Brett Surbey
Brett Surbey
Freelance writerBrett Surbey is a corporate paralegal with KMSC Law LLP and freelance writer who has written for Yahoo Finance Canada, Success Magazine, Publishers Weekly, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Advisor and multiple academic journals. He and his family live in northern Alberta, Canada.
Brett Surbey is a corporate paralegal with KMSC Law LLP and freelance writer who has written for Yahoo Finance Canada, Success Magazine, Publishers Weekly, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Advisor and multiple academic journals. He and his family live in northern Alberta, Canada.
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News • May 05
Statistics Canada confirms 4.5 million Canadians are living in poverty — here's how to protect yourself
New data from StatCan showcases that the cost of living is climbing higher and higher, with 11% of Canadians living below the poverty line
News • May 05
Statistics Canada confirms 4.5 million Canadians are living in poverty — here's how to protect yourself
New data from StatCan showcases that the cost of living is climbing higher and higher, with 11% of Canadians living below the poverty line
News • 1161 views
Toronto landlord gets $31k surprise water bill due to faulty meter transmission unit — what you should know
A Toronto landlord’s catch-up water bill reveals just how much consumers are at the mercy of service measurement devices, even if they’re ineffective
News • 1161 views
Toronto landlord gets $31k surprise water bill due to faulty meter transmission unit — what you should know
A Toronto landlord’s catch-up water bill reveals just how much consumers are at the mercy of service measurement devices, even if they’re ineffective
Managing Money • Apr 29
Cucumbers up 28%, coffee up 30%: why grocery prices keep climbing and how Canadians can cut their bills now
While beef and coffee have been making headlines, vegetables are starting to show signs of major inflation as well
Managing Money • Apr 29
Cucumbers up 28%, coffee up 30%: why grocery prices keep climbing and how Canadians can cut their bills now
While beef and coffee have been making headlines, vegetables are starting to show signs of major inflation as well
News • 1399 views
Surveillance pricing targets Canadians online — here's how to stop paying more than you should
There’s more that goes into the price you pay for a product than you think
News • 1399 views
Surveillance pricing targets Canadians online — here's how to stop paying more than you should
There’s more that goes into the price you pay for a product than you think
News • Apr 24
Booking.com data breach puts Canadian travellers at risk — how to spot the scam
A confirmed data breach at Booking.com is fuelling a new wave of reservation hijacking scams — here's how to spot the red flags and what to do if your information was compromised
News • Apr 24
Booking.com data breach puts Canadian travellers at risk — how to spot the scam
A confirmed data breach at Booking.com is fuelling a new wave of reservation hijacking scams — here's how to spot the red flags and what to do if your information was compromised
News • 2046 views
A B.C. court ruled $5.1 million wasn't a gift — what this means for Canadians giving money to loved ones
A B.C. Supreme Court ruling exposes what can go wrong when Canadians transfer large sums to people close to them — and how to document your intentions before it's too late
News • 2046 views
A B.C. court ruled $5.1 million wasn't a gift — what this means for Canadians giving money to loved ones
A B.C. Supreme Court ruling exposes what can go wrong when Canadians transfer large sums to people close to them — and how to document your intentions before it's too late
News • Apr 21
Montreal landlords are raising rents as high as 20% — here's how Canadians can legally fight back
Landlords in Montreal can request almost any rent increase — but Canadians have more power to push back than they realize, including the right to contest rates above the TAL's 3.1% guideline
News • Apr 21
Montreal landlords are raising rents as high as 20% — here's how Canadians can legally fight back
Landlords in Montreal can request almost any rent increase — but Canadians have more power to push back than they realize, including the right to contest rates above the TAL's 3.1% guideline
News • 7540 views
50% water in the fuel tank: The Ontario gas station incident every Canadian driver needs to know about
An Esso station in Elmvale, ON sold fuel with up to 50% water contamination — leaving drivers stranded and facing steep repair bills. Here's who's liable and how to protect yourself
News • 7540 views
50% water in the fuel tank: The Ontario gas station incident every Canadian driver needs to know about
An Esso station in Elmvale, ON sold fuel with up to 50% water contamination — leaving drivers stranded and facing steep repair bills. Here's who's liable and how to protect yourself
News • Apr 09
Ontario police are hunting an identity fraud suspect — and it's a warning for all Canadians
If you’re a victim of identity fraud, you need to read this
News • Apr 09
Ontario police are hunting an identity fraud suspect — and it's a warning for all Canadians
If you’re a victim of identity fraud, you need to read this
Managing Money • Apr 09
A $1,300 fraudulent Rogers bill destroyed one Canadian's credit score for 8 months — here's how to fight back
When bad actors open accounts in your name, the financial fallout can last years — here's how to spot application fraud early, dispute unfair bills and protect your credit score
Managing Money • Apr 09
A $1,300 fraudulent Rogers bill destroyed one Canadian's credit score for 8 months — here's how to fight back
When bad actors open accounts in your name, the financial fallout can last years — here's how to spot application fraud early, dispute unfair bills and protect your credit score
Life • Apr 01
One spelling mistake cost this traveller $6,000 — and it could happen to you
There’s no such thing as a small mistake when it comes to international travel
Life • Apr 01
One spelling mistake cost this traveller $6,000 — and it could happen to you
There’s no such thing as a small mistake when it comes to international travel
Retirement • Mar 31
Should you take CPP early or tap your RRSP first? What one couple's story reveals
What’s the best way to fund your retirement?
