Edward Jones- Financial Advisor: Julie Charrette

06/15/2026

Bringing up a cohabitation agreement doesn't have to feel awkward or transactional. The conversation works best when you start with your shared goals rather than diving straight into the legal details.

Begin by talking about what you both want to achieve.

• Are you saving for a home?
• Paying down debt?
• Planning for a family?

Once you're aligned on the big picture, the practical details become easier to discuss.

From there, get specific. List what each of you owns and owes. Agree on how you'll handle joint purchases and split ongoing expenses. Decide whether you'll keep finances separate, fully joint, or some combination. And plan to revisit this conversation regularly as your circumstances change.

Because a cohabitation agreement is legally binding, it's important to work with a lawyer or legal professional to formalize it. But having clarity on your financial values first makes that process much smoother.

If you're ready to have these conversations and want help connecting your day-to-day financial decisions to your long-term plans, let's talk.

Edward Jones financial advisors are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice. A cohabitation agreement is a legally binding document that should be created with the assistance of a qualified lawyer or legal professional. We can help you understand how your financial decisions today connect to your long-term goals and work alongside your legal advisor to support your overall financial strategy.

06/15/2026

The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25%.

Key factors behind the decision:

• Job seekers are unemployed longer with youth most impacted
• A temporary rise in inflation from higher oil and gas prices
• Ongoing risks from CUSMA negotiations and geopolitical uncertainty

If you have questions about how the Bank of Canada's latest rate decision impacts your financial plan, reach out. I'm happy to help.

06/14/2026

When your child is ready to buy their first home, you might want to help financially. There are several ways to do this, and each comes with different considerations.

Scenario 1: Gift money toward a down payment. This can be straightforward, but you lose control of how those funds are used once gifted. If you're considering this, it's important to keep your own future financial needs in mind first.

Scenario 2: Loan funds with clear repayment terms. This keeps you in more control, but increases your child's debt load, which could affect the size of mortgage they qualify for. Proper documentation is essential to prevent misunderstandings later.

Scenario 3: Co-sign their mortgage. This helps them access better rates or a larger loan without requiring you to access your own capital. But you may be on the hook for the full amount if they can't make payments, and it could limit your ability to access credit in the future.

Each approach should align with your own long-term financial plan. What works for one family might not work for another.

If you're thinking about helping your child purchase a home, let's talk. We can help you understand which approach makes sense for your situation and how it fits with your overall financial goals.

Here’s what to consider

06/13/2026

Many couples don’t talk about money until they have to. A cohabitation agreement can help you answer the uncomfortable questions early:

Who pays for what? Who owns what? What happens if things change?

It’s like a pre-nup, but for common-law couples. It can help you define expectations, avoid misunderstandings, and make decisions more easily.

If you’re navigating these conversations or want guidance on how financial planning fits into your relationship, reach out. I’m happy to talk through your options and help you feel more confident moving forward.

Edward Jones' financial advisors are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice. A cohabitation agreement is a legally binding document that should be created with the assistance of a qualified lawyer or legal professional.

We can help you understand how your financial decisions today connect to your long-term goals and work alongside your legal advisor to support your overall financial strategy.

06/13/2026

Tech is cooling, not breaking: The recent pullback in semiconductors reflects profit-taking after a “too far, too fast” rally, with improving breadth signaling a healthier market backdrop.

How did the markets perform this week? Get the highlights and the latest economic news.

06/12/2026

The decision about when to start OAS and how to coordinate it with your other income sources isn't something you should figure out on your own. It's a complex decision with long-term implications.

Many factors influence what makes sense for you. Your current tax rate, your total retirement income, your health, and even your lifestyle all play a role in determining the optimal timing. Some retirees benefit from delaying to avoid the clawback. Others need the income sooner to maintain their desired lifestyle.

The goal isn't just to maximize your OAS benefit. It's to create a coordinated retirement income strategy that supports the life you want to live.

I can help you understand your options and create a strategy that fits your situation.

06/11/2026

Helping your child buy a home is meaningful. For many parents, it's a natural extension of supporting their children through major life milestones. But it should fit within a sustainable plan that protects your own financial future.

Before you commit, review your retirement needs. Can you afford to part with this money without affecting your lifestyle in retirement? What about emergencies or potential caregiving needs down the road?

Consider how this support today affects your other goals. Are you delaying something important for your own future? Could this impact your ability to maintain your home, travel, or cover healthcare costs as you age?

Planning ahead helps you balance generosity with financial security. It means you can help your child in a way that doesn't create stress or limitations for you later. A structured approach provides clarity for both you and your child about what's possible and what expectations make sense.

If one of your goals is to help your children financially, let's plan for it. I can help you understand what you can comfortably afford while protecting your own long-term security.

06/10/2026

Many couples assume they'll figure out the financial details as they go. But when one or both partners bring significant assets, a business, or dependents into the relationship, those "figure it out later" conversations can become complicated fast.

This is where discussing expectations early can make a real difference. A cohabitation agreement prevents misunderstandings around spending, saving, and shared costs. It gives you both a clear foundation to work from.

And here's the bigger picture: creating this agreement often leads to the kind of financial conversations that support long-term planning. When you're aligned on how to handle money day to day, you're better positioned to work toward bigger goals together, whether that's buying a home, saving for retirement, or building an emergency fund.

If you're moving in together and want guidance on aligning your financial decisions with your shared goals, reach out. We can help build a foundation that works for both of you.

Edward Jones financial advisors are not lawyers and cannot provide legal advice. A cohabitation agreement is a legally binding document that should be created with the assistance of a qualified lawyer or legal professional. We can help you understand how your financial decisions today connect to your long-term goals and work alongside your legal advisor to support your overall financial strategy.

06/09/2026

Trying to predict the perfect moment to invest is tempting. But here's what history tells us: the best market days often show up during the most uncertain times, exactly when many investors are sitting on the sidelines.

Missing even a small number of strong market days over several decades can create a meaningful gap in long-term results. The challenge is that no one can consistently predict which days those will be.

This is why staying invested matters. A long-term approach allows you to participate in market growth over time, rather than risking being out of the market when opportunities emerge.

If you're unsure about staying invested or want to understand what approach fits your timeline, reach out. We can walk through it together.

When considering where to invest your hard-earned money, it's natural to wonder: should I wait for conditions to settle before investing?

06/08/2026

The way most people think they spend money and the way they actually spend it can be surprisingly different. You might assume you're only spending a certain amount on dining out or subscriptions, but when you track it, the reality often looks quite different.

That's why the first step in creating a balanced family budget is simply knowing where your money goes each month. Not judging it. Not changing it yet. Just understanding it. Track your income, your essential expenses, your debt payments, and yes, the money you spend on things that make life enjoyable.

Having a clear picture of your spending habits can help you gain more control. And having more control can help reduce financial stress and can help you make better decisions about what matters most to your family.

If you'd like help getting a clear view of your financial situation and creating a plan that works for your family, reach out. We can walk through it together.

These considerations can help you get a handle on how you spend money each month.