Sandra Yaquo-Edward Jones Financial Advisor

Time to shake off the cold. Wishing you lots of warmth and happiness. Happy Spring!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! "May you have all the happiness and luck that life can hold—and at the end of your rainbows may you find a pot of gold." – Old Irish Blessing

Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the bank crisis that saw the collapse of several regional banks, an episode that roiled financial markets as it sparked memories of banking system challenges in 2008.

In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we share a few perspectives on what's changed since the bank crisis and what it may mean for the investment landscape ahead.

Weekly market wrap How did the markets perform this week? Get the highlights and the latest economic news.

In this week's update we review last week's market performance and take a look at what the week ahead could hold.

Weekly market wrap How did the markets perform this week? Get the highlights and the latest economic news.

Renewing your mortgage can feel a bit stressful at times. To help you navigate this process, we've put together answers to the top 10 questions we get from Canadians on mortgage renewal. Learn more here.

Top 10 questions about mortgage renewal You asked – we answered! Here are the top 10 questions about mortgage renewal.

There are a few things to consider when deciding on a fixed or variable rate. Variable rates tend to be lower with lower prepayment penalties, but your interest rate and mortgage payment could increase during the term. Fixed rates provide stability with a locked-in rate, so you know exactly what you need to budget for and pay.

Top 10 questions about mortgage renewal You asked – we answered! Here are the top 10 questions about mortgage renewal.

Most mortgages have a term of five years and are amortized over 25 years. This means you will likely have to renew your mortgage at least four times. With the right advice, you could shave years off your mortgage and save thousands of dollars. Learn more here.

Top 10 questions about mortgage renewal You asked – we answered! Here are the top 10 questions about mortgage renewal.

Your mortgage payment primarily comprises the amount you owe, your interest rate, payment frequency and amortization. The more you borrow the higher your payment. A higher rate also means more interest. Paying your mortgage more frequently reduces the balance quicker. Extending your amortization can result in lower payments but increases the amount of interest. Learn more about mortgage payments here.

Top 10 questions about mortgage renewal You asked – we answered! Here are the top 10 questions about mortgage renewal.

If you have a variable rate mortgage and your payments are adjusted with rate changes, the Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes will immediately impact you. And if you make fixed payments, you will end up paying less towards the principal and more on interest, which will cause your amortization to increase. Learn more here.

Top 10 questions about mortgage renewal You asked – we answered! Here are the top 10 questions about mortgage renewal.

With the sharp rally sending the S&P 500 to a record high in recent days, you wouldn't think it would be hard for investors to find good news. We think the bull market looks to have runway ahead, but we also know that even the best markets run out of breath occasionally. In this latest installment of the Weekly Market Wrap, we offer three signs that can give investors confidence in the broader outlook for this market.

Weekly market wrap How did the markets perform this week? Get the highlights and the latest economic news.

RRSP withdrawals are taxable at your marginal tax rate. If your taxable income when you contribute is higher than when you withdraw, the result will be tax savings. But if you think your taxable income may be higher in retirement, you may want to consider saving in a different type of account.

Is it time to review your retirement savings goals? Contact me.

Is an RRSP always the best choice for retirement? While RRSPs remain an excellent way to save for retirement, in some situations, other types of accounts can possibly be more effective.

Typically, you’ll need to renegotiate your mortgage agreement at the end of the term. During this time, you can make lump sum payments without penalty, choose between a fixed or variable rate, change the payment frequency, switch to a different lender, or refinance your mortgage. Learn more here.

Top 10 questions about mortgage renewal You asked – we answered! Here are the top 10 questions about mortgage renewal.

Many Canadians max out or even exceed their RRSP limit every year. Contributing beyond the limit results in a 1% tax penalty on overcontributions above $2,000. If you want to save more, you’ll need to explore additional options. These include TFSAs and non-registered accounts.

Sounds like you? Contact me and let’s review your options.

Is an RRSP always the best choice for retirement? While RRSPs remain an excellent way to save for retirement, in some situations, other types of accounts can possibly be more effective.

For a review of last week's market and guidance for the week ahead take a look at this report.

Weekly market wrap How did the markets perform this week? Get the highlights and the latest economic news.

Capital gains and dividends are taxed at a significantly lower rate than interest income. This means it may be beneficial to consider holding investments such as stocks and certain mutual funds in a non-registered account, and interest-generating investments such as bonds and GICs in your RRSP.

