Notes from a financial journey.
Backtests, personal-finance posts, and the occasional aside about what I'm learning. Educational, not advice.
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FHSA vs RRSP vs TFSA for a Down Payment (Canada)
How the FHSA, RRSP Home Buyers' Plan, and TFSA compare for a down payment in Canada — the refund, the repayment catch, and a common order to fill them first.
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How Much Retirement Savings by Age in Canada?
How much should you have saved for retirement by 30, 40, 50 and 60 in Canada? The common rule-of-thumb benchmarks, what they assume, and how to find your number.
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How Is a Bonus Taxed in Canada? Killing the Myth
No, your bonus isn't taxed at a higher rate. Why so much gets withheld from a Canadian bonus cheque — and how it sorts itself out at tax time.
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Salary vs Dividends for Incorporated Canadians
How incorporated Canadians pay themselves in 2026 — salary, dividends, or a mix. Why the tax is usually a wash, and what actually decides it: RRSP room and CPP.
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2026 Tax Brackets in Canada: Federal + Provincial
Canada's 2026 federal and provincial tax brackets in plain language — plus the marginal-vs-average rate gap that trips most people up.
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Self-Employed in Canada: How Much Tax to Set Aside
Self-employed in Canada? How much of every payment to set aside for taxes in 2026 — income tax, the full CPP bill, GST/HST, and the instalment trap.
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Average RRSP Savings by Age in Canada (StatCan)
How much do Canadians have in their RRSP by age? Statistics Canada figures on median RRSP contributions and retirement savings, broken down by age group.
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FHSA Explained: 2026 Limits, Deadline & Rules
The FHSA explained for Canadians: how it works, the $8,000/$40,000 limits, the December 31 deadline, the double tax break, and FHSA vs RRSP vs TFSA.
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TFSA Contribution Room 2026: Limits & History
The 2026 TFSA limit is $7,000 — cumulative room is $109,000 if you've been eligible since 2009. See the full limit history by year and how to check your room.
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US ETF Withholding Tax in Canada: VFV vs VOO
How the 15% US withholding tax hits VFV vs VOO across your RRSP, TFSA and non-registered accounts, and where the CAD-hedged VSP actually fits.
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TQQQ-BIL Strategy: Does Leveraged Rotation Pay Off?
A plain-English look at the TQQQ-BIL rotation strategy, what a 10-year backtest shows about beating buy-and-hold, and a Canadian TQQQ.TO/CASH.TO version.
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Leveraged ETFs: Why 3x Doesn't Mean 3x Long Term
How leveraged ETFs work, the real risks (volatility decay, magnified losses), the benefits, and where 3x funds like TQQQ fit for US and Canadian investors.
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Should Canadians Invest at All-Time Highs?
XIU.TO, SPY, and QQQ all hit all-time highs this week. Should Canadians keep investing or wait for a dip? Here's what 75 years of data says.