Blog
What's changing in Canadian and US personal finance, and what it actually means for your plan. For evergreen deep-dives, see theguides.RSS feed.
- Bank of Canada Hikes to 2.5%, Fed Holds: What Moves. The Bank of Canada raised its rate to 2.5% on October 28 while the Fed held at 3.75%–4.00%. What it means for prime, a HELOC, and the CRA prescribed rate.
- 2027 401(k) and IRA Limits: What's Official So Far. The IRS hasn't announced 2027 401(k) and IRA limits yet, but the 2027 HSA limits are official. See the confirmed numbers, the 2026 baseline, and how the adjustment works.
- I Bond Rate Reset Nov 1: The 2.04% Inflation Math. The I bond's inflation half is already knowable from published CPI-U data. Here is the arithmetic, what stays unknown until November, and how the rate works.
- 2027 Social Security COLA Is 3.6%: The Math. SSA announced a 3.6% COLA for 2027 on October 14. The exact CPI-W arithmetic, plus the new taxable maximum, earnings-test limits and average benefits.
- Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: What Changed. Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. What CMS has published for 2027: the $2,400 Part D cap, premiums, and how IRMAA hits taxes.
- Bank of Canada October 2026 Decision: Your Plan. The Bank of Canada held at 2.25% and the Fed hiked. Ahead of the October 28 decision, here is what moves in a Canadian plan: prime, bonds and the CRA rate.
- Fed Rate Hike 2026: Impact on Your Plan. The Fed raised rates to 3.75%–4.00% on September 16, 2026. What that moves in a retirement plan: cash, bonds, I bonds, debt and Social Security math.
- Social Security Earnings Test Explained. Claim Social Security before full retirement age and keep working, and the earnings test can withhold benefits. How the 2026 limits and recalculation work.
- How CPP, OAS and Social Security Indexing Works. OAS rises 1.4% on October 1 and the 2027 Social Security COLA lands October 14. Three pensions, three indexing formulas, and the arithmetic behind each.
- FP Canada 2026 Return Assumptions for Planners. FP Canada's 2026 guidelines trimmed equity return assumptions. See the exact numbers planners now use and how to pressure-test your own plan against them.