top of page
Modern Cents Musings
Discover
Our financial planners are often featured in popular Canadian media outlets.
Explore the latest financial insights and trends from our team of Financial Planners.
Filter items by Planner
Summer camp ideas for kids: How Canadian parents can save
For this week’s No More Ls column, we’re looking at how expensive planning kids’ summer activities can be and what to do about it.
Garry Marr: With housing prices flat, the high cost of moving has never been more clear
Rising transaction costs and flat housing prices may be a reason to think twice about moving homes this season
Credit Card Travel Insurance, Debt Traps & Moving Money to Canada: What You Need to Know | Full Episode
Certified financial planner Vikki Brown from Modern Cents explains practical ways to move money from the US to Canada, compares banks vs. fintech options like Wise, and outlines what to watch for with exchange rates, fees, Norbert’s Gambit, and potential tax considerations.
This advisor says being independent, yet still part of a team, is her best career decision
Shay Steacy building the insulated skirting on her tiny home in Brockville, Ont., in 2022.
Borrowing to fund your TFSA or RRSP is tempting — but is it worth the risk?
TFSA vs. RRSP: Borrowing to invest in a registered account is no different from other leveraged investing — you need to understand the risks
Can Yasmin, 55, afford to buy a Vancouver condo without risking her financial security?
Yasmin will be making more money, but what are the pros and cons of buying a condo in pricey Vancouver?
This advisor studied volcanology before choosing a career in financial services
In Behind the Advice, we ask advisors about their relationship with money from a young age, lessons learned over the years, and how those experiences influence the advice they give clients today.
Andrea Thompson: Founder of Modern Cents - Adaptive Financial Planning and the Generational Shift
In this episode of The Forbes Podcast, Penny Forbes speaks with Andrea Thompson, Founder of the advice only financial planning firm Modern Cents, about how Canadians are redefining financial freedom — shifting from “retire at 65” to live well now. Andrea shares how Adaptive Financial Planning supports a lifestyle built on purpose, flexibility, and experiences today, not someday.
With their mortgage paid, how can Kent and Remy balance charitable gifts and retirement saving?
Kent, 45, and Remy, 50, bring in a family income of $390,000 yearly, with Kent's salary making up more than $300,000.
Cross-border money mistakes (and how to avoid them!)
If you’ve ever lived, worked, or held citizenship in both Canada and the U.S., your financial situation could be more complex than you realize. In this episode, explains what cross-border Canadians need to know about taxes, investments, retirement accounts, and common mistakes to avoid. Whether you’re planning a move or just want to stay onside with the IRS, this is a conversation worth hearing.
Interview with an Actuary: My Dad, Derek Thompson, Reflects on a Life in Financial Services
“When I started, interest rates were 18% and there were over 100 insurance companies in Canada. It’s a different world now—and the changes weren’t just technical, they were cultural."
How can Patrick, 61, and Ted, 60, successfully blend their finances?
Patrick and Ted, in Toronto, on April 9. Short-term, their goals include a major home renovation, international travel, and eventually replacing their car.
Five questions cross-border experts are facing as trade war escalates
Clients with connections to both sides of the border are worried about social security, tariffs being imposed on services, and more.
Lindsay, 64, is ‘house rich, cash poor.’ What should she do when she retires this year?
Lindsay, 64, has a retirement spending goal of $75,000 a year.
Cashing In
How to get the most out of RESP savings
What Canadians with DB plans should consider before proceeding with pension buybacks
Pension buybacks are especially beneficial when the client’s income is lower and is expected to increase over time.
When can Max, 54, and Erica, 42, leave their high-stress jobs and work part time instead?
Max and Erica also want to travel more as a family and eventually give each of their children a property.
U.S. elimination of WEP is good news for cross-border pensioners
Eligible Canadians with a U.S. work history will get their social security benefits restored
Three things advice-only financial planners get wrong when starting out
Some advice-only financial planners find it challenging to set aside time to run their business and to establish fees that provide a steady income.
Stretching holiday budgets: How shoppers at Devonshire Mall are navigating inflation
Think you’re too young for life insurance? Buying early can help save on premiums
Buying life insurance in your 20s can feel like an added cost to an already long list of expenses. But experts say it can safeguard loved ones if life doesn’t go as planned.
The pros and cons of retired grandparents moving closer to their families
While many grandparents are eager to move closer to their families in retirement, some may eventually tire of a life of babysitting and chauffeuring, and miss their old social networks.
Simplifying Your FInancial Life & Mindset with Andrea Thompson from Modern Cents
Raise your hand if you find money overwhelming, even a little. Most of us do or have at some point because none of us were taught about how to understand, use or manage our finances.
This week's guest, who happens to be one of my best friends, Andrea Thompson from Modern Cents, is going to help simplify them for us.
This week's guest, who happens to be one of my best friends, Andrea Thompson from Modern Cents, is going to help simplify them for us.
Should Melissa, 60, sell her condo or keep it as an investment property?
Melissa also has to consider the potential difficulty of owning property so far away and while she is out of the country.
Help to keep vacation budgets in check
Vacations are important, but they shouldn't leave clients with months of credit card debt.
bottom of page