Good afternoon! Time is the one financial advisor that never charges a fee, and today it’s working overtime on your behalf. The years you’ve already logged, and the ones still ahead, might be the most valuable assets you own.
On The Money Today:
How a pricey year at the pump turns into a bigger CPP cheque for years to come
The decades-old insurance policy that could finally pay you back
Why starting 10 years sooner is worth about $2 million in O’Leary’s math
Let's dive in.
RETIREMENT
Your CPP is getting a bigger raise in 2027. Will it cost you elsewhere?
Higher gas prices made this fall pricier for anyone on a fixed income, and your CPP cheque is about to reflect it. The January bump is now expected to come in higher than first forecast, and it lands automatically if you already collect. But a raise on paper doesn’t always mean more money in your pocket, depending on how the rest of your retirement income stacks up.
Why it matters:
CPP rose just 2% in January 2026, so this is a noticeably bigger bump for Canadians already squeezed by 3.1% inflation. Because indexation compounds, every January raise builds on the last for as long as you collect.
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INSURANCE
That old life insurance policy could be your ticket to a $213.5M settlement
If you or a parent bought life insurance in the late ’80s or ’90s, the paperwork sitting in your filing cabinet could be worth a cheque. A court just approved a $213.5-million settlement, and roughly 70,000 Canadians stand to benefit. Some will get paid automatically, but others will walk away with nothing unless they act.
Why it matters:
Close to 29,000 former policyholders and estates will have to apply to get paid, and any cash left unclaimed goes back to the insurer. A forgotten policy in a late parent’s files could be money your family loses for good.
MUST READ
Kevin O’Leary’s 15% rule can turn a $65K salary into millions, if you start in time
Seven figures can feel out of reach on a $65,000 salary, but Kevin O’Leary says it comes down to one rule he gives his own kids. It takes no stock picking, no market timing and no windfall, just a fixed slice of every paycheque you never touch. One variable matters far more than salary, and it’s worth sharing with the younger savers in your family.
Why it matters:
In the article’s example, a 10-year late start costs roughly $2 million by age 65, even though the early saver contributes just $97,500 more. For parents and grandparents, helping someone start now could be the most valuable gift you ever give.
MONEY IQ
Kevin O’Leary became a household name as one of the original investors on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. What year did the show premiere?
ALSO MAKING THE ROUNDS TODAY
About half of Canadians now expect a recession within a year, but a simple stress test of your budget can show whether your finances would hold up
A Nova Scotia woman who refused a fake CIBC caller’s instructions ended up with armed police at her door, and the scam behind it cost Canadians $28.6 million in just six months
More than 5,000 Bahamas-bound cruise passengers landed in Halifax instead, and your travel insurance may not pay a cent if your ship changes course
MONEY IQ: HOW'D YOU DO?
Answer: D) 2006. The show debuted on CBC in October 2006, and O’Leary stayed on as a Dragon until 2014.
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