-convenient international exposure...| Million Dollar Journey
Want to get paid a tax-free salary while working in a place where you don’t need to own a jacket or winter boots? Here’s the nuts-and-bolts behind how my wife and I are enjoying deduction-free salaries, and watching our tax-free investment portfolios grow, while living in a world-class city. If you’re a longtime reader of MDJ, then you might have been following along as two teachers decided to completely uproot their life in the middle of a pandemic. Since I began writing about our Qa...| Million Dollar Journey
Given the realities of skyrocketing interest rates it’s no wonder that interest in Canada’s Best Cash ETFs, high interest savings account (HISA ETFs), and money market ETFs has significantly increased as well. While Cash ETFs aren’t exactly the same thing as money market ETFs, the two are very similar. The terms high interest savings account ETF and Cash ETF on the other hand, mean exactly the same thing. While cash ETFs are a solid investment (more on that below), you really need to c...| Million Dollar Journey
Dividend earning stocks are appealing for a number of reasons. They can help you earn passive income, are generally more stable in a volatile market, and are a great hedge against inflation. If you are thinking about investing in Canadian telecom dividend stocks, now might be the right time. Canadian Telecom companies have historically been a great choice when it comes to dependable dividends. They might not seem as exciting as some of the other options out there, but with all of us increasin...| Million Dollar Journey
Investing in Canadian REITs can help investors include real estate investments in their portfolios without radically changing their way of life. Sure, you can buy a property and become a landlord, but if that’s not your bag (or if you don’t have that kind of time, energy, and, let’s face it, cash), you can invest in Canadian REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and gain exposure to the real estate market in bite-sized chunks. Canadian REITs are fairly easy to invest in, given that they...| Million Dollar Journey
The two best Canadian railway stocks are part of an exclusive club in Canada. According to Morningstar Canada, in 2023 there were only five Canadian wide moat stocks. The list is short: RBC, TD, Enbridge, and then our two Canadian railway dividend all-stars: Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and Canadian National Railway (CNR). The Morningstar wide moat list heading into 2024 includes RBC, TD Bank, Waste Connections and Canadian National Railway. I would certainly suggest that when you look at ...| Million Dollar Journey
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 looking for inflation hedge stocks. Some people consider Canadian utility stocks “boring” compared to high volatility “get rich/poor qu...| Million Dollar Journey
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 - often described as “mid-stream” due to their place in the supply chain - actually offer superior dividend cash flow relative to their energy producer cousins. Their busine...| Million Dollar Journey
Investing in Canada’s best energy stocks have been a key part of my investing strategy for some time now. A lot of people don’t remember this, but it wasn’t so long ago (August 2020) that a lot of folks were asking if Canada’s energy dividends were in trouble? Of course, that was before energy prices and energy stocks dominated the headlines for the next couple of years. At the time, Canadian oil prices were about $30 a barrel and energy dividends were under a lot of pressure due to...| Million Dollar Journey
Canada’s best robo advisors are an excellent investing solution for the many folks who are intimidated by the thought of buying and selling shares on their own - but who don’t want to pay the outrageous mutual fund fees that come with the traditional investments recommended by banks and credit unions. There is incredible value in automatically taking a piece of your paycheque every month and automatically turning it into a diversified investment portfolio. Way too many of us hesitate to g...| Million Dollar Journey
You’d think it’d be a relatively easy quest to answer the question: How much will a Canadian spend in retirement? When I set out to create the first retirement course for Canadians looking to retire in the next 25 years (or in the early stages of retirement) I figured that determining how much the average Canadians spent in retirement would be pretty straightforward. You can check out what that course has to offer by clicking here. I also knew that it was quite important to get this infor...| Million Dollar Journey
The best free stock trading apps in Canada can help you cut fees to the bone, and DIY invest yourself to a substantial nest egg. That said, there is no such thing as a truly free stock trading in Canada. We’ll go into detail about what “free” really means when it comes to investing in Canada, and how to compare the various DIY investing platforms in Canada. Since trading apps like Robinhood came onto the scene, DIY investment has given investors control over how they invest, and how m...| Million Dollar Journey
As one of the Best ETFs in Canada, it made sense to take a deeper dive into one of my favourites with an in-depth VEQT ETF Review. VanguarD VEQT ETF The Vanguard All Equity ETF Portfolio is one of the best deals going in Canadian personal finance. A super cheap, super efficient way to get instant global diversification. VEQT ETF Key Facts: MER: 0.24% Account Eligibility: RRSP, TFSA, RRIF, RESP, DPSP, RDSP Assets Under Management: $4.29 Billion Median Market Cap: $87.8 Billion Date Creat...| Million Dollar Journey
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 over the long term. I use this strategy for: my spousal RRSP; the international portion of my RRSP; and, the education fund (RESP) that I set up for my two kids. Divid...| Million Dollar Journey
The concept of a safe withdrawal rate (and the 4% rule) is a key planning tool for Canadians of all ages. After all, if you don’t have a general withdrawal plan, how can you know how much you need to save in the first place? If you have been reading MDJ for years, you already have an idea of how to use a Canadian online broker account to DIY-invest your way to a solid nest egg. Now you’re planning for retirement (whether it’s 20+ years away or next year) and you’re wondering how to ...| Million Dollar Journey
