Author: Oskar Malone

Legendary investor Warren Buffett set his sights on Canadian companies in 2024 — and captured the attention of investors after securing a sizeable stake in Canadian-based insurance provider, Chubb (NYSE:CB).

Known for his strategic value investments, Buffett’s move hints at some promising opportunities within the Canadian market.

For Canadian investors, there is one simple but important question that must be answered: How can you capitalize on these opportunities?

Power move: Open a direct trading brokerage account

To jump on these investment opportunities, consider opening a direct trading brokerage account.

Platforms like QTrade offer an easy-to-navigate and cost-effective way to trade stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other securities. Opening an account is easy and provides you with online access to your account in as little as a day. Consistently rated as a top brokerage in Canada, QTrade offering free buying and selling of more than 100 commission-free ETFs, along with exceptional customer service and elite investor research tools.

Ready to trade? Open an account with QTrade and get access to:

• Commission-free ETFs – QTrade charges no buying or selling fees on hundreds of ETFs and a low-commission rate of $6.95 per trade on stocks and other ETFs.
• Comprehensive tools – Utilize research, market insights, and advanced trading features.
• Big sign-up bonus – Get $150 or more as a sign-up bonus and up to $2,000 cash back on new accounts. Conditions apply.

Open your QTrade account now and start trading with confidence. Open an acccount before March 31, 2025 and get $150 or more as a sign-up bonus and up to $2,000 cash back on new accounts. Conditions apply.

Invest with confidence

Platforms like CIBC Investor’s Edge offer an easy-to-navigate and cost-effective way to trade stocks, ETFs, and other securities, while providing comprehensive tools and education to new and experienced investors.

Ready to Trade? Open an account with CIBC Investor’s Edge and get access to:

• Low fees – CIBC Investor’s Edge charges as little as $4.95 per stock or ETF trade and no-fee trading for mutual funds.
• Comprehensive tools – Utilize research, market insights, and advanced trading features.
• Market opportunities – Make direct trades in real-time and stay ahead of market shifts.

Open your CIBC Investor’s Edge account now and start trading with confidence. Open an acccount before March 31, 2025 and get $200 or more cash back plus 100 free trades when you use promo code EDGE2425.

Keep more earnings with commission-free trades

Keep more of your hard-earned investment gains using a commission-free trading platform, like TD Easy Trade. As a mobile investing platform, TD Easy Trade allows new and experienced investors to trade stocks and ETFs easily and without commissions — so you can build and grow your portfolio easily and reach your financial goals effortlessly.

TD Easy Trade offers:

• Invest at your own pace, with no minimums – Get started and invest as much or as little as you want or set up recurring deposits to slowly contribute to your account and grow your investment savings.
• Cash back bonus – For a limited time, new and existing clients get $50 cash when transferring in $500 or more to a new or existing account today. Conditions apply

Open a TD Easy Trade account For a limited time, new and existing clients are eligible to get $50 cash when transferring in $500 or more to a new or existing account today. Use promo code: GETSTARTED. Plus, get a $25 Amazon.ca gift card when you fund your account within 30 days of enrolling in the offer. Conditions apply.

Bottom line: Take control of your financial future

With insights inspired by Warren Buffett’s strategic moves and tools that make investing accessible to everyone, the path to financial growth is within reach. Whether you choose TD Easy Trade, CIBC Investor’s Edge, or Qtrade, you’re taking a step toward a secure financial future.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

While the Bank of Canada interest rate has dipped over the past few months, home affordability slipped further in January, as rising prices raised the income needed for a mortgage in 12 of 13 major markets, according to a report by Ratehub.

This marks the second month in a row where affordability declined. Prior to the November over December 2024 statistics, affordability was trending positively for a solid five months.

Hamilton led the steepest decline with its average home price rising $20,900 to $819,500 between December and January. As a result, a buyer would now need to earn an additional $4,050 to afford a mortgage on a home at that price. Additionally, the monthly mortgage payment surged $110, to $1,320 per month in January compared to December.

What other real estate markets are seeing price hikes?

Major markets like Toronto and Vancouver saw modest increases in home pricing.

Throughout Toronto, prices surged $8,200 to an average cost of $1,070,100, raising the income requirement by $1,640 and monthly payments by $43.

Meanwhile in Vancouver, the average home price ticked upwards to $1,173,000, an increase of $1,500, as the income needed to purchase a home at this price rose $300 and monthly mortgage payments experienced an uptick of $8.

