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This year's Financial Literacy Month theme is Take Charge of Your Finances, and one important way to take charge is financially preparing for the unexpected.
People are living longer and healthier lives than before. But it’s always possible that you will experience a health or personal event that could prevent you from managing your finances on your own.
Ensuring that your personal and financial affairs are well organized in advance will make it easier for someone to step in and help out if needed. And you will gain peace of mind knowing that you have done all that you could to ensure your financial affairs will continue to be managed as you would yourself. Read our new article on preparing for the unexpected
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New Emergency Fund Calculator
Some emergencies in life can affect you financially. You could get sick, lose your job, or have a costly repair to your car or home. One way to cope with unexpected financial changes is to have an emergency fund. Use our new Emergency Fund Calculator to estimate how much money you should set aside.
Visit GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca for more popular and free articles, tools and calculators to help you with your finances.
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Financial Emergencies
Everyone could benefit from an emergency fund. You can think of your emergency fund as an insurance policy against unexpected expenses. It’s a reserve of cash that you set aside for the sole purpose of covering daily living costs while you handle whatever emergency has come up. Learn more
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Financial Literacy Quiz for Investors
Take this short quiz to test your financial literacy when it comes to investing. Answer "true" or "false" on questions about investing basics and investment fraud. Take the quiz
Want more financial literacy quizzes? Check out this 8-minute self-assessment quiz from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) and compare how your financial literacy skills and knowledge measure up compared to other Canadians.
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Elder Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is the one of the most common forms of elder abuse in Canada. Victims often don’t realize, or don’t want to consider, that they’ve been victimized. When they are aware, they may be too embarrassed to report it or even share their situation with close family members. Read our new article about the many faces of elder financial abuse
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Pay Off Credit Cards and Debt Calculator
Looking to pay off more than one credit card or loan? Not sure where to start? Try our Pay Off Credit Cards and Debt Calculator.
This calculator will give you monthly payment plans for up to 8 credit cards or loans, including lines of credit and mortgages. It will show you the order in which you could pay off the debts, and how long it will take.
Visit GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca for more popular and free articles, tools and calculators to help you with your finances.
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Helping Your Kids Buy a Home
In today’s competitive housing market, it’s increasingly common for people to help their children buy their first home. There are many ways to do this, including lending or gifting money to your child or co-signing a mortgage. If you do decide to help, think carefully about taking on debt and your own financial circumstances. Learn more
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Reverse Mortgages
A reverse mortgage is a loan. A lender will lend you money, usually up to a certain percentage of the home’s value. For some, a reverse mortgage is an easy way to free up cash and continue to live in the same home. It’s important to understand the cost of borrowing including the interest rate and any set-up fees. Learn more
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Saving for Retirement
Older Canadians have a variety of financial needs, from planning for retirement, to paying off debt, helping out family members, living in retirement and estate planning. Deciding how and where you save your money is big part of your retirement plan. The government and many employers offer incentives to help you save money and build your retirement nest egg. Learn more
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Celebrity Endorsements
Some companies use celebrity endorsements as part of their marketing strategy, hoping to entice you to buy their investment product or service. The endorsement could be from an athlete, an actor, a singer or even a YouTube personality. But a celebrity endorsement does not mean guaranteed investment returns as all investments have risks associated with them. As with any investment, research the company and product before making a decision. Learn more
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If You're Defrauded
Financial fraud can be a stressful and time-consuming experience. It can affect you both financially and emotionally. If you’re defrauded or suspect that you’ve been defrauded, take these four steps right away. If you’re unsure what to do, you can also contact us at the OSC for help. Learn more
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Disclosure Expectations for Cannabis Issuers
Securities regulatory authorities in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia (the participating jurisdictions) recently published guidance to help cannabis issuers strengthen their governance disclosures, including disclosure of financial interests in significant corporate transactions.
Visit our Cannabis hub on GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca to learn more about the cannabis industry and things you should be aware of when investing in it. Learn more
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Proposed amendments to business acquisition report requirements
Comments due: December 4, 2019
The Canadian Securities Administrators published for comment proposed amendments to the business acquisition report requirements for reporting issuers that are not venture issuers. Learn more
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Proposed eight initiatives to reduce regulatory burden for investment funds
Comments due: December 11, 2019
The Canadian Securities Administrators published for comment proposed rule amendments aimed at implementing eight initiatives that seek to eliminate duplicative requirements, streamline regulatory processes, codify frequently-granted exemptions from certain rules for investment funds, and eliminate the need for certain regulatory approvals. These proposed changes are part of the CSA’s ongoing work to reduce regulatory burden for investment funds. Learn more
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Proposed changes to auditor oversight rules
Comments due: January 2, 2020
The Canadian Securities Administrators published for comment proposed amendments to National Instrument 52-108 Auditor Oversight intended to provide the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB) with improved ability to perform audit inspections. Learn more
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Always know the 10 most recent OSC investor warnings and alerts by bookmarking this Fact Card or embedding it on your website or blog.
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Axe Invest
Axe Invest, offering investment services on its website found at www[dot]axeinvest[dot]com, is not registered in Ontario to engage in the business of trading in securities. Learn more
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Blue Sail Trading
The OSC is warning investors that Blue Sail Trading and its associated trading platform Derivative 360/360Pro (collectively “BST”) are not registered to deal or advise in securities in Ontario. Learn more
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Maxi Platinum Ltd., Strategy One Ltd
Strategy One Ltd. and Maxi Platinum Ltd., doing business as www[dot]superbinary[dot]com (together “Superbinary”) appears to operate an online binary options trading platform. Advertising, offering, selling or otherwise trading binary options by any entity, is prohibited in Ontario as specified in CSA Multilateral Instrument 91-102, Prohibition of Binary Options which was implemented on September 28, 2017. Learn more
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IOSCO Investor Alerts
Stay informed about the latest international investor warnings and alerts by visiting the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Investor Alerts Portal.
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Telephone Townhall
November 19, 2019
Telephone townhalls are a way for the Investor Office to connect with thousands of Ontarians at a time, in the comfort of their own home. Telephone townhalls work much like a call-in radio show where Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) staff provide information, answer questions and conduct live polls over the course of one hour. We'll also have special guests from IIROC, the MFDA and OBSI.
The next telephone townhall is being held as part of Financial Literacy Month.
Register now
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OSC Dialogue 2019
November 21, 2019
The OSC recently announced the agenda and preliminary list of speakers for Dialogue 2019: Regulation for Confidence and Growth. This year’s event brings together financial industry leaders, senior regulators and investors to discuss collaborative strategies to drive efficiency and economic growth, while fostering market confidence.
The event will feature opening remarks by the Honourable Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, Ontario, and a keynote discussion between OSC Chair and CEO Maureen Jensen and Stephen S. Poloz, Governor of the Bank of Canada. Governor Poloz will discuss his organization’s approach to addressing emerging risks and maintaining a safe and effective financial system.
Register now
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OSC in the Community
OSC staff are taking the Commission's regulatory mandate from Bay Street to Main Street with seminars on preventing fraud and making informed investment decisions.
- November 20, 2019 - Markham
- November 26, 2019 - Toronto (Scarborough)
- November 28, 2019 - Toronto (Scarborough)
- December 4, 2019 - Ridgetown
- December 4, 2019 - Blenheim
Learn more
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Get started on paying down debt with these 5 steps.
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