Don’t forget that the deadline for filing your personal taxes for 2008 is Thursday, April 30, 2009. If you’ve been procrastinating, you have just one weekend to do your taxes.
Canadian Money Forum Highlight: Alexandra and her husband have earned money “on the side” by owning rental properties. She has bought and sold properties over the years and shares some tips for aspiring landlords in this highlight post. If you haven’t done so already, you can register for the forum here and add your two cents to the lively discussions.
- The Bank of Canada cut interest rates by 25 basis points and conditional on inflation outlook, committed to hold interest rates at that level until the end of second quarter of 2010. The big banks followed suit by decreasing the prime rate by a similar amount to 2.25%. This is a great opportunity for homeowners with prime-minus mortgages to pay it down rapidly.
- Jon Chevreau reported that CARP, a lobby group representing Canadians aged 45 or more, is calling for a Universal Pension Plan to cover Canadians without employer-sponsored pensions.
- Larry Swedroe points out that the supposed outperformance of actively-managed funds in bear markets is a myth.
- Frugal Trader shares some of the lessons learned so far on his Million Dollar Journey.
- The practice of post-claims underwriting in mortgage insurance came in for well-deserved criticism on Four Pillars.
- Michael James points out that market timers risk missing out on a sharp rebound such as the one we’ve been having.
- Thicken My Wallet conducted a two-part, three-way conversation with Preet of Where Does All My Money Go? and Brad of Triaging My Way To Financial Success on the value of stock market research.
- Rob Carrick opines that the great recession mortgage sale isn’t even close to being over and the lowest rates anyone can remember will be around for months to come.
- Ellen Roseman has some tips for haggling for extra perks and better prices.
- The Wealthy Baker is a new blog by a Toronto-based financial planner, writer and baking enthusiast. The blog features fresh-baked financial advice, never store-bought.
Have a great weekend!