In contrast, Fredericton was the only market to show improvement in affordability, with home prices dropping by $2,300 to $338,800, as the required income was reduced by $450 and monthly payments by $12.

Mortgage rates were mostly consistent

As a sign of relief, mortgage rates remained largely uninterrupted in January.

While the Bank of Canada cut its benchmark rate by a quarter-point on Jan. 29, fixed mortgage rates held steady with bond yields in the 2.8 to 2.9% range before a brief dip due to bond investor reaction to tariff threats from the US.

It also appears that variable rates will remain unchanged in the next month, as the Consumer Price Index sat at 1.9% in January, a 0.1% increase. This was in large part due to the federal tax holiday that took place from mid-December to mid-February; If this had not been implemented, inflation would have resulted in a year-over-year increase of 2.6%.

This increases the likelihood that the Bank of Canada will pause rate cuts at its March 12 meeting after six consecutive reductions.

This article Is homeownership still a pipe dream? Home affordability slipped further in 12 of 13 major markets, report showsoriginally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

The Amex Cobalt and the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite are two of the best travel credit cards out there, but who says you have to pick just one?

As an experienced traveller, I’ll show you how using both can elevate your trips around the world. It may sound like overkill, but trust me, this combo works like a charm. Let me break down why using the two cards has been a total game-changer.

Maximizing the flexibility of a good rewards program

Each of these travel cards comes with unique perks, and when used together, they complement one another exceptionally well. The Amex Cobalt clearly stands out for its generous rewards structure, offering high earn rates on dining, subscriptions and groceries. This allows you to quickly accumulate points on it, compared to the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite. In fact, it tops the Money.ca list of best credit cards in Canada for this very reason.

Even though the Amex Cobalt is not accepted at Loblaws or Costco, I can regularly use it at Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, restaurants and Uber Eats, getting bonus points on every purchase. I also earn bonus points on my Hayu, Spotify and Netflix subscriptions every month. Let’s crunch some numbers to see the minimum number of points I can accumalate annually.

With the Cobalt earn rate, if you spend $500 monthly on groceries, $200 on dining out, $100 on subscriptions and $1,000 on other purchases, here’s what you’d earn:

• Groceries: 500 × 5 points = 2,500 points
• Dining: 200 × 5 points = 1,000 points
• Subscriptions: 100 × 2 points = 200 points
• Other purchases: 1,000 × 1 points = 1,000 points
• Total monthly points: 4,700

That brings the potential annual membership rewards points to 4,700 × 12 points = 56,400

That’s 56,400 points per year, which can unlock significant free travel when transferred to Aeroplan or Emirates Skywards at a 1:1 ratio and redeemed for flights. That’s around $1,128 CAD in value—enough for an easy ticket to Tokyo!

For travel point benefits, the Amex Membership Rewards program is truly the best out there due to its flexibility, as it allows you to transfer your accumulated points in a matter of minutes to amazing travel rewards programs, such as Air Canada’s Aeroplan, KLM’s Flying Blue and Emirates’ Skywards. I transfer my points according to which carrier I want to book my flights with. For example, I prefer Emirates’ luxury Air Bus 380 for long haul flights and use my Amex Membership Rewards points as Emirates Skywards Miles to upgrade my flight or get special perks such as hotel stays. But for lounge access, no FX fee and comprehensive travel insurance, I rely on my trusty Scotia Passport Visa Infinite card.

The ultimate luxury of the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite

When it comes to luxury travel perks, the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite comes with a variety of wonderful benefits. The Amex Cobalt charges a standard 2.5% foreign transaction fee, while the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite has no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for international spending. It’s my best friend when it comes to online shopping and travelling, replacing cash on every trip I take to the States and around the world.

The Visa Airport Companion lounge membership gives me complimentary passes, allowing me to access some of the best airport lounges in the world. And as someone who has travel anxiety and prefers layovers, I get to comfortably recharge and refresh myself in between flights. I recently used my complimentary lounge access pass in Dubai, at the Ahlan lounge, which saved me more than USD$32 in lounge entrance fees, not to mention the money I saved in  food (just one of the perks that comes with lounge access). I also used my Scotia Passport Visa Infinite card to make purchases at the duty free stores, avoiding the FX fee on each purchase.

And let’s not forget that you can skip long lines at several airports with the Visa Infinite Privilege. Simply flash your Scotia Passport Visa Infinite card and zip through security express lanes at several international, domestic and transborder checkpoints.