Is it time to review your asset location strategy? If so, let's chat!

Is an RRSP always the best choice for retirement? While RRSPs remain an excellent way to save for retirement, in some situations, other types of accounts can possibly be more effective.

The 2023 RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) deadline is February 29th, 2024. Making contributions now can help maximize your retirement savings. I can talk to you more about the benefits and considerations of investing in an RRSP. Give me a call or send me an email to learn more.

Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) Deadline Learn when the last day to contribute to an RRSP is.

Happy Family Day! Take time to enjoy and have fun spending some quality time with those that are important to you.

Although stocks recovered from a sharp drop after last week's CPI inflation report – and the S&P 500 even approached new all-time highs – investors may be feeling anxious. Can inflation continue to moderate, as it has over the past year, even in the face of resilient economic growth? Or, is this a start of a trend in the wrong direction? We share our views in our latest Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap How did the markets perform this week? Get the highlights and the latest economic news.

RRSPs are a cornerstone of many financial plans to help us save for retirement. While there’s no doubt RRSPs remain an excellent way to save, they are not the only tool in the box. In some instances, other accounts, like TFSAs and non-registered accounts can possibly be more effective. Contact me if you’d like to review your retirement savings options together.

Is an RRSP always the best choice for retirement? While RRSPs remain an excellent way to save for retirement, in some situations, other types of accounts can possibly be more effective.

Using a combination of savings vehicles such as RRSPs, TFSAs and non-registered accounts can help you optimize your financial strategy and help make the most of your retirement savings. I can partner with you to help determine the appropriate mix for your specific circumstances. Contact me today to book an appointment.

Is an RRSP always the best choice for retirement? While RRSPs remain an excellent way to save for retirement, in some situations, other types of accounts can possibly be more effective.

Happy Lunar New Year!

May the Year of the Dragon bless you with prosperity, strength, good health and good fortune. Wishing you a year full of adventure and exciting opportunities - may you follow your passions and find unending joy.

The S&P 500 crossed the 5,000 milestone, a fresh record high for the index. While 5,000 is an arbitrary number and simply an attention-grabbing psychological threshold, it is symbolic of the market's strength and resiliency in the face of a historically sharp adjustment in interest rates.

With the economy defying expectations for a slowdown and stocks having rallied about 20% over the past three months, investors are wondering what's next. Our latest Weekly Market Wrap shares our views on five common questions.

Weekly market wrap How did the markets perform this week? Get the highlights and the latest economic news.

A new year also means another RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) season is upon us. Why not start the year off on a positive note by making an RRSP contribution if you still have the room? The deadline for 2023 contributions is February 29, 2024. I can help you maximize your retirement savings and keep your financial strategy on track. Let’s talk!

The 2023 RRSP contribution deadline is February 29, 2024 Start the year off by making sure your financial strategy is on track and that you maximize your retirement savings.

All eyes were on the Fed last week, with the market's wagon remaining tightly hitched to the outlook for future monetary policy moves. The Fed kept its policy rate steady, but the primary focus was on the central bank's message that it intends to remain on hold a while longer.

While markets were hoping for a signal that rate cuts were coming sooner, incoming data, including the latest jobs report, continue to offer confidence that the economy is holding up well enough for the Fed to exercise some patience.

In our latest Weekly Market Wrap, we offer our takes on what the latest Fed and employment news means for the markets ahead.

Weekly market wrap How did the markets perform this week? Get the highlights and the latest economic news.

Over the past week, investors digested two key datapoints that continue to support the case for a soft landing in the U.S.: The S&P PMI data, for both services and manufacturing, were in expansionary territory in January, and fourth-quarter GDP growth exceeded forecasts, coming in at 3.3% annualized, versus expectations of 2.0% growth.

While these datapoints are backward looking, they support the narrative that the U.S. economy was not softening entering the new year. In fact, the data indicates that economic growth accelerated at the end of last year. Meanwhile, inflation also showed signs of moderation as we entered 2024. Read more of our takeaways in our latest Weekly Market Wrap.

Weekly market wrap How did the markets perform this week? Get the highlights and the latest economic news.

Here’s Edward Jones’ take on the 2024 economic outlook for Canada and the U.S.

The scoop from our analysts: Economic growth will slow before rebounding in the second half of 2024.

2024 Outlook: navigating the last mile of the cycle Edward Jones investment strategists share their thoughts on the stock market, financial markets and broader economic trends.