Katherine Colosimo - Sun Life Financial advisor

Are you worried about making ends meet now that prices are increasing on everything from gas, groceries and borrowing?

Over the last two years we’ve lost touch with how much life actually costs. It’s time to go back to the drawing board and rebuild your budget. Track where your money is going and adjust from there.

Now is the perfect time to spring clean your finances.

Here’s what you can do about the ever-increasing prices at the grocery store and gas station These trying times won’t last forever, but the skills you learn will last a lifetime

How much life insurance is the right amount? A general rule is at least 10 times your annual income. So, if you earn $70,000, you’d be looking at $700,000 in coverage. But simply put, the answer depends on your unique situation. Here’s an example:

Jackie is a 33-year-old married mother of two. She has three goals for her life insurance. She wants money left for her family to:

• Pay off her $300,000 mortgage
• Top up her two children’s registered education savings plans (RESP)
• Replace her $60,000/year income

Based on these goals, Jackie is looking at a $1-million policy. If she died her family could spend the money from her insurance payout by:

• Putting $300,000 toward the mortgage
• Adding $100,000 to the kids’ RESPs ($50,000 is the maximum amount you can contribute to an individual RESP).
• Using $600,000 (her annual earnings times 10) to cover day-to-day expenses over the years.

Don’t wait to make sure your family is properly protected. Contact me today.

How much life insurance do you need? (video) How much life insurance is the right amount? Simply put, the answer depends on your unique situation. Watch now.

There are many ways for small businesses to reduce their income taxes in Canada. This guide offers some of the top strategies to lower your taxes and keep more money in your business.

How to Reduce Your Canadian Small Business Income Tax See how many of these small business tax strategies you can use to reduce the amount of income tax you pay if you operate a small business in Canada.

In Sun Life’s part 2 of finding happiness, they focus on the science. They look for ways to become more content- and find a greater appreciation of life, even when times are tough. Check out their tips here.

5 ways to be happy in hard times Struggling to feel happy during these uncertain times? Here are a few simple things you can do to boost your mood and inject a little more positivity into your life.

Lots of changes coming this year, from minimum wage increases, end to fossil fuel financing and soft drink taxes. Check out some of the new rules and regulations coming to your province.

Here are some of the new laws coming in 2022 With 2021 behind us, a number of new rules and regulations are set to take effect this year. Some of the changes include minimum wage hikes, plastic bag bans and soft drink taxes.

Do you find it harder to stay active in the winter? There are still a lot of great ways to get your exercise in and on a budget as well.

8 tips to stay fit and healthy this winter Temperatures are dropping, but you don’t have to drop your fitness goals. Here’s how to stay healthy, active and in shape throughout the winter.

Are you a single parent or the sole earner in your household? If so, life insurance is even more important.

Want to learn how you can protect your family? Let’s connect to discuss how a life insurance policy helps secure your children’s financial future.

Why is life insurance so important for moms? (audio) Whether you’re a single mom or the main provider in your household, life insurance can secure your family’s financial future. Here’s how.

According to a Canadian Social Survey, the most common impact that the pandemic has had on family planning was to delay having children. It also found that Canadians without children were twice as likely to delay having children or have fewer children compared to those who were already parents.

Has the pandemic changed your feelings on family planning at all? I’d love to hear in the comments below 👇.

How the pandemic has changed family planning in Canada The COVID-19 pandemic has affected Canadians’ plans to have children, according to new analysis from Statistics Canada.

Some people try to make every hour of leisure time perfect, while others hate taking time off altogether. Research shows that both having and deciding how to spend leisure time can be a source of stress. Have we forgotten how to enjoy our free time? 💭

The way we view free time is making us less happy Some people try to make every hour of leisure perfect, while others hate taking time off altogether. Have we forgotten how to enjoy free time?

Enjoying the fresh outdoor air has so many positive effects on our overall health, including stress and anxiety. A team of researchers from the Montreal Health Institute (MHI) investigated it. They found that spending time in nature can improve cognitive function, improve mood, reduce anxiousness and decrease depression. Not to mention, it reduces cortisol levels and slows your heart rate.

If you’re feeling down, stressed or just simply need a break, try spending time outdoors. It’s one of the best things you can do.