Insurance benefits to consider

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite stands out with its valuable trip cancellation and interruption insurance, a feature missing from the Amex Cobalt. Additionally, it offers longer coverage for travel medical insurance, which can be crucial for extended trips. The Scotia Passport card also boasts higher coverage for delayed and lost baggage, making it a clear winner in this category.

Personally, I like charging my trips to the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite card because of the more comprehensive insurance coverage as life happens, and you can’t always predict the future. It’s important to remember that your trip is covered with cancellation and interruption insurance when you charge at least 75% of your trip costs to your card. Knowing my trips paid through the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite are always covered gives me great peace of mind.

The Amex Cobalt, on the other hand, offers higher travel medical insurance coverage (albeit for a shorter duration), higher car rental insurance coverage and added mobile device insurance. Your choice between these two cards may depend on your travel habits and specific needs.

If you frequently book non-refundable travel arrangements to save extra dough or tend to take longer trips, the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite may be more suitable. But if you value higher coverage amounts for medical emergencies and car rentals, the Amex Cobalt could be the better choice. Remember, insurance terms and conditions can change, so it’s always a good idea to check the most current information directly with the card issuer before making a decision. Also, consider other factors such as annual fees, rewards programs and additional perks when choosing between these cards.

Is the annual fee really worth it?

But what about the annual fees? I know you’re probably thinking that having two travel credit cards with significant annual fees is excessive. However, the Amex Cobalt pays for itself. Every month, I have the option of offsetting the Cobalt’s monthly fee with statement credits because I rack up points so easily.

Similarly, for the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite, I use my Scene points for statement credits. With free lounge access and no foreign transaction fees, I don’t mind the annual fee at all. Here’s how much I’m saving:

• Foreign transaction fee savings throughout the year: 2.5% of $5,000 average spending = $125
• Lounge access savings ($32 USD): CDN$43 × 6 = $258
• Total savings: $383

This $383 in savings already outweighs the combined annual fees of both cards, and we haven’t even factored in the value of the points earned or the travel insurance benefits. Not to mention the Scene points I’m racking up and redeeming in statement credits throughout the year.

When it comes to welcome offers, the Scotia Passport often offers a higher upfront value, but if you look at the Amex Cobalt and its potential referral bonuses, you can easily rack up more points, all ready to transfer to your airline’s loyalty program.

Bottom line

By strategically using both these cards, you’re not just maximizing your rewards — you’re elevating your entire travel experience. From earning points on everyday purchases with the Amex Cobalt to enjoying stress-free international spending and airport lounge access with the Scotia Passport Visa Infinite, this combination covers all bases for the savvy traveler. I can already hear the tropical birds and waves crashing on the beach as I type this, knowing that my next adventure is being funded by my smart credit card strategy.

This article The Amex Cobalt vs Scotia Passport Visa Infinite for Travel originally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

A new Interac survey shows nearly all – nine in 10 – Canadians say supporting local Canadian businesses is important to them. Only slightly less, eight in 10, agree that buying Canadian feels more important than it did last year, due to the trade tensions caused by the US.

"Amid the current climate of economic uncertainty and evolving tariff threats, Canadians are looking at their spending in a new light," Debbie Gamble, Interac’s group head, chief strategy and marketing officer, said in a statement.

"Our survey results confirm that Canadians are very intentionally exercising their spending power – choosing to support local businesses even if they may need to spend more to do so. This trend has emerged despite longstanding cost-of-living pressures and demonstrates a powerful commitment to local communities."

In fact, the ‘buy Canadian’ impulse is not weakened by pricier goods, with over half prepared to spend an extra $5 to buy a product locally. A third would pay $10 more.

The power of buying Canadian

Buying Canadian-made products is more than just a mantra for many. The sentiment is gaining momentum in lockstep with increased tensions regarding US trade and it’s making many of us think far more seriously about the origins of our purchases when we shop. Among the top motivations for choosing Canadian-made products are:

• Supporting the local economy (79%)
• Trust in Canadian quality standards (56%)
• Patriotism/Canadian pride (55%)

More than two thirds of Canadians polled believe the way they choose to spend their own money has a direct impact on their local community. Subsequently, 73% of Canadians see more value in spending their dollars on local or Canadian-made goods.

Another majority – eight in 10 Canadians – are likely to choose Canadian-made products over imported ones.

When it comes to which businesses deserve support, 82% of respondents to the survey said they prioritize micro and small businesses in their communities, while just under a quarter identified large international corporations.

Given the strong support for homegrown products, three quarters of Canadians believe local businesses are more important to their communities than online-only retailers.

