May 7, 2012
When you think about a financial advisor, what comes to mind? Chances are the answer comes with a suit, tie and a screen full of stock tickers. But while many people imagine a financial advisor as a sort of Gordon Gekko, the infamous trader Michael Douglas played in the 1987 movie Wall Street, the reality is much different. (And considering Gekko is both a creep and a criminal, thankfully so!)
If you subscribe to the typical advisor stereotypes, there are probably a whole lot of things you don’t know about financial advisors. The problem is, what you don’t know could seriously affect the quality of the advice you’re getting. Here we separate fact from fiction.
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Apr 30, 2012
Your top 10 financial essentials
What secrets are hiding in your closet? No, we’re not talking about hideous fashion crimes, nor the photographic evidence of the time you got your hair cut just like Rachel on Friends. We are here to help you take a look at what’s inside your financial closet (insert screams of panic here). If you’ve ever seen Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, then you know the process we are talking about. Tim, the Chief Creative Officer at Liz Claiborne Inc. (NYSE:LIZ) and design mentor on Project Runway, bravely steps into the wardrobes of real-life women on his namesake TV show, ruthlessly sheds all unnecessary and ill-fitting items, then sends the subject on a shopping spree for ten essential items of clothing. With a little help from the dapper gentleman himself, the women return with the kind of classic staples they can rely on to make their entire wardrobe work: a white button-down shirt, that go-with-everything blazer, a timeless cashmere sweater, a classic pair of dress pants…and so on. read more »
Apr 16, 2012
A true story about our first family trip & fearing for one’s life on Everest
I did it. I conquered our first family trip. And 12 days later, I’m surprisingly relaxed, sporting a sun-kissed glow, and breathing a huge sigh of relief... read more »
Apr 2, 2012
When applying for life insurance, absolute honesty is the only smart option
We’re all guilty of telling a little white lie every now and then. “I got it on sale” or “I’ll be ready in a minute” are half-truths many of us tell or reply with abandon. But when it comes to filling out your life insurance application, proceed with caution. Fudging your application, even by accident, could result in your coverage being revoked or your claim being denied.
When buying life insurance, it's important that you're hyper vigilant. Omitting information or including only selective details on your application, either out of embarrassment or due to a lack of understanding, could cause your insurance provider to question your claim and potentially deny the necessary coverage. Indeed, this is one instance where it (literally) pays to tell the truth.
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Jan 9, 2012
10 insurance policies you just don’t need
Celebrities are known for many different things. From their luscious locks to their lanky legs, the rich and famous will do whatever it takes to protect their most important assets. From Bruce Springsteen’s voice to Jennifer Lopez’s behind, celebrities certainly take the cake when it comes to insuring the unexpected ($25 million to protect against alien abduction? Is that really necessary Shirley MacLaine?) read more »
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The problem with plastic: Financial literacy & credit cards
They gave us plastic!
Hello crafty lady! How to turn your hobby into a business
Don’t sell yourself short: How to land that raise & negotiate like a leader
A woman’s guide to ‘thinking rich’
Tori Spelling can downsize, how about you?
Elder financial abuse: How to spot the signs
You can’t live on love: Wealth-building tips for couples
House hunters: Top 5 real estate tips for 2012
Decorating on a dime
Channeling Mr. Trump: Real estate realities and trends for 2012
Gekko debunked: 4 things you don’t know about financial advisors
It’s time for your reveal: What’s in your financial closet?
Mickey & Me (and travel insurance makes three)
All in a day’s work: Women’s influence on the stock market
Time, money and marshmallows: Why time makes saving extra sweet
The snowball effect on stocks
Keep your money & your honey: Protecting yourself from your partner’s debt
Suing the children? Don’t let this be you
The Duchess of Alba gives $4.9 billion away for love
We’ve come a long way: Are you part of the new, richer sex?
Baby, you’re a breadwinner!
Why men still have more wealth than women (and what we can do to catch up)
What's your excuse for not saving?
The real cost of filing for bankruptcy 
What to do when you lose it all: Understanding personal bankruptcy in Canada
That magic number: How much do you really need to retire?
How to stay focused on your retirement savings in an uncertain market: 5 reasons not to give up on your RRSP
Retirement rationalizations: 6 misconceptions about RRSPs
If they build it, should you buy it?
Trust your gut: Lessons from Spanx founder Sara Blakely
More than just a pretty face: Celebrities with a ‘social’ edge
5 common misconceptions about your tax refund
Stop procrastinating! Last-minute tax tips for Canadian filers
Holding on to a bigger slice of the pie: 8 tax breaks you may be missing
A penny-less Canada: How getting rid of the penny makes cents for you
Baby buys it back: How share repurchase plans work
Bulls, bears, tortoises and hares