Posts by Robb Engen
Weekend Reading: Amazon Go Edition
Amazon turned heads this week when it announced a new grocery store shopping experience with no check-outs or line-ups. The online retail giant recently opened an 1,800 square foot retail space in Seattle as a pilot project for its employees, with hopes to open Amazon Go to the public in early 2017. The company explains its vision…
Read MoreCommission-Based Advice and Suitability: A Dangerous Combination for Canadian Investors
The average Canadian investor has little clue how their financial advisor gets paid, or that their advisor is only obligated to provide advice and product recommendations that is suitable, but not necessarily in the best interests of their clients. Commission-based advice Why does this matter? Commission-based advice leads to conflicts of interest. Namely, advisors who…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: CBC Marketplace Edition
I had the honour and privilege to work with the CBC Marketplace team in Toronto last month to put together a story about Air Miles and its unpopular expiry policy. But then, just a day before the episode was to go live, Air Miles backed down and cancelled its expiry policy effective immediately. The CBC…
Read MoreShould Rewards Points Be Allowed To Expire?
Nearly a decade ago every province in Canada passed some form of legislation that banned expiry dates and most fees on gift cards and prepaid cards. Canadians spend nearly $6 billion annually on gift cards and these regulations ensure that consumers get the full value of their gift card no matter when they decide to…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Fake News Edition
One of the biggest post-election stories has been how the proliferation of ‘fake news’, particularly on Facebook, may have influenced voter behaviour. The Washington Post interviewed a fake news writer who actually believed Donald Trump is in the White House because of his online hoaxes. Gullibility of the masses meant this writer was earning upwards…
Read MoreHaving The Best Weekend Of The Fall Exploring Calgary
Having been born and raised in Calgary I always enjoy getting back to the city to explore old favourites and find new things to do. That’s why it was a special treat to bring my family up highway #2 from Lethbridge, AB to spend last weekend in Calgary. Not only that, I was thrilled to have my…
Read MoreIntroducing The Tangerine Dividend Portfolio
Retirees and those nearing retirement are looking for ways to get income from their portfolios and today’s low interest rate environment doesn’t offer up many attractive options. Better yields can be found in the stock market, but that comes with some risk and many would rather play it safe. Can we find a happy medium…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Trump Edition
Trump pulled it off. Unbelievable. I guess the media and pollsters completely underestimated just how pissed-off rural and rust-belt America is with the way the country is moving. Talk about flipping the script. Here’s to four years of uncertainty, not to mention unorthodox politics like we’ve never seen before. It’s human nature to want to act…
Read MoreSharing My Top Financial Wins
Talking about money can often feel a lot like the movie Fight Club. You know, the first rule of money is: You do not talk about money. The second rule of money is: You do not talk about money. Indeed, money is a taboo topic in many households and cultures. As a financial blogger, my…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Flashback Edition
“You need to get down here right away! There’s been a plane crash and the pilot had to eject.” I’ll never forget that day – July 23rd, 2010 – when Captain Brian Bews and his CF-18 Hornet crashed during a practice run at the Lethbridge Airport leading up to the Alberta International Air Show. As…
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