Product clarity

Despite the surge in maple syrup-blooded patriotism, many respondents reported difficulties in determining where each product originated.

While seven in 10 Canadians polled actively look for products that are clearly Canadian-made, four in 10 find it difficult to verify where products are made before purchasing.

“Sixty-six cents of every dollar spent locally, stays locally. It benefits the business, their employees and the whole community,” Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said.

Survey methodology

The survey was conducted by Hill & Knowlton from February 6 to 9, among a representative sample of 1,500 Canadians using Léger’s online panel.

This article Canada sees surge of support for buying localoriginally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

An Edmonton property developer, Christenson Group of Companies, is facing mounting financial troubles, leaving more than 200 former residents in financial limbo.

The company owes approximately $75 million to individuals who had invested in life-lease contracts at nine retirement homes, according to a CBC News story.

“Hope has certainly been waning,” Jim Carey, president of the Alberta Life Lease Protection Society, told CBC. “We warned government that this was going to escalate and be a really serious problem for hundreds of seniors.”

How did it get this bad?

Under the life lease model, residents paid large lump sums upfront for the right to occupy a unit, expecting to be refunded when they moved out, or passed away, minus a refurbishment fee.

However, a repayment queue begins if more than six per cent of residents terminate their lease at once. As of late 2024, nearly 50 former Bedford Village residents alone were in the queue, with over $17 million owed. Across all Christenson properties, that total is expected to surpass $100 million by this year, according the CBC.

Rapidly growing queues have left seniors waiting two to three years for their money, and new provincial regulations are complicating the company’s ability to pay.

Christenson Group president Greg Christenson warned that recent rules mandating a 9% annual interest on unpaid entrance fees could make refinancing and repayments impossible.

“The resulting strain on cash flow will also lead to insolvency for each property with life lease loans and stop refinancing plans,” Christenson wrote in a letter to residents obtained by CBC.

He told CBC that the interest rate environment, the Alberta real estate market and the demand for seniors’ housing continues to improve.

“So the question isn’t the ability to repay — the question is how long will it take. And we know that people are very stressed, particularly the estates, or the adult children of the seniors who lived in our buildings.”

The biggest roadblock to recovery

The Alberta government now requires housing operators to pay accrued interest if entrance fees aren’t returned within six months. Although these rules are not retroactive, they apply to newer terminations, adding another layer of financial pressure, according to Alberta government regulations.

Government officials have stated they expect Christenson Group to meet its obligations.

"We expect life lease operators to structure their operations in a way that allows them to meet all their contractual and regulatory obligations, including repaying entrance fees to all life leaseholders and paying interest to life leaseholders where there have been unexpected delays in returning entrance fees,” Brandon Aboultaif, a spokesperson for the Alberta government, told CBC.

How developers and residents can avoid this trap

To avoid such distressing scenarios, both property developers and prospective residents should consider the following measures:

1. Enhanced financial oversight: Developers must implement rigorous financial management practices to ensure long-term viability. Regular audits and transparent financial reporting can help detect and address issues before they escalate.

In Canada, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) emphasizes the importance of robust risk management practices for real estate secured lending, highlighting the need for sound financial oversight to maintain stability in the housing market.

2. Legal protections for residents: Contracts should include clear terms that protect residents’ investments. This may involve setting up escrow accounts or trust funds specifically designated for resident repayments, ensuring that these funds are not commingled with the developer’s operational finances.

In Ontario, the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 mandates that retirement homes have written tenancy agreements detailing the care services, meals and accommodation provided, along with their associated costs, thereby safeguarding residents’ rights and investments.

3. Comprehensive due diligence: Prospective residents should thoroughly investigate a developer’s financial health and track record before entering into agreements.

This includes reviewing financial statements, seeking references from current or past residents and consulting with financial advisors. Understanding the terms of residency agreements, including services provided, fees and policies on care level changes, is crucial for residents to prevent potential abuses or neglect.

4. Regulatory compliance and advocacy: Engaging with industry advocates and adhering to regulatory guidelines can provide additional layers of protection.

In Canada, real estate brokers, sales representatives, and developers are required to implement compliance programs and verify the identity of clients to prevent financial mismanagement and fraud, as outlined by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).