You likely already know that investing in an RRSP is one of the best, most tax efficient ways to save for retirement. The good news is that if you or your common-law partner or spouse have unequal incomes, you can open and contribute to a spousal RRSP account. In doing so, you can maximize the benefits of an RRSP account for you and your spouse, no matter if one of you is not earning an income or earning much less. Read on to learn more about how a spousal RRSP account works, what the tax i...| Million Dollar Journey
I recently received an email from a reader with a bright financial future. They have a maxed out TFSA and has recently maxed out her RRSP as well. Here’s a snippet of the email below (edited for brevity). First of all, thank you for sharing your wisdom and financial journey. I love reading your blog and I learn so much from it! I was wondering if you could give some advice on where to put my money after maxing out my RRSP and TFSA contributions. I saw on MDJ that you like all-in-one ET...| Million Dollar Journey
Most Canadians know the Canada Pension Plan as a government account they pay money into every month when they are working, and then when they retire, CPP means a cheque or automated deposit that arrives every month. Sounds simple enough right? Well… There are many layers to CPP! It’s one of those topics in Canadian personal finance where you might be just fine with the broad outline for now, and then come back to you when you need specific details. When I first set out to write about...| Million Dollar Journey
Should you worry about re-working your whole portfolio around the idea of choosing the best Canadian inflation stocks? Probably not. Of course that’s easier said than done as we proceed through stubborn inflation trends in 2023. When we started 2022, inflation was only being mumbled about by a very small cohort of market experts (shout out to Larry Summers). We then proceeded to see central banks fall further and further behind the inflation curve, before finally realizing that they had...| Million Dollar Journey
Canada’s all-in-one ETFs (also called portfolio ETFs) have been the single most important investment product innovation since I’ve started writing about this stuff nearly two decades ago. The Vanguard, iShares, and BMO all-in-one ETFs are the perfect marriage of index investing strategy, convenience, asset allocation math, and behavioural safeguards. These ETFs - which are actually a collection of smaller ETFs - are so diverse that they actually include several of the Best ETFs in Canada,...| Million Dollar Journey
Investing in Canadian Dividend Kings (sometimes known as Dividend Aristocrats) tends to come back into fashion when bond yields and GIC rates start to go down. With safer assets generating so little income, dependable dividend payers begin to look more and more attractive. Of course, staying committed to dividends can be a challenge when stocks like Nvidia are soaring. The real test for any dividend investor is sticking to the plan through thick and thin. Click here to jump directly to my 202...| Million Dollar Journey
It is no secret that the Canadian stock market is not very well diversified by sector. Canada is largely financial, energy and materials, with all of that other stuff in between. By investing in Canadian retail stocks, investors can add some much-needed diversification. Canadian retail stocks can also help investors profit during times of economic strength and certain types of retail stocks can offer a nice hedge against periods of slow growth or recessions. A certain segment of Canadian ...| Million Dollar Journey
The cost of transferring money internationally to a bank account abroad – or just exchanging one currency for another – is likely to be higher than you think. The true cost of an international transfer from Canada can be shockingly high for those who don't understand how those type of fees are structured (as the markup is a hidden fee, banks don't clearly show it to unknowing customers). For that, many people are mistaking the flat fees of an international wire, which vary between $15-$50...| Million Dollar Journey
Stocktrades.ca's ETF insight tool review - is it worth the price & What can it help you with.| Million Dollar Journey
The best short term investments in Canada continue to reward GIC customers, as well as those interested in the new EQ Notice Account. It’s tough to beat a zero-risk guaranteed 3.65%+ return on your cash! 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 make use of a GIC, then Canada’s best high interest savings accounts are where you would want to look. So, what makes a short term investment d...| 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
We review and compare Horizon's Total Return ETFs. Are Swap-Based ETFs a good investment?| Million Dollar Journey
How and when to pay yourself through your business. Are dividends better than a salary? Should you use income splitting, are pensions worth it and more.| Million Dollar Journey
Detailed guide on CCPC taxation - learn whether you should incorporate your business or not, and how much tax would you pay.| Million Dollar Journey
When looking for the best financial advisors in Canada (or best financial planners in Canada) you’re going to run into a lot of slick salespeople who are really good at using confusing language and scaring you into the financial products that pay them best. Canada’s mutual funds and insurance products are amongst the most expensive in the world, and there is a massive amount of money to be made by selling them to you - even if they’re a really bad fit for your situation. Many people thi...| Million Dollar Journey
Income splitting is a tax-saving strategy that divides a stream of income between family members (usually two spouses). The goal is to apportion as much of the higher-earning family member’s income to other family members, in an effort to get that higher-earning spouse into a lower tax bracket. Some economists and policy wonks have made the argument that income taxation should be applied to the family unit as a whole, and thus negate the need for fancy income splitting accounting altogether...| Million Dollar Journey