Getting a Mortgage After Bankruptcy

General Michele McGarvey 24 Oct

If you have had to declare bankruptcy, you may be wondering what is next. Bankruptcy is not a financial death sentence. In fact, there are a few things you can do after declaring bankruptcy to help reset your financial status and get a mortgage in the future. While there is no wait requirement to apply […]

Read More

Getting Started in the Financial Markets

General Michele McGarvey 3 Oct

Interest rates on savings accounts and GICs are climbing but they are having a hard time matching the rapid increase in inflation which is now over 8% — you are actually losing money by holding cash. Investing in financial markets can provide higher returns, but there are no guarantees and as we have seen lately, […]

Read More

Understanding Insurance

General Michele McGarvey 22 Sep

Not all insurance products are created equal. One of the most common mistakes homeowners and potential homeowners make is that they hear the word “insurance” and just assume they have it! Well, you might have one kind of insurance, but you might be missing coverage elsewhere. It is important to understand all the different insurance […]

Read More

How to Start Saving Money

General Michele McGarvey 19 Sep

We often hear the mantra, “pay yourself first” when it comes to personal finance. This concept of automatically routing some of your salary every payday (before you can spend it!) into a retirement investment account isn’t hard to understand, but it’s hard to implement if you need every nickel just to survive until your next […]

Read More

Five Great Financial Options for Canadians in Retirement

General Michele McGarvey 12 Sep

If you are an individual aged 55+, it may surprise you that you currently represent 33.09% of the total Canadian population. What may not surprise you, is that Canadians 55+ know what they want in order to live a fulfilling life as they enter retirement. However, they do not always have the financial means or […]

Read More

Where Will Rising Interest Rates Hurt Most?

General Michele McGarvey 6 Sep

Rising inflation combined with a strengthening post-pandemic economy gives both reason and opportunity for the Bank of Canada (BOC) to further raise interest through to the end of 2022 and beyond. The 1% increase to the benchmark overnight rate in early July was a wake-up call that they were not bluffing and are prepared to […]

Read More

Advice for Single Homebuyers

General Michele McGarvey 6 Sep

Buying a home is an exciting experience for anyone, and even more of a milestone when you’re doing it solo, but it can be a little different when you’re purchasing on your own. While it can be easier to tailor your mortgage and home search to exactly your needs, it can be somewhat more stressful […]

Read More

Construction and Pre-Construction Mortgages

General Michele McGarvey 29 Aug

Building or renovating your own home is such an exciting time and allows you to create something tailored to you and your family!  But when it comes to construction mortgages, there are a few different types of loans: new construction and even pre-construction.  Let’s break it down so you can determine the best choices for […]

Read More

5 Reasons You Don’t Qualify for a Mortgage

General Michele McGarvey 22 Aug

When it comes to shopping for a mortgage, it is important to know what you need to qualify – but it is just as important to understand some of the reasons why you DON’T qualify so that you can make some changes and budget accordingly for when the time is right. If you are in […]

Read More

TFSA vs RRSP – No Losers in This Battle!

General Michele McGarvey 9 Aug

The worst financial mistake you can make is believing that a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) or Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is something to look into when you are a little older and more able to set some money aside. The fact is, you don’t use these accounts for saving at all, you use them […]

Read More