Financial Product Reviews

The best time to check your credit score is always now, and with Credit Karma, the price is right at $0. This free credit score service gives you access to your credit score and report, provides weekly updates, and even sends alerts whenever there are notable changes to your file. Credit Karma pulls data from TransUnion and Equifax, giving you a reliable snapshot of where you stand. Plus, you’ll also get access to identity monitoring for extra peace of mind.

An open variable mortgage gives you complete control over how and when you pay off your mortgage, allowing prepayments or even full repayment at any time with no penalty fees. You'll pay for this flexibility, of course, in that you'll pay a higher mortgage rate, but for many, the flexibility is worth it.

A Desjardins RRSP can be a smart choice for Desjardins clients trying to plan for their future. As with all Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), this account offers a tax-free home for any retirement savings, with room and opportunity to add several types of investments – as long as it stays within the government-set annual contribution limits.

IPVanish provides secure, encrypted, and private access to the internet, regardless of where you are or what device you’re using. One common use of a VPN service like this is to unblock American Netflix and streaming services not normally available in Canada. For the most part, IPVanish fits the bill, though there have been complaints about streaming being a bit slow through this service.

NordVPN has virtual private network servers around the world, giving you access to internet content no matter where you (or it) happens to be. With one NordVPN account you can connect up to 10 devices using all major operating systems, including Linux. And if you're particularly security-minded, you can combine NordVPN with The Onion Router (TOR) to give you added anonymity.

Open variable mortgages generally have limited terms – usually a single option of either 3 or 5 years – and a middling mortgage rate that isn't terrible, but also isn't great. These sorts of mortgages are pretty niche and only of interest to people who have a specific and somewhat complicated mortgage situation on their hands, in that they need a mortgage, but they also want to be able to pay it off in full any time they want, without paying any extra penalties.

One of the lesser-known types of mortgage is the open fixed rate mortgage, which is simply a fixed rate mortgage that you can pay off in full at any time without additional penalties. These mortgages are primarily for people who are selling another property, or who are expecting a sudden lump sum of money, such as through an inheritance.

RBC offers an impressive spread of TFSA investment options, appealing to hands-on and laid-back investors alike. If you prefer trading your money yourself, you can open a RBC Direct Investing TFSA. But if you prefer investing to be a bit more lowkey, you can choose to invest in TFSA GICs, mutual funds, portfolios, or even a registered savings account.

Western Union Money Transfer is a leading brand in the international money transfer space because of its affordability, seamless user experience, and multiple payment options.

Private Internet Access is a Virtual Private Network that gives your internet traffic added security and privacy. You can connect an unlimited number of devices at once, block ads and trackers, and enjoy private peer-to-peer file exchanging. Of course, it’ll also give you the ability to route around geoblocking to watch American Netflix in Canada (and other U.S. streaming services).