Welcome to the Globe and Mail Personal Finance Reader. I’m Rob Carrick, personal finance columnist at The Globe, and each week I compile a list of articles, blog postings and websites that represent the best of what the online world has to offer on money-related subjects.
Savvy financial types like to say there’s no such thing as RRSP season for them because they make regular contributions though the year. But it’s quite clear that interest in investing matters here in Canada peaks in January and February, which is when so many people make contributions to their registered retirement savings plan. Check out the list of most read stories on globeandmail.com, or the most viewed videos these days. Financial stuff ranks high, no matter where you look.
Accordingly, this edition of the Reader focuses on RRSPs. We cover basic stuff like contribution limits and deadlines, and advanced topics like borrowing to top up your unused contribution room and the benefits of RRSPs versus tax-free savings accounts.
Also included are some wide-ranging tips for saving money, lots of investing analysis and, for all the romantics out there, a roundup of personal finance advice related to Valentine’s Day.
Found something on the Internet that your fellow investors might enjoy? Talk to me at rcarrick@globeandmail.com
BTW: I’m one of those people who contributes to an RRSP on a regular basis (weekly, actually). Same goes for my wife’s RRSP and the RESP we have for our two boys. Trust me, putting this stuff on auto-pilot is the way to go.
From The Globe and Mail and Globe Investor
Thinking of moving to the U.S. or Canada? Cross-border financial adviser and author Terry Ritchie took your questions in a live online discussion.
Unlock locked-in money for greater flexibility Tim Cestnick tells seniors how they can work with the maximum withdrawal limit on their pension savings
Five common RRSP pitfalls From our RRSP special website, how holding your mortgage in an RRSP is just one of the things to avoid this investing season
It's not the mortgages, it's the borrowers A one-size-fits all tweak to lending rules isn't the answer; the industry needs to focus on ability to pay, says Rob Carrick
Beware the pitfalls of a rental property Some tips for homeowners and buyers from our personal finance blogger Chaya Cooperberg
Must Reads From Around the Web
For busy folks, a five-minute guide to RRSPs.
Nuts and bolts stuff like this year’s contribution limit and deadline.
A comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of using RRSPs, TFSAs, registered education savings plans and non-registered taxable accounts.
A smart tax guy – CIBC’s Jamie Golombeck – has a go at the question of whether it’s better to contribute to an RRSP or a TFSA.
The Globe’s 2010 RRSP hub is full of stuff to help you build your retirement savings, including a list of 12 good mutual funds and exchange-traded funds.
The importance of choosing the right beneficiary for your RRSP.
Financially foolish – that’s how this blogger describes borrowing money to contribute to an RRSP.
A fresh take on the RRSP mistakes to avoid. Example: trying to get advice at this time of year, when investment advisers are crazy busy.
My latest guide to the fees charged by online brokers for all types of registered accounts.
100 Ways To Save
The claim here is that you can put all these ideas together and save $1,000 in one day.
Hear more on saving in my video interview with David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber
The Real Estate File
The Wall Street Journal investigates sightings of a bubble in Canada’s real estate market.
Fees paid to real estate agents are a hot topic right now thanks to the case that the federal Competition Bureau is pursuing against the Canadian Real Estate Association over the multiple listing service. Here’s an interesting take on what motivates agents – is it getting the best price, or selling a home quickly?
Investor-ville
The legendary hedge fund manager George Soros warns that gold is the ultimate bubble.
10 U.S. companies that could deliver big dividend growth in 2010
Eight stocks the father of value investing, Benjamin Graham, might like. Value investing is all about finding under-appreciated stocks with the potential to rise in price.
A tidy rundown on what people need to know about the risks posed by the investments they own.
How Depressing
Economic forecaster Harry Dent sees a depression coming and thinks the 2008 stock market plunge was just a warm-up.
Financial author and former MP Garth Turner sees hard times ahead, too, and his new book Money Road is a survival guide.
Sorry to be the doom merchant, but here’s a look at some similarities between 2010 and 1929 (a bad year).
Can’t Buy Me Love
A Valentine’s Day-themed roundup of personal finance blog musings.
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