Facing off against financial stress

Mortgage payments, tuition, the upcoming holiday season — there are many reasons why you might feel stressed about money. If you’re preoccupied with money worries, check out these tips to reduce stress and improve your financial resilience.

OSC expands free Investing Academy courses

Investing 102: Beyond the basics is now part of Investing Academy’s roster of free interactive courses about money and investing. Investing 102 includes making an investing plan, DIY investing, how ESG investing works, and investing in stocks and crypto. Previous online Investing Academy courses include Investing 101, Managing your Money 101, and Planning for the Future.

Tax-Free Savings Accounts and you

TFSAs were created in 2009. If you were eligible, but have not contributed, you can add up all that contribution room. A TFSA can help you save and invest for any goal, tax free.

Extortion alert

Some people are receiving extortion emails that include their full name, phone number and home address. The email claims the person visited explicit websites. It threatens to share details with their contact list — unless they pay using cryptocurrency. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) issued a fraud alert about extortion. If you get a threatening email, report it to your local police and the CAFC.  

Never send money to anyone pressuring you or threatening you. And consider regularly taking steps to safeguard your identity by reviewing the checklist to protect your financial information.

High tech tools, old school scams

Many scammers use AI to create videos. They want to fool you into believing you are communicating with a celebrity or a trusted family member. Seeing is not believing. Always take the time to pause anytime anyone asks you for money. And while scammers may be using new tools, they’re promoting common investment scams. Learn about 8 investment scams and how to spot them.

What is an exchange-traded fund (ETF)?

There’s been a lot of investor interest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs hold a collection of investments and trade on a stock exchange. When you invest in an ETF, you do not own the actual securities (i.e., stocks, bonds), but you do own shares in the fund.

Regulatory Updates & Initiatives

Here are some recent developments and publications:

• In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, the CSA urged Canadians to talk openly about financial plans and goals with family members and loved ones to help prevent financial abuse.
• The CSA provided an update to interested parties on the status of its work to introduce binding authority for an independent dispute resolution service.
• The CSA proposed amendments and changes to implement an access model for certain continuous disclosure documents of non-investment fund reporting issuers.
• The OSC seeks comment on priorities for 2025-2026.
• The CSA announced its members will be considering delegating certain registration functions and powers to the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). 
• OSC announced plans to delegate expanded registration functions to CIRO. 
• The CSA published for comment proposed amendments to Multilateral Instrument 13-102 System Fees. 

How to budget on a fluctuating income

Many Canadians have a fluctuating income. You might be a seasonal worker. Or perhaps you have a side hustle on top of your regular job. It can be hard to follow a monthly budget if you have an inconsistent income. But creating a budget can give you some predictability and help you reach your financial goals.

Expecting the unexpected

How would you cope if you lost your job or had a health emergency? Unexpected events can cause financial changes. Having an emergency fund can help you cope. There are five questions you could ask yourself about having an emergency fund.

When thinking you’re right might be wrong

People tend to believe their opinions are consistent and correct. It can be hard to change someone’s mind. People have such a strong desire to be right that it affects how they process information. This is called confirmation bias and it could be impacting your financial decision making.

Warnings & Alerts

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