Sources

1. CBC: More than 200 Albertans owed hundreds of thousands of dollars for life lease repayment (Feb 12, 2025)

This article An Edmonton property developer owes a whopping $75M to former residents of 9 retirement homes — but 1 big thing could hold the company back from paying. How to avoid a similar nightmareoriginally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Nvidia Corporation, a titan in the semiconductor industry, has recently experienced significant fluctuations in its market valuation, underscoring the volatile nature of the technology sector. In January 2025, the company faced an unprecedented single-day market capitalization loss of approximately $600 billion, primarily due to emerging competition from Chinese startup DeepSeek. Despite this setback, Nvidia’s strategic initiatives and robust demand for its AI-driven products suggest a resilient trajectory.

The DeepSeek disruption

On January 27, 2025, Nvidia’s stock plummeted by 17%, erasing nearly $600 billion in market value. This dramatic decline was triggered by DeepSeek’s announcement of an advanced AI model that operates efficiently with less computing power, challenging Nvidia’s dominance in AI hardware. The market’s reaction was swift, reflecting concerns over Nvidia’s future competitiveness.

Strategic responses and market recovery

In the wake of this disruption, Nvidia has undertaken several strategic measures to reaffirm its market position. The company introduced the Blackwell AI chip, designed to meet the escalating demands of AI applications. However, the stock’s performance remained subdued, trading sideways as investors awaited tangible results from this new offering.

"Despite shipping the Blackwell chip, Nvidia’s stock has been trading sideways, and analysts suggest it might need more than a strong earnings report to rejuvenate momentum," Investor’s Business Daily reported.

Further bolstering its prospects, Nvidia secured a significant contract with South Korea, which announced plans to acquire 10,000 Nvidia GPUs for a national AI computing centre, indicating robust international demand for Nvidia’s products beyond the US tech market. Barron’s highlighted this development, by explaining that "The stock recovery is bolstered by positive developments, such as South Korea’s announcement to acquire 10,000 Nvidia GPUs for a national AI computing center, indicating strong demand beyond US tech companies."

Financial performance and future outlook

Nvidia’s financial metrics reflect its resilience amidst market turbulence. In the third quarter of 2024, the company reported a 109% increase in net income to $19.3 billion, with quarterly sales rising by 94% year-over-year to $35.1 billion. Looking ahead, Nvidia anticipates fourth-quarter revenue of $37.5 billion, slightly above analyst projections. The Times reported, "Nvidia, the leading American chipmaker, reported a 109% rise in net income to $19.3 billion for Q3 2024, surpassing analysts’ expectations amidst tremendous AI-driven demand for their chips."

Despite these positive indicators, Nvidia faces challenges, including increased competition and potential regulatory hurdles. The company’s ability to innovate and adapt will be crucial in maintaining its leadership position in the AI hardware market. As the technology landscape evolves, Nvidia’s strategic decisions in product development and market expansion will significantly influence its future performance.

The bottom line

While Nvidia has encountered notable market volatility, its proactive strategies and sustained demand for AI technologies position it well for recovery and growth. Investors and industry observers will keep a close eye on how Nvidia navigates these challenges in the dynamic semiconductor sector.

This article Nvidia battles market volatility: Can AI giant rebound after $600B stock plunge?originally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

A regular habit of saving and investing is critical for financial independence; however, the practise of regularly setting money aside in a savings account or investment account can be hard. Enter the concept of automatic investing, or auto-investing.

The concept isn’t new with many cryptocurrency traders quite familiar with the advantages of auto-investing and many tech-savvy traders using scheduled transfers and execution orders to set up automatic trading strategies.

However, for many investors who don’t want to take a hands-on approach to investing and don’t want to constantly monitor their portfolios, while scanning news and business reports, relying on auto investing makes participating in the markets much easier and less time-consuming. Unfortunately, investing tools and apps that offer auto-investing to trade traditional assets, such as stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other securities, are still relatively new in Canada.

The good news is that more financial institutions and fintechs are starting to offer auto-investing options. But before you can use auto-investing tools, it’s best to get a better understanding on what the term auto invest means, when and how to use auto-investing, and what tools are available to help make the most of your investing journey.

What does automated investing mean (what does it mean to do an automatic buy)?

While auto investing is a relatively new concept in Canada, the idea borrows from a more established concept of auto-savings programs which are offered by many major banks and quite a few fintechs. These automatic savings programs, a boon for financial planning, allow customers to set up predetermined transfer amounts from their chequing accounts to their savings accounts at regular intervals, such as every payday. One of the better known auto-saving program is RBC’s NOMI program, which offers RBC customers the opportunity to find and save cash not allocated to pay bills.

