What to Do With a Financial Windfall (So You Don’t Blow It) How to Make the Most of an Inheritance, Lottery Win, or Unexpected Jackpot Imagine this: one day you open the mail (or your banking app) and see more money than you’ve ever had in your life. Maybe it’s a six-figure inheritance from a […]

Why Every Canadian Needs One—Especially Right Now When it comes to personal finance, few things are more foundational than having a rock-solid emergency fund. And yet, in an era of rising interest rates, layoffs in key sectors, and grocery bills that seem to grow faster than your basil plant, far too many Canadians are still […]

Why Embracing Financial Minimalism Now Sets You Up for a Richer Life Later Let’s be honest: being frugal doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves. In a world that constantly sells you on spending, saving money can feel like swimming upstream. But here’s the truth — frugal living is one of the most underrated superpowers […]

Why Bonds Still Matter: The Boring Investment Vehicle That Still Packs a Punch When markets get rocky, bonds become the grown-up in the room. They don’t soar like tech stocks in a bull run, but they offer something just as valuable— stability. In 2022 and early 2023, when inflation ran wild and both stocks and […]

Stay the Course: Why Smart Investors Don’t Panic There’s a reason Warren Buffett’s advice has stood the test of time: “Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” Sounds bold. But behind the bravado is a powerful truth about investor psychology— and how most people mess it up. Markets go up. […]

The Case Against Stock Picking: Why Most Investors Are Better Off with Broad Market ETFs For many investors, the allure of stock picking is hard to resist. It’s exciting. It feels personal. You get to tell people you bought Tesla early or timed your Netflix sale perfectly. But here’s the reality: for the vast majority […]

Excelerator Deposit Options (EDOs): Fast-track Your Family’s Financial Future When it comes to financial planning, most people think of life insurance and critical illness coverage as essential safety nets. But what if you could supercharge these plans to build wealth and create a financial legacy for your children? That’s where Excelerator Deposit Options (EDOs) come […]

The Power of Dollar-Cost Averaging: Investing Gradually to Manage Risk and Maximize Returns Investing can feel intimidating, especially when markets are volatile. One way to ease into the market while reducing risk is Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)—a strategy where you invest gradually over time rather than all at once. DCA helps take advantage of market fluctuations […]

The Case Against Cryptocurrency: Why a Gold ETF is the Smarter Choice Cryptocurrency has been marketed as the future of finance, promising sky-high returns and financial freedom. However, experienced investors like Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger have long warned against its speculative nature. Buffett famously said: “Cryptocurrencies basically have no value and they don’t produce […]

Filing in Canada: 10 Tips to Maximize Your Return and File with Ease Tax season can feel overwhelming, but with a little preparation, you can file efficiently while maximizing your return. Whether you’re a salaried employee with a T4 or a self-employed entrepreneur, taking advantage of available tax deductions and credits can help you keep […]

Raising a family is rewarding—but it’s also expensive. Between saving for your children’s education, buying a home, and planning for the future, it can feel like there’s never enough money to go around. But with the right strategies, young families can build a strong financial foundation while still enjoying life today. 1. Build Your Emergency […]

Investing in Retirement: Why a Total-Return Strategy is Best Many retirees worry about shifting their investment portfolio to focus on generating income, often turning to high-yield investments, mutual funds with hefty fees, or even costly deferred sales charge (DSC) funds. However, there’s a better way to invest in retirement: the total-return approach. This method ensures […]

Cutting Investment Fees (And Not Performance!) The Case for Passive Index Investing Investing is one of the most powerful ways to grow wealth, but many investors don’t realize how much high fees can eat into their returns over time. The good news? You don’t need to pay high management fees to achieve great investment performance. […]

Are Robo-Advisors Worth It? A Balanced Look at Automated Investing Robo-advisors have transformed the investing landscape by offering a low-cost, automated alternative to traditional financial advisors. For investors who want a hands-off approach, robo-advisors promise simplicity, diversification, and lower fees. But are they truly the best option? While they offer several advantages, there are also […]

Retirement Planning Made Simple The Rule of 30: A Smarter Way to Save Traditional retirement advice often suggests saving a fixed percentage of income throughout your career. But life isn’t that simple. Early on, expenses like rent or mortgage payments, childcare, and other financial commitments make it difficult to prioritize savings. The Rule of 30 […]

Investing with a focus on Canadian assets is a strategy some investors consider to leverage familiarity with domestic markets and potential tax advantages. This approach involves allocating a significant portion of one’s portfolio to Canadian equities, often through broad market Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Reasons to Consider a Canada-Focused Portfolio Popular Canadian Broad Market ETFs For […]

The recent announcement by President Donald Trump to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, has raised concerns among investors about the potential impact on their portfolios. These tariffs are part of a strategy to address issues such as trade imbalances, immigration, and drug […]

Initiating conversations about money with your children can be daunting, but it’s a crucial step in equipping them with the financial skills they’ll need throughout life. Beth Kobliner’s book, Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not), offers practical strategies to guide parents in teaching their kids about spending, saving, and investing. Complementing […]

Saving for your child’s post-secondary education is a significant financial goal for many Canadian families. A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is a powerful tool designed to help you achieve this objective. In this article, we’ll explore what an RESP is, how it functions, tax-efficient investment strategies within the account, and the rules for withdrawing […]

A Locked-In Retirement Account (LIRA) is a specialized Canadian investment account designed to hold pension funds transferred from a former employer’s pension plan, whether it’s a Defined Contribution or Defined Benefit plan. Unlike a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), where contributions can be made at any time and funds can be withdrawn (subject to taxes), […]

Investing can often seem daunting, especially with the myriad of options available. However, one strategy has consistently proven effective for both novice and seasoned investors: index investing. By purchasing total market ETFs and one-fund solutions, you can gain exposure to a broad spectrum of global stocks, thereby minimizing risk and diversifying your portfolio. The Power […]

Gold has been a reliable store of value for centuries, making it a smart addition to any well-diversified portfolio. Unlike stocks and bonds, gold is a tangible asset that provides stability and security, especially in times of economic uncertainty. Here’s why you should consider allocating a portion of your investments to gold. 1. A Hedge Against Inflation Inflation […]

Tips for Rebalancing Your Portfolio A well-structured investment portfolio is like a finely tuned engine—it requires regular maintenance to perform optimally. Rebalancing is the process of adjusting your asset allocation back to its original target, ensuring your investments remain aligned with your financial goals. Here’s what you need to know about when and how to rebalance, and […]

It Pays to Ignore Market Downturns Market downturns can be unsettling, but history has shown that they are not a reason to panic. In fact, for long-term investors, downturns can present valuable opportunities to strengthen a portfolio and maximize returns. Here’s why staying the course during market slumps can actually be good for your financial future. 1. Downturns Are […]

Why Time in the Market Matters Investing can feel like a rollercoaster, but history proves that staying in the market beats trying to time it. Long-term investing—particularly with index funds—has consistently outperformed actively managed strategies while keeping costs lower. Let’s break down why time in the market matters and how sticking to an index strategy […]

5 Things Young Investors Should Know Investing can be an exciting yet daunting journey, especially for young investors. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow, but navigating the financial world can be tricky. Here are five crucial things every young investor should know to set themselves up for long-term success. […]

At Northern Nest Egg, we’re here to make one thing crystal clear: taking control of your money shouldn’t feel overwhelming, confusing, or out of reach. We know the world of finance can seem intimidating—full of jargon, complex charts, and conflicting advice—but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re a young professional starting to save, a […]