Banking – Worthfy Financial Literacy Counselling

Paper checks fraud

WSJ Your Money Briefing Podcast reported how writing paper checks can lead to fraud. We might think that who use checks these days? 😊 I know. You might be surprised. Many landlords still ask for checks to pay rents. Many seniors still have the habit to use checks to pay for their bills. The criminalsContinue reading “Paper checks fraud”

Apple launched high yield saving account

Apple just launched its high yield saving account on April 17. What a great timing! Right during the banking crisis when people moving their savings out of regional banks to bigger banks. It was reported that massive of amount of funds poured into this new Apple saving account. The amount of deposits the Apple savingsContinue reading “Apple launched high yield saving account”

When to use GIC

GIC is so popular these days because 1-year GIC annual interest rate is 5% or more which we haven’t seen for a while. When the stock and bond market is so volatile, it can be a quite attractive option. Here is what Motive Financial GIC rates by term. Very interestingly, the longer the term, theContinue reading “When to use GIC”

Open a business bank account

I helped someone to open a small business chequing account recently. She and her husband are starting a small business. I suggested RBC digital choice business account because its monthly fee is $5 which is the lowest. She does all her transactions online so it fits her needs. We tried to apply online. After weContinue reading “Open a business bank account”

Oh my, the government websites!

I was helping someone to register GST/HST account online for her small business. When she clicks register, it just went back to the original webpage. She and me looked all around but just can’t find the page to register online. She had to call. The service Rep on the call was nice, but what aContinue reading “Oh my, the government websites!”

Oh no, the bank account dips below the minimum balance!

Someone told me this story perhaps many of us have experienced. He has been a customer with one of the big 5 banks since the 90s. It charges $9.99 monthly fee for the chequing account if the balance is below certain amount. He has been very careful and his balance was never below the balanceContinue reading “Oh no, the bank account dips below the minimum balance!”

Wrong book values?

The book value of a stock, bond, ETF or other securities is the dollar amount when it is bought. Usually we buy the same security at different time because we keep adding to it, so the book value is usually an average of the prices at different time when it is bought. This value isContinue reading “Wrong book values?”

Investment account transfer fee rebate

Yesterday, I suddenly got this email from my brokerage saying that I got a negative balance on my account. Right away, identify theft jumped into my mind. How can it be negative? I just checked yesterday. Did someone deplete my account? I rushed to my computer and found that only cash balance was negative forContinue reading “Investment account transfer fee rebate”

A good discount brokerage

The online discount brokerage has been quite popular which took market share away from the big banks. I guessed TD Direct Investing was TD’s response to this threat. The web user interface is satisfying but I don’t really need it that good. Most investors are not active traders. They are just doing passive investing. TheContinue reading “A good discount brokerage”

Saving account interest rate promotion period

I kept getting this ad whenever I open my Simplii Financial banking app promoting a 5% interest rate for savings or deposits. Sounds like a good deal until I read the fine print. It is only a promotional offer which ends by April 30 2023. What the heck! I feel this is the cat andContinue reading “Saving account interest rate promotion period”