However, RBC’s NOMI isn’t the only auto-saving option in Canada. Mogo launched Moka.ai. While Moka’s parent company, Mogo, has been around for years, the Moka brand and concept — to provide actively managed portfolios and auto-investing options at a an affordable monthly rate — is relatively new in the Canadian marketplace. But the foundation of Moka’s monthly plan is to help savers and investors to find and allocate unspent funds to savings and investing goals.

Whether using RBC’s NOMI or Mogo’s Moka, both options help monitor your spending and automatically transfer small amounts of money into your savings account. While the NOMI plan looks for money you are likely not to spend, the Moka account automatically rounds up your purchases and bill payments and uses the extra dollars and cents to quickly build a savings nest egg that can be used as an emergency fund or redeployed to grow your investment portfolio.

Of course, investors more comfortable with technology may already use an automatic investing strategy using either their online brokerage account or through robo-advisor platforms. Another option is to use more traditional investment tools, such as stop-loss orders. By setting up stop-loss or limit orders in direct brokerage accounts, an investor can automatically buy or sell a security helping to maximize investments or minimize potential losses.

Bonus: Some of these robo-advisor platforms and direct brokerage accounts are also some of the best investment apps in Canada.

How auto-investing works

Here’s an example of how auto investing works. Let’s say you use an intelligent robotic platform (commonly known as a robo-advisor) for auto investment. You would set up an automatic transfer of a set amount, like $500 each payday (or even just once a month), to be moved into your investment portfolio. Then, when the money is transferred into your portfolio, it is automatically invested based on your pre-set portfolio plan. For example, if you pre-selected a portfolio that prioritized growth, those transferred funds would automatically be invested into growth ETFs.

Of course, many investors will set up the money transfer — transferring funds from the paycheque to their investment account automatically. But these transferred funds just sit in your investment account — essentially, the $500 would sit there until you invested it in whatever stocks or ETFs you want to buy. With auto invest, the transfer of funds is automatic and the purchase of stock or ETFs is automatic.

Is auto-investing a good idea?

Making regular deposits into your investment account is the key to creating a fiscally strong investment portfolio that can support you into retirement. The trouble is that many of us need more discipline or the time to transfer a set amount into our portfolio regularly. This method streamlines the investment process and ensures you’re putting aside money and investing in your future without any effort or attention.

The appeal of auto-investing is undeniable; by following the principal of dollar-cost averaging, auto-investing gives investors an edge when it comes to disciplined saving and investing.

• What is dollar cost averaging? Dollar cost averaging is the practise of investing a fixed dollar amount on a regular basis, regardless of how much the share price moves up or down. The practise of dollar cost averaging helps to establish a disciplined investing habit. Plus, it helps establish more efficient — and less emotionally driven — investment decisions. be more efficient in how you invest and potentially lower your stress level—as well as your costs.

Auto-investing platforms and tools available to Canadians

Moka is an innovative app that helps you save money. It rounds up purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the remaining funds into a low-cost ETF investment account, making investing automatic and easy. Moka stands out because few investment platforms offer this “rounding up” service. You usually have to decide how much money you want to invest and select a set amount. Moka is unique because it “finds” money for you by rounding up your purchases but also allows you to make weekly fixed contributions for a flat fee each month.

With Questwealth Portfilio, a division of Questrade, you can set up automatic deposits and invest your money in a diversified portfolio of ETFs based on your risk tolerance and financial goals. Visit Questwealth Portfilio to invest today.

Wealthsimple is a robo-advisor that automatically invests your money in ETFs based on your risk profile. It also offers an auto-invest feature to streamline investing. Compared to Moka and Questrade, Wealthsimple is known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive investment options, plus the free ETF and stock purchase option (no trading fees) make it a great option for buy-and-hold investors. Click here to start investing with $0.

Bottom line

Auto-investing can be ideal for those who prefer a hands-off approach to wealth-building to grow their investments. It’s an easy way to ensure your savings increase with little effort.

— with files from Romana King

This article Investing apps make it easy to tap into auto-investing—making it cost-effective to grow your portfolio even with a weakened dollar originally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Seventy percent of Canadians are in favour of dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs on the United States as President Donald Trump remains steadfast in his plans to impose tariffs on Canada, one of our closest allies. This according to a new poll from Leger.

Nearly half of respondents (45%) said they were strongly in favour of such tariffs, while 25% said they were somewhat in favour.

In a statement, Sébastien Dallaire, Leger’s executive vice-president for Eastern Canada, said the robust support for retaliatory tariffs shows Canadians are not very happy with our southern neighbours.

“It speaks to the level of anger on the part of Canadians, that they are willing for the government to take actions that in the end will hurt our pocketbook,” Dallaire said, noting how retaliatory tariffs might increase prices or make some products less available to consumers nationwide.

