Personal finance for Canadians
Where to actually put your money — banking, investing, and credit, without the American advice that doesn't apply here.
Statement period —
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, Tickle & Compass may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. More on how this page makes money.
High-interest savings account
Look for one that's CDIC-insured with no monthly fee — most big banks still pay a default rate that isn't worth mentioning.
No-fee chequing with cash back
Skip the $16/month your bank charges just to hold a paycheque you deposited yourself.
Credit-building prepaid card
Reports to Canadian bureaus — useful if you're rebuilding credit or have no history yet.
TFSA-first robo-advisor
Handles the TFSA-vs-RRSP order of operations for you instead of leaving contribution room unused.
Self-directed investing platform
Lower fees than a robo-advisor once you're comfortable picking your own ETFs.
Round-up micro-investing app
For people who won't open an investing app on purpose but will let spare change do it for them.
Free credit score monitoring
Checking your own Equifax/TransUnion score is free in Canada and doesn't ding it — check it before a lender does.
Personal loan comparison
For consolidating high-interest debt (credit cards) into one lower-rate payment.
Term life insurance comparison
Cheaper than most people assume — worth comparing a few quotes before deciding you can't afford it.
NETFILE-certified tax software
Files directly with the CRA — skip the accountant fee if your return is straightforward.
TFSA or RRSP First?
Which account to fund first, the mistake that costs the most contribution room, and what comes before either.
Check Your Score First
Soft pulls vs. hard pulls, and why your file isn't identical at both credit bureaus.
Pick a Real Savings Account
CDIC coverage, fee-free basics, and the real dollar gap between a big-bank rate and a competitive one.
Do Your Rewards Pay Off?
Cash back vs. points, the annual-fee break-even math, and why carrying a balance erases rewards instantly.
Is Term Life Really That Cheap?
Term vs. permanent insurance, the real price gap, how much coverage you actually need, and the employer-coverage gap.
Sole Proprietor Basics
Taxes on profit, both halves of CPP, instalments, and the liability catch.
Starting a Sole Proprietorship
Five first steps: name, bank account, records, tax set-aside, insurance.
What Sole Proprietors Can Deduct
Vehicles, home office, meals, equipment, and keeping the receipts.
GST/HST for Small Business
The $30,000 line, input tax credits, and why the tax you collect isn't yours.
Business Insurance for Sole Proprietors
Liability, property, interruption, cyber, and why your home policy may not cover the business.
Bookkeeping Basics
Separate accounts, weekly records, T2125 categories, digital records, and backups.
Incorporate or Not?
Liability, the small-business tax rate, and what incorporating really costs.
How Incorporating Works
Federal or provincial, named vs. numbered, articles, and setup afterwards.
Your Corporation's Yearly Checklist
T2 return, tax payments, annual returns, records, and shareholder loans.
Salary or Dividends?
How owners pay themselves, and what each does to CPP and RRSP room.
Hiring Your First Employee
Employee vs. contractor, the payroll account, remittances, T4 slips, and workers' comp.
Switching From Sole Prop to Corporation
The triggers, moving assets in, updating everything, and timing the switch.
Free download
One page: which account to fund first depending on your income, and the mistake that costs Canadians the most contribution room.
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About the name
In Newfoundland and Labrador, a tickle is a narrow channel of sea between two pieces of land. It's a shortcut if you know it and a hazard if you don't, because the tides, currents and rocks all matter.
Canadian personal finance can feel the same way: TFSA or RRSP, which bank, which account, what the fine print says. There's a way through, but it helps to have something pointing the right direction.
That's the compass. We don't tell you what to do with your money. We give you clear, Canada-specific information so you can find your own way through.
Not financial advice. This is a starting point for your own research, not a recommendation for your specific situation — compare rates and terms before signing up for anything.
How this page makes money: some links above are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, Tickle & Compass may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.