Retirement • Mar 31
Should you take CPP early or tap your RRSP first? What one couple's story reveals
What’s the best way to fund your retirement?
News • Mar 26
Toronto family says they can’t access $100K they have saved for their disabled son until he’s 60. Here’s why
Should the RDSP be reassessed to better meet families' needs?
News • Mar 26
Toronto family says they can’t access $100K they have saved for their disabled son until he’s 60. Here’s why
Should the RDSP be reassessed to better meet families' needs?
News • Mar 26
1 in 5 Canadian seniors faces a "poverty-level" lifestyle — here's how to access essential financial help
Are we measuring financial hardship for seniors the wrong way?
News • Mar 26
1 in 5 Canadian seniors faces a "poverty-level" lifestyle — here's how to access essential financial help
Are we measuring financial hardship for seniors the wrong way?
Mortgages • 1171 views
I helped my son buy his first condo and it’s dropped $20K in value. Should we have waited before buying?
This is a pretty common scenario
Mortgages • 1171 views
I helped my son buy his first condo and it’s dropped $20K in value. Should we have waited before buying?
This is a pretty common scenario
News • Mar 17
A $50K roofing nightmare: High-pressure sales tactics robbed an Ontario woman — how to avoid a loss like this
Emotional manipulation is one of the most successful acts of duplicity
News • Mar 17
A $50K roofing nightmare: High-pressure sales tactics robbed an Ontario woman — how to avoid a loss like this
Emotional manipulation is one of the most successful acts of duplicity
News • Mar 10
Care worker arrested after allegedly stealing $200K from vulnerable senior. Here’s how to protect your loved ones
This demographic is ripe for bad actors
News • Mar 10
Care worker arrested after allegedly stealing $200K from vulnerable senior. Here’s how to protect your loved ones
This demographic is ripe for bad actors
Loans • Mar 09
Ontarians say they signed higher-interest auto loans after being sold a warranty — it could happen to you, too
“I’ve never heard of a warranty offered as a loan"
Loans • Mar 09
Ontarians say they signed higher-interest auto loans after being sold a warranty — it could happen to you, too
“I’ve never heard of a warranty offered as a loan"
Managing Money • Mar 06
92 year old charged $70/day while waiting in the hospital for long-term care — why some patients face daily charges
The family was put through the ringer during Christmas
Managing Money • Mar 06
92 year old charged $70/day while waiting in the hospital for long-term care — why some patients face daily charges
The family was put through the ringer during Christmas
Managing Money • Mar 06
Ontario student shocked by $14K loan after mall sales pitch — know when cooling-off rules can cancel a contract
A lesson in reading the fine print
Managing Money • Mar 06
Ontario student shocked by $14K loan after mall sales pitch — know when cooling-off rules can cancel a contract
A lesson in reading the fine print
News • Feb 26
700 complaints lodged at Ontario-based appliance repair service accused of misleading and overcharging clients
Service-related fraud is omnipresent across Canada
News • Feb 26
700 complaints lodged at Ontario-based appliance repair service accused of misleading and overcharging clients
Service-related fraud is omnipresent across Canada
Investing • Feb 25
Is your partner’s 'play it safe' strategy costing you a comfortable retirement?
New study finds most couples want to invest together but can’t agree on risk. Are you and your partner aligned?
Investing • Feb 25
Is your partner’s 'play it safe' strategy costing you a comfortable retirement?
New study finds most couples want to invest together but can’t agree on risk. Are you and your partner aligned?
News • Feb 22
Saskatchewan man says his broken furnace cost him $10k despite having warranty — What you need to know
How exactly does warranty coverage for expensive HVAC systems work?
News • Feb 22
Saskatchewan man says his broken furnace cost him $10k despite having warranty — What you need to know
How exactly does warranty coverage for expensive HVAC systems work?
News • Feb 18
Calgary woman says thieves used trackers to follow her home and try and steal her car. Are you at risk?
Why auto theft is still a salient concern for Canadians
News • Feb 18
Calgary woman says thieves used trackers to follow her home and try and steal her car. Are you at risk?
Why auto theft is still a salient concern for Canadians
Managing Money • Feb 11
PEI parents' RESP woes highlight how minor mistakes can create major problems
“The issue could have been escalated to somebody who could fix the problem, because the local branches didn't know what to do"
Managing Money • Feb 11
PEI parents' RESP woes highlight how minor mistakes can create major problems
“The issue could have been escalated to somebody who could fix the problem, because the local branches didn't know what to do"
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