Are you a financial expert?
No. My background is in Electrical Engineering and all my financial knowledge is self-taught or learnt in the school of hard knocks.
Are you trying to sell something?
No. I am not selling financial advice or mutual funds or insurance. The ads on the website helps me to defray some of the expenses of running this website. I have no control over what ads are displayed. I maintain complete editorial control over the posts and do not accept any monetary or other favours for writing a post. When I accept a personal finance book for review, I clearly note that it was sent by the author or publisher.
Do you earn money through this website?
Yes. However, I would like to point out that our main sources of income are our day job. So far, the website is largely a labour of love.
Why do you write this blog?
I used to record down my thoughts and observations and actions about credit cards, loans, investing etc. in a spiral-bound notebook. When I discovered blogging, I thought some of this stuff might be interesting and perhaps, even useful, to other people. Also, from reader comments and fellow bloggers, I learn a lot as well.
Why are you interested in money matters?
I lost a lot of money when the technology bubble burst and resolved that I would teach myself financial knowledge (as I explained in this blog post). It is just a case of fool me once…
25 responses so far ↓
1 Andrew // Feb 16, 2006 at 9:57 am
I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your Blog. I am currently in the process of making a major overhaul to my financial situation and approach (hopefully a positive one). Your column has provided very good food for thought that will be considered in my future plans.
2 Canadian Capitalist // Feb 16, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Andrew: Thank you for your kind words. Good luck with your finances.
3 Loki // Mar 30, 2006 at 1:00 pm
Great blog! I am in Ottawa too.
4 Doug // May 29, 2006 at 5:39 am
Great blog! Well written and well thought out.
5 Aaron // Mar 11, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Thanks for the daily info. I’ve been reading your blog for about a week and have gleaned a lot. Thanks.
6 Sam // Mar 27, 2007 at 2:18 pm
hi,
i am a new to be investor.i go through your website often.i was planning to open an account with
E*Trade or similar discount brokerage firm..but i read in another website http://www.dividendgrowth.ca that it’s risky & advise us to to stick to bank brokerages..so money & stock might be safe..even if fees are expensive… i would greatly value your advice…
7 MillionDollarJourney.com // Apr 29, 2007 at 5:24 pm
CC, you truly are the “captain” of Canadian Personal Finance blogs. Keep up the great work!
FT
8 Krystal // Jun 2, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Hi CC - I’ve been reading this site for a while now, and just wanted to let you know that I love it! Your blog has given me a lot of inspiration and ideas when it comes to managing my own personal finance. I just recently got out of debt, and I’m looking forward to reading your blog and learning more about investing and making my money work for me.
Thanks, and keep it up!
9 mel // Jul 27, 2007 at 9:04 am
hi Andrew,
accidentally come here, like what you write, real and practical advice, informative reads, keep up with the good work, with more people like you around, who needs expensive financial planners…
good luck to everyone!
10 Robert Ross // Aug 30, 2007 at 1:41 pm
I discovered this blog by accident and I am happy I did. Very informative. I will definately putting a link to it on my desktop.
11 Robert Ross // Aug 30, 2007 at 1:42 pm
(Grammar update) I discovered this blog by accident and I am happy I did. Very informative. I will definately be putting a link to it on my desktop.
12 Mals // Jan 9, 2008 at 2:08 pm
A great, big hello from Calgary! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog. I try to read all the information I can find on investing in order to educate myself. No one cares more about my financial well being than I do.
13 Just a Fan... // Feb 9, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Want to say thanks for all the information in your blog…over the past year I have done a lot of thinking as to better managing my finances, made changes to my spending habist, cut up some credit cards, refinanced some debt to lower payments and started a savings account with Achieva Financial, which provides me a great rate with no fees and the best GIC rate available for my RSP contribution — first one in three years!
14 Ed L // Feb 23, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Just completed my taxes using “Ufile” basic edition. It cost me 20 bucks plus tax at Future Shop. It is a piece of cake and imports data from Quick Tax. I tried a sample return on one of the web based systems and was very nervous when it knew my S.I.N. was incorrect and I could not delete information I entered. I sent them a message and they deleted my entries.
15 KM // Feb 25, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Any advice on moving my mutual funds to another company. The current one made too many screwups as of late. What kind of penalty can I expect? Thanks in advance.
16 KM // Feb 25, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Any advice on what I can expect if I move my mutual funds from my present investor? (ie) penalties, etc. Thanks in advance.
17 Sam // Mar 1, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Earned but unused RSP contribution room may be carried forward 1991 onwards. If I have 40K in unused contribution room, but have already made the maximum 2007 contribution of 19K, how would any extra RSP contributions be taxed….at my marginal tax rate for 2007? If so I would assume I should apply any unused contribution room over several years rather than a lump sum so as to maximize return percentage?
18 Carpe Mundis // Apr 8, 2008 at 1:01 pm
I own some REITS and I am considering getting plain income trusts, such as Jazz.un, but now I am unclear as to the difference in tax treatments. Could you elucidate this confusing subject?
19 Betty Fiebig // May 7, 2008 at 10:47 am
I am looking for information on May 6th paper page A6. Could you tell me how I can find it?
20 Dipak // May 14, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Hi all,
I am new to this world and trying to put my feet in. I would like to start with Mutual fund and I am seems to be bit nervous or confused to start with. At the same time I just come across this web blog and it has raised some hope in my heart and mind.
I have couple of question to start with.
1. I just would like to start with mutual funds. Which is the best/chip web broker to have an account?
2. which is the best book to read about mutual funds?
Thanks in advance to all.
21 rob // Jun 6, 2008 at 10:37 am
Reading your blog for the first time today–well done!
What is your opinion of the “couch potato portfolio”?
22 Assetologist // Jun 7, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I have followed your blog for a few months and found the inspiration to actively pursue my own financial blog.
Together we have amazing collective knowledge and potential.
So far, my own focus has been on personal philosophy and ideas but the ’softcore’ financial science is soon to follow. My hope is to build a community and others are encouraged to submit posts.
Good Luck.
23 Dorth // Jul 8, 2008 at 10:30 am
Hello,
I appreciate the work you put into educating the Canadian masses. I am, however, new to dealing with personal finances (well investing actually). Many of the terms used on your site are beyond my understanding at this point. What do you suggest the first steps should be for someone just starting out like me.
Thanks
24 Canadian Capitalist // Jul 8, 2008 at 11:16 am
Dorth:
Check out the Recommended Reading page. The books in that list should give you an excellent grounding in investing. Also, feel free to ask questions or for clarifications in the comments section for any post. Investing isn’t rocket science, it’s quite simple actually and with a little bit of effort, you can easily pick up the basics.
25 JSB // Aug 14, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Have you any thoughts on preferreds, either individually or in ETFs? The yield is attractive to we retired income seekers and the tax treatment is nice, too. Would they be a nice complement to stocks whose dividends are skinny, but offer potential long term appreciation to preserve our hard-earned capital?
I am new to you blog and enjoy it immensely
cheers,
JSB
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