For many of us investing tends to be a black box. We are forced to think about investing when we start our first job (usually out of university), and we have the option of contributing to an employer matching plan. Or you have some money saved up, and you would like to put it in some place other than your savings account. I know many people are very risk averse, and prefer to keep their money in their savings accounts….
I have bought two cars in the last three yeas. I learned something new each time. I bought a brand new Honda Civic DXG in 2008, and I bought a used Honda Accord in 2009. I thought I’ll share some of my lessons :). Used vs. New I believe this decision should mainly be based on your preference, and what your planned purpose is for the car. When I decided to buy my first car in 2008, I needed to…
RRSP’s are a very well known product, and there is countless amount of information about it. However, I always find I have to dig through various resources to the find the information I need. So I have made an attempt to summarize some of the key and useful points about RRSPs. 1. RRSP stands for registered retirement savings plan. You can set up an RRSP at a bank. You can set it up as a savings account or as a…
In Ontario , Canada creating a will for yourself can be a very simple exercise. Over 50% of Canadian’s do not have a will. It will take less than 15 minutes for most people to create a simple will for themselves. What I recommend ( remember this is just my recommendation, and I am not a certified financial planner ) is that you create a quick will for yourself , and when you get time , and your financial situation…
My reflection on critical thinking and its application. Key Concepts Learned about Critical Thinking The key concept I have learned about critical thinking is to rethink situations using different frames. I have learned that all of us have these pre set views and values that determines how we see a situation. After reflection I realize our frames are most likely due to our upbringings, cultural views, characteristics and social values. I have also learned some techniques to help analyze situations…
I am a big promoter of Tax Free Savings Accounts ( TFSAs). In Canada anyone with a valid social insurance number ( SIN), who is older than 18 in most provinces and 19 in some can contribute to a TFSA. The great thing about TFSA is that it doesn’t just have to be a savings account. You can have a self – directed TFSA and can buy shares, bonds, units of mutual funds etc … Remember any income you earn…
I did my MBA at The Schulich School of Business, York University in Toronto, Canada. One of the very first courses I had to take was called ” Skills for Leadership” . I am like a sponge, and I love to learn. This class provided alot of new and interesting material, and I totally loved it. In this class we had to do learning portfolios of the concepts we have learned. One of the very first learning portfolios I had…
If you have decided to do your MBA, one of the first steps you need to do is take your GMAT. Most business programs require GMAT as a prerequisite, but not all. I did my GMAT in 2008. I often get asked how did I prepare for it, what are some of my recommendations in terms of the resources to use for the GMAT. I prepared for the GMAT on my own, and I mainly used two resources. 1. Gmat…
Hi there ! Welcome to my blog. I plan to share my experiences with the Schulich MBA program, CFA, my stock picks, and my financial decisions. I hope they help you in some way or form. Would love to hear your comments, so feel free to leave some.