Spring is upon us and with the rains washing away the winter dirt, many people start cleaning and organizing their households.  One thing that often gets overlooked in this period of purging and simplifying is your household finances. This year grab all your papers, open up your online accounts and tackle spring cleaning your finances.

#1: So many insurance policies, questionable benefit
It might seem odd for an insurance broker to say that you might not need all the insurance you are paying fo...
Continue reading...

As of the beginning of 2013, I've acquired the practice of Michael Trigg Insurance.  Michael Trigg has been working in the financial industry for over twenty years in the lower mainland. He has an exciting opportunity outside of the financial field and we're quite honoured at J.Ford Financial to have been chosen to take over the financial guidance of his insurance and investment clients.

This will be a busy and exciting time but Michael will be working with us to ensure a smooth transition for...
Continue reading...

If you've visited my newsletter page, you'll notice that I haven't posted anything in about a year.  As much as I feel badly for neglecting to add new information to my own site, I'm happy to be writing for a great online financial magazine: www.FinanceWorks.ca

It offers fantastic articles on a variety of topics from budgeting, to mortgages, to insurance (by me!), to travel and more. And now it's available in Chapters and Indigo stores across Canada as well as online. 

Bryan, the creator and ow...

Continue reading...

As someone who is constantly watching the worldwide markets and business news reports, I sometimes feel like a ping pong ball: being hit back and forth between ‘it’s great’ and ‘it’s terrible’ versions of the same story.  I thought I’d show a couple examples of how analysts, experts, world leaders etc. conflict in opinions and change their stories over time. 

The L...

Continue reading...

We live on a society that operates on credit.  Gone are the days of our grandparents who saved up and purchased their homes, cars, and everything they needed or wanted cash.  It takes a half a lifetime to own a home now but everyone understands the need to get on the property ladder.  Home ownership goes hand in hand with having a mortgage.  If you are talking to a neighbor or friend and they say they own their home mortgage-free, are you not shocked and wonder to yourself "How?"  But getting...

Continue reading...