Applying economic pressure to challenge Canada’s nationhood

Trump has announced plans to implement a number of different tariff measures, including an executive order that will impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from Canada starting March 12, 2025.

However, earlier this month, he paused his stated plan to hit Canada and Mexico with 25% across-the-board duties, with a lower 10% levy on Canadian energy imports.

Trump has repeatedly pushed the idea that Canada should become the 51st state, and in January, threatened to apply “economic force” to annex Canada’s sovereignty.

As a result, the Leger poll shows how 81% of respondents are worried that Trump is not backing down on having Canada form a “much closer and more formal union with the United States.”

Canadians are taking action by avoiding American goods

Most poll respondents said they had cut down the number of purchases of American products, with 63% saying they were buying less in stores and 62% saying they were buying less online.

Just over half (52%) said they were buying less through Amazon, while half said they had cut down on fast food purchases from American chains. Forty-three percent of respondents also reported that they are buying less from American retail chain stores and 30% of respondents who had a trip planned to the United States said they had cancelled it.

However, only 19% of those who subscribe to US streaming services reported cancelling a subscription, showcasing the seismic dominance of American entertainment.

In order to stimulate the Canadian economy and bolster national producers, 68% of respondents said they have increased their purchases of Canadian products.

“Large proportions of Canadians who are willing to put money where their mouth is,” Dallaire said.

“They’re not happy and they’re finding alternative ways to spend their money, trying to support more local products, move away from American products or brands — and so it’s a pretty significant movement.”

This article Canadian fury unleashed: 70% of citizens support retaliatory tariffs against the United States in a bold trade showdownoriginally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

Canadians are divided on evolving payment technologies, according to a new study from Payments Canada. This involves technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), social commerce and pay-by-bank.

"Canadians prioritize security and privacy while also expecting ease and convenience in their shopping experience, particularly in the way they pay," Jon Purther, Payments Canada’s director research, said in a statement.

"They seek innovations that strike a balance between these factors. However, Canadians are divided on the appeal of innovations that have the potential to reshape our shopping and payment experiences, with security being a key concern. In our study, we also found that many Canadians had not yet formed a view around their appeal, which infers that they are reserving judgment until they become more familiar with newer technologies."

For example, 43% of Canadians are interested in leveraging GenAI, 44% are not interested and 13% are unsure.

GenAI’s polarizing impact

Going further, younger Canadians aged 18 to 34 have more interest at 56% than middle-aged Canadians 35 to 54 at 48% and older Canadians aged 55 and above at 31%.

As well, 45% of respondents think fraud detection and prevention is the most beneficial way of leveraging GenAI among Canadians.

Canadians have mixed views on the appeal of GenAI to enhance the online shopping experience with 28% considering it appealing, 34% saying it’s unappealing and 38% saying it’s neither. GenAI-enhanced online shopping experiences are more appealing to younger Canadians aged 18 to 34 (39%) compared to middle-aged Canadians (29%) and older Canadians (21%).

Social media-based commerce is less polarizing by comparison, although not widely popular. Overall, 12% of Canadians have sent or received money from a friend or family member using social media platforms, such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger or TikTok.

Overall, 13% of Canadians have made a purchase within social media platforms, such as Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok. Social commerce appeals to 18% of Canadians, with 46% saying it’s unappealing and 36% saying its neither.

Of those who consider social commerce appealing, reasons include convenience and ease (40%), useful and interesting (6%) and a preferential way of purchasing items (5%).

Among those who do not find social commerce appealing, key concerns include security (48%), not being of interest or useful (14%), not using or liking social media (10%) and not wanting to make impulsive purchases (5%).

The popularity of paying-by-bank

Overall, 29% of Canadians find pay-by-bank – the process of transacting directly from their bank account to the merchant – appealing, while 33% do not find it appealing and 38% are neutral.

Newcomers to Canada (53%) and gig workers (47%) are significantly more likely to use pay-by-bank. The key attraction of pay-by-bank is security with 32% of Canadians indicating it offers greater security.

Incentives such as cashback offers or rewards points would encourage 6-% of Canadians to use pay-by-bank. However, only 22% of older Canadians would use pay-by-bank, compared to 34% of young Canadians and 28% of middle-aged Canadians.

Survey methodology

One thousand five hundred Canadians were interviewed online via Leger’s online portal in two waves. The first wave was between February 26 and March 8, 2024, and the second between June 24 and July 5, 2024.

