CategoryInterest rates

Variable Rates Go Up, Fixed Rates Come Down

If you’re reading this, you probably know by now: the Bank of Canada has been raising their benchmark rate aggressively to battle inflation. And I mean aggressively. Their rate has gone up by 2.25% in 6 months which is absolutely – wait for it – unprecedented.

As a result, variable rates have shot up. Everyone expected fixed rates to follow suit – but interestingly enough, the opposite has happened. They’ve actually gone down. Yup, you read that right: while variable rates are going up, fixed rates are going down.

Posted 2 months ago Bank News

The Right Time To Buy Is Right Now

Yesterday, the Bank of Canada raised their rate by a whopping 1%. It’s the biggest rate hike in a long time, and it’s got a lot of people talking. Mostly negatively (surprise surprise) but I for one have no interest in talking about what you can’t control. Instead, I want to talk about what you can control. There’s a way you can capitalize on a rare opportunity to grow your net worth over time, and it runs contrary to everything you’re hearing on the news:

Buy real estate.

Posted June 28, 2022 Bank News

Death, Taxes, and Interest Payments: Part 2

There are some things in life you can’t avoid, but only two things you can’t avoid paying for: taxes and interest payments. In Part 1 of this series, we looked at owning a rental property as a great way to build your net worth while reducing your taxes. Now, in Part 2, we’ll be turning to interest payments.

Interest payments are a pain to deal with but a necessary evil nonetheless. Here are a few ways to make them a little less painful.

Posted June 21, 20221 Comment Consumer Debt

Death, Taxes, and Interest Payments: Part 1

“Nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes.”

Benjamin Franklin said this in 1789, and it’s just as true now as it was then. There’s just one thing I’d add given that the world has changed quite a bit since the 18th century: interest payments. Maybe not as certain, but just as stressful. If I could revise the quote now, I’d make it:

“Paying interest and taxes will be the death of us.”

Posted April 14, 2022 Bank News

Bank of Canada Raises Benchmark Interest Rate

Yesterday was Wednesday the 13th – but for some, it might have felt like Friday the 13th. That’s because the Bank of Canada announced they’re upping their rate by a whopping 0.50%. This rate hike means that the prime rate will increase from 2.7% to 3.2%, a fairly sizable jump relative to what we’ve seen in the last couple of years.

All of this might seem terrifying. But let me assure you: there’s no need to panic.