Can spending time outdoors treat stress and anxiety? Looking for a simple way to combat stress and anxiety? Try getting outside!

There are four million Canadians still working from home. As companies outline the future of work, one expert says, they shouldn’t assume everyone prefers to work from home. The flexibility is great, avoiding congestion, long commutes and more family time. However, there’s the social aspect of work that is no longer present.

I want to know, do you prefer to fully work from home 👍, fully in the office 👏 or half and half 🥰?

'Not a cookie-cutter solution': Why remote work doesn't work for everyone | CBC Radio Many workers are enjoying the flexibility to work in pyjamas. But for those who crave the social aspect of working next to colleagues — or the routine that a 9-to-5 office job offers — the switch to working from home has impacted both their mental and physical health, says Laurent Lapierre.

You can do a lot online. You can order groceries, buy clothes, book a vacation and rate your healthcare providers. You can even buy life insurance. Sometimes, without answering any questions about your health. It’s simple for sure but the life insurance you buy online has some important differences from the life insurance you buy from an advisor. It’s important to know the differences before you buy. When purchasing insurance with an advisor you can get:

- potential cost savings and flexibility,
- one-on-one meetings,
- a better understanding of the coverage and what makes the most sense for you, and
- life insurance built into your overall holistic plan.

Just because it seems easy doesn’t mean it’s always the right decision. If you have any questions regarding what’s right for you, I’m here to help.

What's the difference between buying life insurance online and from an advisor You can buy life insurance online or from an advisor. But how do you choose between the options? Here’s what you need to know.

Still have some last-minute Christmas shopping to do for your kids? Here’s a list of toys and gifts that are going fast, so you better buy them ASAP!

The 64 Best Gifts for Kids Mom will be happy, too!

that 20-40% of diabetes cases in Canada could be undiagnosed?

Knowing your risk can help you make healthy choices or even avoid developing diabetes. Visit Lumino Health and take the simple 2-minute test from CANRISK.

Take the two-minute type 2 diabetes risk test Take a simple two-minute test to find out if you are at risk of having prediabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Small Business Saturday is coming up and a lot of people like to support small. As an entrepreneur, what can you do to make the most out of one of the busiest days of the year? Here are three strategies small business owners plan to use to generate more sales.

How to Make the Most of 2021's Small Business Saturday Nearly two-thirds of U.S shoppers prefer to do their holiday shopping with small businesses. Here's what entrepreneurs are doing to make the most of Small Business Saturday.

When considering which type of life insurance you should purchase, understanding the basics, benefits and realities are important. To find out if term insurance is right for you, contact me today!

How long can term life insurance "terms" be? Helmut wonders how long life insurance terms usually are—and if you need to get a medical exam to buy some when you need it.

What’s stressful to one person isn’t for another. Everyone feels and reacts to stress in different ways. How much stress you experience and how you react to it can lead to a wide variety of health problems. That’s why it’s critical to know what you can do about it. Don’t let stress take a toll on your health. Find ways of coping to help keep yourself healthy.

How can chronic stress affect your heart? Don’t let stress take a toll on your heart. Find ways of coping to help keep yourself healthy.

New homeowners! You've found your new house and they’ve accepted your offer. Now what? Here’s a list of what you need to do before you get the keys and move in.

Buying a house: What happens after your offer is accepted? You've found your new house and your offer was accepted. Now what? Here’s what you need to do before you get the keys and move in.

November is financial literacy month. Learn why financial literacy is a stubborn problem for many Canadians. On the go? Have a listen for an easy solution to improve your financial knowledge.

How can you improve your financial literacy? It’s financial literacy month. Learn why financial literacy is a stubborn problem. And listen for an easy solution for improving your financial knowledge.

Are you looking to quickly increase your financial literacy? In a series of videos, Sun Life helps explain insurance, savings, and investment terms – simply. Pick a few topics or watch them all to boost your financial know-how.

14 must-know terms to boost your financial literacy (video) Take 30 minutes to increase your financial IQ. We’ll explain insurance, savings and investment terms – simply. Watch now.

Saving for things like an emergency is important for many households and families to persevere through a financial shock. Even so, saving money is an area where many people struggle. What does behavioural science teach us about our problem with saving and how we can overcome it? Take a look here.

Why Some People Invest and Others Don't What makes some people more inclined to invest than their peers?

