Weekend Reading: Let’s Get Blunt Edition

Earlier this week Marie reviewed a new book by Mark Goodfield called, Let’s Get Blunt About Your Financial Affairs. We received an overwhelming number of responses to the book review and giveaway. In total, we had 121 entries vying for the chance to win one of three copies of the book. We used a random number generator to determine the three winners. Here they are:

• Winner #1 – Cindy (left a comment on September 16th at 6:06am)
• Winner #2 – Lyne Brosseau (left a comment on September 15th at 3:54pm)
• Winner #3 – Donna (left a comment on September 16th at 10:13am)

Thanks to everyone who entered, and congratulations to the winners.

This week’s recap:

On Monday I shared some sh*t advisors say once they realize they’re about to lose a client.

On Wednesday Marie reviewed the aforementioned book by The Blunt Bean Counter.

And on Friday Marie continued her retirement income series with a look at OAS and GIS.

Over on Rewards Cards Canada I reviewed the new Scotiabank GM Visa and Visa Infinite cards.

Weekend Reading:

Federal election campaigning is in full swing and it’s no surprise to see the economy at the forefront of the debates. The term “middle-class” gets thrown around a lot by politicians, and The Globe and Mail asked Canadians from across the country what middle-class means to them.

John Ryan looks at the word retirement and how it evokes different meaning for different people.

Mercer and the CFA Institute issued a report card for retirement income. What grade does Canada get?

A look at Sudden Retirement Syndrome, or the shock of going unprepared from a busy work-life to nothing.

This New York Times retirement column discusses financial issues facing widows.

The Blunt Bean Counter describes the fascinating case of a sport-writer turned blogger who tried to claim business losses for expenses related to travelling and following around the Toronto Maple Leafs.

A major life event, such as having a baby, is the perfect time to get serious about your finances and update (or create) your financial plan.

A Wealth of Common Sense blogger Ben Carlson says that the paradox of “average” returns is that they will almost certainly always be above average in the long run.

Gawker goes after a 20-something blogger for dishing bad money advice. One of her words of wisdom to millennials was, “if you have savings in your 20s, you’re doing something wrong.”

Who says you have to be young to indulge your fantasies? These retirees are shelling out big bucks to knock items off their bucket list.

The Globe and Mail created a new tool designed to test the affordability of renting in cities across Canada.

Frugal Trader, the blogger behind Million Dollar Journey, offers some advice for those who have paid off their mortgage and are asking, what’s next?

This article debunks the absurd claim that deferred sales charges actually benefit investors.

Finally, an undercover shopping investigation showed that financial advisors are sharing lots of information about products, but too little about fees and how advisors are compensated.

Have a great weekend, everyone!