Account orderJun 18, 202613 min read
TFSA vs RRSP in Canada: The Kitchen-Table Version
The better account usually depends on your tax rate today, your likely tax rate later, and whether you need flexibility more than a refund.
Read the noteArticles
Money notes with the receipts still attached.
Account moves, brokerages, fees, promotions, and the small household details that rarely fit into a clean comparison chart. Each note says what happened, what I checked, and where the idea may not fit.
4 notes
Accounts and family money
What to fund first, how registered accounts differ, and where household constraints change the answer.
Account orderJun 18, 202612 min read
RRSP Match First: How Much To Contribute Before Anything Else
If your employer matches RRSP contributions, the first question is usually not TFSA vs RRSP. It is how to capture the full match without over-contributing or breaking cash flow.
Read the noteAccount orderJun 18, 202613 min read
FHSA vs RRSP for First-Home Buyers
If you are actually saving for a first home, the FHSA can change the whole account order. The RRSP still matters, but it is not the same kind of tool.
Read the noteFamily moneyJun 18, 202613 min read
RESP CESG Pacing: Avoid Leaving Grant Money Unused
The RESP decision is not just whether education matters. It is how to pace contributions so the grant gets claimed without quietly over-stretching the household.
Read the note3 notes
Banking, cards, and brokerages
First-person product notes with fees, terms, and the practical details that affected the decision.
Credit cardsAug 24, 202615 min read
My Wealthsimple Credit Card Review: Visa Infinite+
I kept the Wealthsimple Visa Infinite+ because the fee is waived for our setup, the flat cash back can go straight back to investing once transactions settle, and the payment and phone-tap details are unusually thoughtful.
Read the noteBankingMay 22, 20267 min read
Why Our Paycheque Now Lands at Wealthsimple
Moving direct deposit felt less like a rate decision and more like tidying up the weekly money routine at home.
Read the noteBrokeragesMay 22, 20268 min read
Why I Stayed With Questrade for So Long Before Switching
Questrade was not just inertia. For a Canadian household buying in USD, it solved a real problem before Wealthsimple caught up.
Read the note3 notes
Investing costs and offers
Transfer promotions, currency conversion, and the arithmetic behind headline benefits.
PromotionsAug 24, 202612 min read
Wealthsimple Referral Code Canada 2026: Get $25
Code EHJW9W opens Wealthsimple's live $25 signup offer. Here is the exact deposit rule, payout timeline, disclosure, and why the separate 5% credit-card headline needs an asterisk.
Read the notePromotionsMay 22, 202614 min read
Why I Moved Our TFSA and RRSP for Wealthsimple's 3% Match
The 3% match got my attention. The real decision was whether our long-term money could live with the five-year strings attached.
Read the noteInvestingMay 22, 202613 min read
The FX Fee Problem That Kept Me From Switching Earlier
For Canadian investors buying in USD, the quiet currency costs can matter more than the trading commission everyone talks about.
Read the note1 note
Lessons from the notebook
Process lessons from real outcomes, including the times a good result still involved luck.
LessonsMay 22, 20266 min read
My NVIDIA Lesson: A Good Thesis Can Still Be Lucky
I saw something real early, but one big win can mess with your head if you let it turn into proof that you are brilliant.
Read the note