Good morning!

Are you thinking of spoiling your family and friends this holiday season? A new report from Deloitte found that Canadians are expected to spend an estimated $1,841 during the holidays. Key reasons for the splurge include desire to treat family and friends, higher cost of goods and the need to update personal items.

Make sure to keep supply chain issues in mind. Get your shopping done early to avoid delays!

Posthaste: Ready to splurge this holiday season? Majority of Canadians keen to run up credit card debt after tough year Breadcrumb Trail Links Executive Summary Executive Posthaste: Ready to splurge this holiday season? Majority of Canadians keen to run up credit card debt after tough year Average Canadian could spend a record $1,800 on family and friends Author of the article: Yadullah Hussain Publishing date: Oct 2...

Like many other critical life skills, financial literacy needs to be taught. Studies have suggested that only one in ten teenagers are financially literate. To help you start the conversation with your teenager, here are five must-know basics.

✔ Open a bank account in their name 💵. It teaches them essential banking jargon as well as the real-life tools for money management.

✔ Convince them to save for post-secondary school. Teaching them to set money aside from their part-time jobs will instill the habit of saving and help them learn the importance of money.

✔ Wants vs needs. Impulse buying affects everyone, not just teenagers. Lead by example and show them the difference between what is a 'want' and what is a 'need'.

✔ The perils of credit cards 💳. It's important to educate your teenager about the dangers of credit cards and how to properly use them. Once they turn 18 they will start receiving calls. Relying on credit cards can create a vicious cycle of debt. However, using them wisely can help set them up for a good financial future.

✔ Have tax talks. When your teenager gets their first summer job, they will have to start paying taxes. Even if not tax-liable now, they will soon be. It's important you start talking to them about how taxes work, different tax forms, and concepts such as tax refund vs tax liability.

Helping your children with their financial literacy is one of the best gifts you can give. Don't wait.

Acts of kindness have so many benefits, and not just for the receiver. Its also helps the giver feel better about themselves, and boosts their health and happiness. What are some simple acts of kindness you can do to help live a healthier, happier life? Here are 10 wonderful ideas!

10 Simple Acts of Kindness: Practicing Gratitude and Positive Thinking to Live a Happier Life | Spiritual Fit Club Practicing gratitude and positive thinking is an essential part in living a happier life. Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all the others. According to Harvard Health research, gratitude helps you "feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, imp ...

One of the most watched series on Netflix, Squid Game, shines a spotlight on South Korea’s real-life crisis of mounting household debt. But what about in Canada? Cost of living is rising and many are struggling to get by. This show hits much closer to home which is probably why it’s become such a big hit. Here are four key lessons to take from this hit show.

Pattie Lovett-Reid: Lessons learned from Squid Game There are money lessons to be learned for Canadians from the hit Netflix survival drama 'Squid Game', CTV's chief financial commentator Pattie Lovett-Reid writes in her latest column on CTVNews.ca.

In a matter of moments, vacation fun can go horribly wrong and if you’re hurt, travel insurance can save you. But sometimes high-risk activities can void your coverage. Here is what you need to know about travel insurance.

Are you covered? Surprising ways you could be excluded from your travel insurance policy Many travellers purchase insurance in case of emergencies, but you may be surprised to find out you're not always covered.

Age-related changes in sleep have been linked with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, depression and cardiovascular disease as well as changes in cognitive function. Where’s the sleep sweet spot? Aiming for 7 to 9 hours of sleep is optimal for most adults and our mental health.

Find your sleep 'sweet spot' to protect your brain as you age, study suggests How long older adults sleep could affect their brain health, according to a study published Monday in the journal JAMA Neurology. Disrupted sleep is common in late life, the study authors wrote, and associated with changes in cognitive function.

This month is small business month. I want to take this time to honour all the Canadian entrepreneurs. I appreciate your commitment to running your business – even through the toughest of times. Keep up the great work and know that if you need the help and support, I’m here!

Looking for some clever ways to save this fall? Whether it’s at home, shopping or with the kids, here are 39 ways you can put more in your pocket.

Fall Money Tips: 39 Clever Ways to Save Big Now - Boss Single Mama Looking for some easy fall money tips that can help you save? Check out these 30+ simple ways to save money this fall and keep more cash in your bank account.