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Reaching Your CPP Contribution Maximum: What Workers Need to Know

  Understanding when you’ve hit the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) maximum contribution for the year can save you confusion—and help you make sense of your paycheques as the year goes on. The CPP is designed with an annual limit, meaning once you’ve contributed the maximum required amount, no further CPP deductions should come off your income for the rest of that calendar year. How CPP Contributions Work CPP contributions are based on: Your employment income The year’s maximum pensionable earnings (YMPE) The CPP contribution rate Each year, the federal government sets: A maximum amount of income on which CPP contributions apply (the YMPE) The maximum total contribution you and your employer must make Once your income reaches that threshold, your contributions stop automatically. How to Know You’ve Reached the Maximum Here are the simplest ways to tell: Check your pay stub Your pay stub shows year‑to‑date CPP contributions. Compare this number to the annual maximum ...

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Fiscal Challenges Ahead: U.S. Bonds Face Uncertainty Under Trump’s New Term

 

As Donald Trump begins his new term as U.S. President, the fiscal landscape presents significant challenges that could impact the nation’s bond market. The prospect of rising government debt levels has already influenced investor sentiment, pushing U.S. government bond yields higher.

Trump’s trade and tax policies are expected to reignite inflation, exacerbating the fiscal strain. This scenario has led to concerns among investors, often referred to as “bond vigilantes,” who may dump government debt over worries about increasing deficits. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield has already risen to 4.479% in response to these concerns.

A critical hurdle for the new administration will be the reinstatement of the federal debt ceiling on January 2, 2025. This ceiling, which was suspended in 2023, must be approved by a majority of lawmakers. Past disputes over the debt limit have brought the country close to default, affecting its credit rating.

Analysts predict volatility in the bond market around these negotiations, even if a default is avoided. Measures such as Treasury puts or credit default swaps might be used to hedge against this volatility. The Treasury Department may need to employ extraordinary measures to fund the government until the so-called X date, when it can no longer meet all its obligations.

In summary, Trump’s presidency is expected to bring fiscal challenges that could strain the U.S. bond market, with rising deficits and potential volatility as key concerns for investors.


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