The RRSP and Home Buyers Plan (HBP) are two important tax vehicles that can help Canadians save for their future. However, it is important to understand the difference between them to avoid a surprise tax bill. Something to keep in mind is that if you transfer your bonus or have company contributions to an RRSP they will very likely be pre-tax with no taxes withheld. However, HBP contributions do not reduce taxes owed - meaning if you put your bonus directly into an RRSP and then use it to repay the HBP you could end up with a hefty tax bill.

The recent news of the demise of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has sparked debate over the role of government in protecting depositors and ensuring that banks do not become a burden on taxpayers. SVB’s failure was caused by its heavy investment in long-term bonds, whose value dropped when interest rates rose. This left the bank unable to meet its obligations to depositors, who would have lost their money had the government not stepped in with emergency funds.

The housing market in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is hot and getting hotter. If you’re looking for a new-build 4 bed, 4 bath home, you may be out of luck; however, there are plenty of other options available. In the past 180 days, houses of similar size have sold for around $1.5 million. Of course, this could vary depending on what specific features and amenities you’re looking for in your dream home.

The recent news of Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) potential failure has sparked a debate about the financial security of small and mid-sized businesses. SVB is a well-reputed bank that provides services to various startups, from small businesses to tech giants. However, due to some unexpected circumstances, SVB is now facing financial difficulties, leaving many people concerned about their deposits and investments in the bank. Some people have argued that depositors should only be insured up to $250,000 and any remaining assets should be appropriated by the government. Others have countered this argument with concerns over how this would impact small and mid-sized businesses who rely on the funds for their operations. In addition, there are worries about the impact on employees who may lose their jobs if these companies become insolvent as a result of this situation.

In 2021, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) experienced a huge influx in deposits, jumping from $61.76bn at the end of 2019 to $189.20bn at the end of 2021. With such a large increase in funds, SVB was unable to grow its loan book fast enough to generate the yield they wanted on this capital. As a result, they invested in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) with these deposits for their hold-to-maturity (HTM) portfolio and got an average yield of 1.56%.