This article Canadians are divided on evolving payment technologiesoriginally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

For many, getting a good night’s sleep is beyond finding an ergonomic pillow or taking some melatonin. Financial stress is weighing heavily on Canadians, with a new survey revealing that 60.4% of respondents go to bed worrying about money. The survey, conducted by Harris & Partners, a Canadian debt relief company, highlights the growing anxiety surrounding personal finances and the emotional toll of managing debt.

“Many Canadians feel trapped in a cycle of financial worry, where concerns about debt, bills, and future stability follow them throughout the day and into the night,” Joshua Harris, a licensed insolvency trustee at Harris & Partners said in a statement.

“This kind of stress doesn’t just impact finances — it affects sleep, mental health, and overall well-being.”

Financial stress causes significant health issues

Experts warn that financial stress can lead to anxiety, depression and physical health issues. More specifically, sleep deprivation linked to money worries can impair cognitive function, weaken the immune system and lead to long-term health conditions.

Beyond individual well-being, financial strain is also affecting relationships.

The survey reveals how 56.6% of respondents have hidden their financial struggles from a friend, partner or family member, demonstrating the stigma and emotional burden associated with financial hardship, leading to isolation and emotional distress.

Why are so many Canadians struggling?

Broadly speaking, Canadians are finding it difficult to keep afloat due to these ecnomic concerns, according to Harris & Partners, three main factors are contributing to the struggle:

1. Rising cost of living: Inflation has driven up the cost of essentials, making it harder for households to cover basic expenses.
2. Debt pressures: Many Canadians carry significant credit card, personal loan and payday loan debt, which adds to financial strain.
3. Lack of safety nets: Without emergency savings, unexpected expenses can cause financial distress and force individuals to rely on borrowing.

"The financial challenges Canadians face today are more pressing than ever," Harris said.

"Many individuals are working hard, yet still find themselves struggling to cover everyday expenses. This is an alarming trend that highlights the need for better financial support systems."

Elsewhere within the survey, 45.1% of respondents say they have taken on extra work, such as side jobs or overtime, just to cover regular expenses, while a further 52.6% report having less than $200 left after paying their monthly bills and debt, leaving them highly vulnerable to financial shocks.

How to break free from financial anxiety

Experts emphasize that small contributions to savings can provide a sense of financial security while reducing the reliance on credit for unexpected expenses. Here’s our helpful savings calculator to help you pinpoint how much you could be stowing away based on your income and expenses.

Other key steps include:

• Creating a financial plan: Better management of income and expenses allows individuals to make informed financial choices.
• Seeking professional guidance: Financial advisors can help you explore options for debt management and financial recovery.
• Prioritizing mental health: Financial stress is not just about numbers; it affects emotional well-being. Seeking support through therapy, counselling or financial literacy programs can help you regain confidence in establishing a better financial future.

“Taking control of your finances starts with small, manageable steps,” Harris said. “Creating a budget, even a simple one, helps individuals track their spending and make informed financial decisions.”

Where to put your money

Putting your money in a regular savings account isn’t a bad idea, but the interest rate could be as low as 0.01% a year, which is practically nothing. Thankfully, there’s high-interest savings accounts (HISAs), which give you a place to store cash that earns interest and allows you to access it on demand. They offer some of the best interest rates nationwide in a low risk package.

One of the best options in Canada is the EQ Bank Notice Savings Account, where you choose an interest rate at either 3.00% or 3.05%, and that rate will determine how much notice you need to give for any withdrawals. Your interest is earned daily, paid monthly and you can keep making deposits and watching your money grow. Sign up for the EQ Bank Notice Savings Account today.

Strengthening financial literacy

With a vast majority of Canadians struggling with financial stress before bed, both individual and systemic action is needed to create a brighter financial future.

Improved financial literacy, greater access to debt relief solutions and stronger consumer protections are needed to support those facing financial hardship, according to Harris & Partners.

“Financial struggles don’t just affect bank accounts; they affect lives, relationships, and health,” Harris said.

“It’s important for those struggling to know they’re not alone, and that help is available.”

Survey methodology

These findings come from a survey conducted by Harris & Partners in February 2025, which engaged 1,332 Canadians aged 18 and older. The survey was conducted via an online panel and reflects a broad cross-section of demographics, including age, gender, and relationship status.

This article Are the stresses of everyday finances taking a toll on your mental and physical health? You’re not alone: An alarming amount of Canadians go to bed worrying about money, study findsoriginally appeared on Money.ca

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.