Loan loss provisions help banks manage their cash flows when a loan turns bad – and they can be great indicators not only of a bank’s financial health, but also that of the economy overall.
2 minutes
HELOCs can seem like a good way to access cash, but they need to be used carefully to avoid risking the asset used to guarantee them.
2 minutes
When a financial crisis hits, it’s easy to panic. But focusing on the steps you can take to shore up your finances during a crisis can give you a sense of control and make sure you’re in as good a shape as possible when you come out on the other side.
5 minutes
Economists have shorthand to talk about how long economic recovery can take, based on the shapes graphs take when you input key data.
1 minute
The economic downturn brought on by COVID-19 may be too big to have a direct historical comparison, but that doesn’t mean the volatility it brings won’t pass.
4 minutes
Central banks can use quantitative easing to boost the economy during a downturn, but it’s best used only in case of emergency.
3 minutes
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One of the ways banks make money is off the interest payments and expenses they receive from the loans they give out. If those loans aren’t repaid or the interest payments aren’t as high as expected, the banks’ earnings can t...
A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is a loan that lets you borrow against the equity in your home. It’s typically offered as part of your mortgage by a financial institution, but it can also be a stand-alone loan.
Unl...
A major financial crisis like the one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic can immediately cause panic, but there are ways to ensure you’re in as good a position as possible when you come out on the other side.
“I like to think...
The causes and nature of a recession can impact how that crisis plays out and how long the recovery will take.
Economists have an informal shorthand of recession shapes to described these rebounds, based on the general sha...
One of the many things that happened during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic was a search for context and perspective. Faced with a health crisis that forced the shutdown of the economy, people were left grasping for a...
Quantitative easing refers to a central bank buying government bonds and other assets to stimulate the economy and return it to full employment.
Banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Canada or the European Centr...
In the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the extent of the damage the economy and financial markets would suffer started to become clear, the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada made a series of increasingly la...
When the economy is struggling, it’s usually central banks that will step in to give it a little nudge through a shift in monetary policy. But when that’s not enough, governments can step in with fiscal policy changes.
“Hi...
Accounting standards tell companies how to report their financial results. They help create a standardized system of reporting so that analysts, lenders and other financial professionals and investors can compare companies an...
It’s the job of financial advisors and wealth managers to create the right asset mix for clients, so whether you have the kind of advisor who’s constantly updating your holdings or one who sets it and forgets it, there will b...
Financial compliance is about making sure a company follows the rules. It’s meant to maintain investor confidence and make sure markets are efficient, transparent and fair. Over time, compliance systems have become more sophi...
Markets have cycles. They can be volatile and prone to sudden drops. But there’s a big difference between the usual ups and downs of financial markets and the extreme highs and lows that come with financial bubbles.
Over h...
Banks are one of the cornerstones of our financial system and they play a key role in providing liquidity to markets, individuals and businesses. But in order to fulfill their role, these institutions need a strong balance sh...
Paul Volcker, who served as the chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve during a period of dangerously high inflation, died on Dec. 8, 2019 at the age of 92.
The days that followed were filled with tributes, editorials and obitu...
Year-end office parties can be a great opportunity to unwind with colleges and celebrate successes achieved throughout the year.
They can also be an opportunity to meet and network with people who aren’t a part of your day...
Loonshots
By Safi Bahcall
- Less financially-focused but chockfull of valuable insights about success and innovation.
- Includes behavioural analysis and examines the commonalities that support great success and “wild” i...
Alternative investments can be trickier to evaluate than traditional companies because so many of the traditional signposts aren’t there, but if you’re able to help a valuable start-up develop its potential, the payoff can be...
What are negative interest rates?
Negative rates happen when central banks aggressively ease monetary policy, setting their benchmark rate below zero, so that other banks have to pay to store their money instead...
While much of the news around the legalization of cannabis focused on the recreational market and the highs (and lows) of pot stocks, a medical company has been crunching the numbers and shifting through data to bring some mu...
It can be difficult for busy capital markets professionals to find the time or energy to network, and making those connections can be especially difficult for women who don’t always have the same access to senior leadership a...
Fund managers are increasingly looking to incorporate ESG and environmental impact considerations into their portfolios, but they need clear definitions to understand what they are investing in – and to ensure those bonds, st...
If you’re looking for versatile retirement income, your best bet may be to get to know the TFSA (Tax Free Savings Account).
Consider it a savings account that can provide long-term compounded growth without the intrusion o...