About Bits & Bonds

Get to know the author behind Bits & Bonds.

I'm Ali Hamie, a Vancouver-based software engineer, founder, and self-taught personal finance researcher. I built this site to make Canadian money decisions easier to understand and use.

Connect with Ali on LinkedIn Explore the tools

Meet the author

Ali Hamie

I have spent more than 15 years studying and managing money, partly because I enjoy solving problems and partly because Canadian financial rules have apparently decided clarity is optional.

Based in: Vancouver, BC
Finance: 15+ years studying it
Experience: Microsoft → Meta
Founder: Sidekick AI

Get to know me

The short version, one question at a time.

No giant biography. Just the useful parts.

Why Bits & Bonds?

Make the rules useful.

Too many Canadians miss simple opportunities because the rules are confusing and useful answers are buried under fine print. I started Bits & Bonds to explain the important parts, show the math, and help people make informed decisions without needing seventeen browser tabs open.

My experience

Software and systems.

I have worked in software engineering for more than a decade—previously at Microsoft and now at Meta. I am also the founder and CEO of Sidekick AI, a Canadian startup building practical AI tools for small businesses.

The views on Bits & Bonds are mine and do not represent my current or former employers.

How I think

Question, check, test.

I am self-taught and have spent more than 15 years studying and managing personal finances. I bring an engineering mindset to every topic: question assumptions, check the primary source, test the calculation, look for the simpler answer, and admit when the result depends on the person.

I do not hold financial certifications and I am not a financial adviser. This site shares educational information, not individualized advice.

Why the tools?

I wanted them too.

Many calculators began as tools I wanted to use myself. If I have to build the same spreadsheet twice, there is a good chance it should become a calculator. I publish them because other Canadians may find them useful too.

Favourite idea

Start smaller than your excuses.

You do not need to be wealthy to start building wealth.

Starting with $25 gives you something valuable: a habit and time for compounding to work.

Read my favourite article

Is it free?

Yes. Completely.

Bits & Bonds has no display ads and does not sell personal information. It uses limited analytics to understand what readers find useful, and it only collects an email address when someone voluntarily subscribes.

Have feedback, found a correction, or want to suggest a tool? Send me a note on LinkedIn.