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May 17, 2013

Victoria Day weekend signals the start of summer travel

1414861_51130807It's beginning to feel a lot like summer.

And with the Victoria Day long weekend upon us many Canadians have turned their thoughts to adventure and warmer climates.

Even though there's a lot of excitement about upcoming fun in the sun trips, travellers have three top worries while away: the weather, losing something important and requiring medical attention.

According to a study by BMO Insurance, 83 per cent of Canadians are planning on taking a vacation this summer however, only half actually purchase travel insurance.

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May 16, 2013

Canadians losing sleep over finances

1034045_56715244Life happens.

And with it, so do unforeseen hardships.

That's why it is always good to be proactive and have a plan.

A new report by BMO Wealth Institute reveals that while many Canadians have a financial plan in place, very few have considered what would happen if unexpected life events arose that could cause financial hardships.

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May 15, 2013

Canada's youth have spending power

Dollar signYoung money.

According to a new report from BMO Economics, Canada's youth will have more spending power than their parents over their lifetime.

Years ago, it seemed the younger you were, the worse off you were.

But now it seems the kids will be all right.

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May 14, 2013

Canadians are sold on safe neighbourhoods

1302218_50183007When it comes to buying a new home, the majority of Canadians are sold on safe neighburhoods.

There's a lot to consider when looking for a new home besides the price and the features it has to offer.

In fact, a safe neighbourhood is the big sell for homebuyers, according to a survey by BMO Bank of Montreal.

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May 10, 2013

Online investing is the way of the future

1260785_84481055Shopping, reading, gaming, working, researching, banking. 

Today we do just about everything from the convenience of our computers.

As a matter of fact, Canadians spend an average of 30 hours per week connecting to the online world.

So it's no wonder that more and more Canadians are investing online too.

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May 09, 2013

Canadians spending more on Mother's Day

Canadians will be spending a little more on gifts for mom this Mother's Day.

As a matter of fact, they'll be spending an average of $107 to shower mom with love on May 12. That's up 27 per cent over 2012, according to BMO Bank of Montreal's 2013 Mother's Day survey.

And, men are planning on spending a little more than their female counterparts ($119 versus $96).

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Borrowing against pensions puts retirees at risk

To retirees, the offers can sound like the answer to every money worry: convert tomorrow’s pension cheques into today’s hard cash through so-called pension advances -- a cash-strapped retiree's answer to a pay day loan. 

But programs like these are having devastating financial consequences for a growing number of older Americans, threatening their retirement savings and actually plunging them further into debt, the New York Times reports.

The advances, federal and state authorities say, are not advances at all, but actually carefully disguised loans that require borrowers to sign over all or part of their monthly pension cheques.

And while not yet widespread in Canada, critics worry that the practice might soon migrate across the border.

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May 08, 2013

Best to be prepared for any emergency

Be PreparedThe Boy Scouts motto says it all: Be Prepared.

It's Emergency Preparedness Week May 5-11 and what better time to make sure you're ready for any emergency to protect your family, your home and your business.

Just think of the devastation from hurricane Katrina. Not only did it cause billions of dollars in property damage but it also resulted in the tragic loss of human lives, as well as years of rebuilding lives and communities.

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May 07, 2013

How much is mom worth to you?

1395713_25902915Can there really be a price tag attached to the role of being a mother?

Well, according to a recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing for Wal-Mart Canada, the job of mom is worth about $161,287.

That translates into about $3101.67 a week or $441.88 per day.

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May 03, 2013

Love at first sight seals deal for majority of homebuyers

1302218_50183007How do you know you've found the right home? Well, it's love at first sight of course.

According to a new report by BMO Bank of Montreal, 80 per cent of prospective homebuyers are sold on a home when they first set eyes on it.

The Psychology of House Hunting report, conducted by Pollara, also found that while 80 per cent know right off the bat that it's the perfect home for them, another 68 per cent say they are willing to settle for a home that's less than perfect.

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Gordon PowersGordon Powers

A long-time fund company executive, Gordon Powers now heads up the Affinity Group, a financial services consulting firm. Gordon was a personal finance columnist for the Globe & Mail for many years, has taught retirement planning...

Jason BucklandJason Buckland

The modern-day MC Hammer of money, Jason can often be seen spending cash that isn’t his with the efficiency of a Wilt Chamberlain first date. After cutting his teeth as a reporter for the Toronto Sun, he joined the MSN Money team with...