It’s my favourite time of year – the start of a new football season. Outside of being crazy busy at work and juggling numerous side projects in the evening and on weekends, I’ll still find time to watch football on Sundays (and, much to my wife’s chagrin, also on Mondays and Thursdays).
It’s tough being a Cleveland Browns fan, especially when they haven’t had a winning record in seven years and haven’t made the playoffs in 12 years. This season doesn’t look any more promising for my favourite team, but I will offer some predictions for the rest of the league in terms of playoffs and a Super Bowl winner:
- AFC East winner: Patriots
- AFC North winner: Ravens
- AFC West winner: Broncos
- AFC South winner: Colts
- Wildcard #1: Chiefs
- Wildcard #2: Bills
AFC champion: Colts
- NFC East winner: Cowboys
- NFC North winner: Packers
- NFC West winner: Seahawks
- NFC South winner: Panthers
- Wildcard #1: Eagles
- Wildcard #2: Cardinals
NFC champion: Packers
Super Bowl: Packers over Colts
As for the Browns, let’s just say I’d be an ecstatic fan with a repeat of last year’s 7-9 record.
This week’s recap:
On Monday I attempted to unlock the mysteries around disability insurance and critical illness insurance.
On Wednesday Marie shared some great money saving tips for families.
On Friday I wrote about the best credit cards in Canada.
Over on Rate Hub I explained how GICs can play an important role in your portfolio.
Finally, on Rewards Cards Canada I wrote about the mobile payment revolution that’s coming to Canada.
Weekend Reading:
Rob Carrick has put together The Globe and Mail’s guide to online advisors. Useful information here for those who are thinking of investing with a robo-advisor, or just want to know more about this new phenomena. It answers important questions such as, “who exactly holds my money?”
Downtown Josh Brown, aka The Reformed Broker, doesn’t hold back when it comes to the investment industry. This rant about historical evaluation is no exception:
“You know what your retirement plan was a hundred years ago? You f***ing died.”
Tim Cestnick has been killing it lately with his insightful articles on The Globe and Mail. Here he looks at your retirement income and what the government will provide. It may contain a reference to Japanese Yakuza gangsters.
A former hedge fund manager explains why fund managers are far more likely to drive Porsches than their clients.
Dan Wesley shares four gifts that keep on taking.
The Young and Thrifty blog got an awesome new facelift – check it out!
If you like reading retirement stories then check out this inspiring article from Canadian Money Forum regular RBull.
Should you take out a variable rate mortgage? Michael James weighs-in on the risks.
Mark Goodfield (aka, The Blunt Bean Counter) wrote a book called, Let’s Get Blunt About Your Financial Affairs. I can’t wait to read it and write a review here.
Tim Cestnick is back with another gem, this one on the five ways to pay for post-secondary education.
Adam Mayers interviews a pair of authors who argue that an arts degree can still land you a great job.
How to manage money when there is none? Ben Carlson has some money advice for young people.
It started as a tiny website with an office above a pizza joint. Now TripAdvisor has 900 employees and a staggering 250 million online reviews. Here’s how TripAdvisor changed the vacation planning universe.
Finally, in a head-scratcher of a report, Aimia, which operates the much reviled Aeroplan loyalty program, says businesses are failing to reward customers for sharing their personal data.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
