Hi, and welcome to my site! It’s a blog about personal finance and careers, told through the lens of my search for happiness and mindfulness in life. Why those things? Well, because most people view them as a necessarily evil to use in their pursuit of happiness in life… and I think they can be more than that!


For Canadian business owners, the Canada Small Business Capital Gains Exemption (CSBCGE for short - great acronym, I know) is one of the most valuable tax-saving opportunities. It allows small business owners to retain more of their hard-earned profits when they sell their businesses, which can significantly affect how much they walk away with after a sale. In this post, we'll break down how this exemption works, what qualifies, and how you can make the most of it.

In a world where job security can sometimes feel like a thing of the past, Employment Insurance (EI) stands as a vital safety net for many Canadians. Whether you’re facing a temporary layoff, have experienced a job loss, or need time off for personal reasons, EI can be a lifeline. But what exactly is EI, and how does it work? Let’s break down the basics to help you navigate this crucial program with confidence.

Canadians looking to buy their first home now have more options when it comes to mortgages. Recent changes make it easier to take out a 30-year mortgage when buying your first home – but there are restrictions. Here’s a breakdown of the changes, and what to consider if you’re thinking about taking a 30-year mortgage to buy your first place.

Balancing saving and spending can feel like walking a tightrope. On one side, you have the allure of new gadgets, dining out, and spontaneous trips. On the other, there's the need for a secure future, a comfortable retirement, and financial peace of mind. It’s easy to swing too far in either direction, but finding that sweet spot is crucial for a happy, stress-free life. Here are five practical tips to help you balance saving and spending.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, you’ve heard people talking about generative AI tools, like chatGPT. People in the business world have been speculating which industries and jobs will be most disrupted by it, with the theories ranging wildly depending on who you ask. As someone who is currently pursuing their Financial Planner designation, my mind naturally drifts to that industry. Can AI do the job better? Is there a role for humans in the future? I believe there is, and here’s why.

If you’re a Canadian nearing retirement or already enjoying your golden years, you've probably heard a thing or two about the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). One topic that might seem a bit confusing at first is CPP pension splitting. What is it? Why do it? Today, we'll break it down in a way that’s easy to understand.

Yeah, I know… talking tax is about as much fun as pulling teeth. But if you’re going to invest in dividend-paying companies, it’s important to understand the tax implications so that you can make the best choices around where to put your money. Today’s post talks about how dividends are taxed in Canada.

As parents, we are constantly looking for ways to secure our children's future. One powerful tool in this endeavor is the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). In this blog post, we'll delve into how RESPs work and explore the compelling reasons why parents should consider opening one for their children.

You've been diligently squirreling away money into your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), preparing for golden years ahead. But what happens if you accidentally overdo it? Do men in black suits and dark sunglasses come knocking on your door? Is everything lost? Let’s unravel this mystery together.

The North American Financial landscape is constantly shifting and changing. There are some really great books out there that will teach you the fundamentals of investing and personal finance, and they’ve been around a long time for a reason. That said, most of them haven’t been updated to look at new realities of the world. In Canada, for example, we’ve got a full-blown housing affordability crisis on our hands, to the point that a full generation has all but given up on the dream of owning a home. We’ve also got the government’s attempt to help with that, in the form of the First Home Savings Account (FHSA). Older finance books sometimes miss out on modern concepts, and so I’ve got an updated list of recommended reading for you today.