Category

Finance

The Canadian financial system is confusing by design. We un-confuse it.

The RRSP Home Buyers' Plan: How to Raid Your Retirement Savings (Legally) to Buy a Home

The RRSP Home Buyers' Plan: How to Raid Your Retirement Savings (Legally) to Buy a Home

The RRSP Home Buyers' Plan lets you pull up to $60,000 tax-free from your RRSP for a first home purchase, with 15 years to pay it back. Here is how to use it properly.

By Ali Hamie·
Wealthsimple vs Questrade 2026: Which Is Better for Canadians?
InvestingBanking

Wealthsimple vs Questrade 2026: Which Is Better for Canadians?

Both platforms now offer free trades. But Wealthsimple charges 1.5% every time money crosses the CAD/USD border — on the buy and the sell. Here's what that actually costs you.

By Ali Hamie·
FHSA vs RRSP vs TFSA: The Complete Canadian Account Comparison
Beginner GuideRRSP

FHSA vs RRSP vs TFSA: The Complete Canadian Account Comparison

TFSA, RRSP, or FHSA? Here's the honest comparison: what each account actually does, who should open what, and the stacking move that can unlock $200k toward a down payment.

By Ali Hamie·
Best ETFs for Canadians in 2026
ETFsInvesting

Best ETFs for Canadians in 2026

Buy XEQT. Done. Article over. Fine, here's the elaboration you asked for: why all-in-one ETFs beat mutual funds by six figures, and why you're overthinking this.

By Ali Hamie·
How Much Should You Have Saved by 30, 35, and 40 in Canada?
InvestingBeginner Guide

How Much Should You Have Saved by 30, 35, and 40 in Canada?

Most 30-year-old Canadians have saved about $22,000. The benchmark says you should have 1x your salary. Here's what the numbers actually mean and what to do if you're behind.

By Ali Hamie·
How to Maximize Both Your TFSA and FHSA at the Same Time
Beginner GuideRRSP

How to Maximize Both Your TFSA and FHSA at the Same Time

You don't have to choose between your TFSA and FHSA. Here's how to fund both at the same time, why the FHSA should get the first dollar, and the 15-year deadline most people miss.

By Ali Hamie·
TFSA Over-Contribution Penalty: What Happens and How to Fix It
FHSABeginner Guide

TFSA Over-Contribution Penalty: What Happens and How to Fix It

Over-contributed to your TFSA? The penalty is 1% per month. Here's exactly how to fix it, how to request a CRA waiver, and how to make sure it never happens again.

By Ali Hamie·
2026 RRSP Contribution Limit: What You Need to Know
RRSPBeginner Guide

2026 RRSP Contribution Limit: What You Need to Know

The 2026 RRSP contribution limit is $33,810. Here's what that actually means for you, how to calculate your personal room, and whether you should max it out this year.

By Ali Hamie·
TFSA or FHSA: Which One Should You Open First?

TFSA or FHSA: Which One Should You Open First?

The TFSA and FHSA look similar but they are different tools for different jobs. If you qualify for both, you should have both. The question is not which one. It is which one first.

By Ali Hamie·
You Don't Need to Make Good Money to Start Investing. You Need $25.
InvestingETFsBeginner GuideTFSA

You Don't Need to Make Good Money to Start Investing. You Need $25.

The biggest lie in Canadian personal finance is that investing is for people who have money to spare. Fractional shares, zero commissions, and one ETF have made $25 a paycheck a legitimate wealth-building strategy. Here is the math.

By Ali Hamie·
Why Is Your Mutual Fund Quietly Stealing From You?
InvestingETFsOpinion PieceBanking

Why Is Your Mutual Fund Quietly Stealing From You?

Canada has some of the highest mutual fund fees in the world. It is not an accident. It is a system that pays your advisor to keep you in expensive funds. Here is how it works and what to do about it.

By Ali Hamie·
RRSP or TFSA: Which Do You Fill First?
RRSPTFSAInvestingBeginner Guide

RRSP or TFSA: Which Do You Fill First?

Everyone says 'it depends.' Here is what it actually depends on, and the exact income threshold that determines your answer.

By Ali Hamie·
What Should I Actually Buy Inside My TFSA?
TFSAInvestingETFsBeginner Guide

What Should I Actually Buy Inside My TFSA?

Most Canadians have a TFSA. Most Canadians are leaving it in a savings account earning almost nothing. Here is the one thing to buy instead, and the math on why it matters.

By Ali Hamie·
You Should Open an FHSA Even If You're Never Buying a House. Here's Why.
FHSAInvestingLearning

You Should Open an FHSA Even If You're Never Buying a House. Here's Why.

Most Canadians think the FHSA is only useful if you're saving for a home. That assumption is costing them thousands. Here's how the FHSA wins whether you buy a house or not.

By Ali Hamie·
TFSA is the worst naming decision in Canadian finance
TFSALearningOpinion Piece

TFSA is the worst naming decision in Canadian finance

Why TFSA should be changed to Tax Free Investment Account

By Ali Hamie·