- Presidents Choice World Elite Master Card - 3% on groceries at Loblaws chains and Costco (CIBC/Costco Master Card below is only 1%).

- CIBC Costco Master Card - 2% cash back on gas annually paid.

- TD First Class Travel - for sign up perks plus, 225 TD points=$1 on travel, 400 TD points=$1 on everything else. First year annual fee waved and no annual fee at all if you maintain $6k in an all inclusive account.

-TD US$ Visa for convenience when using American funds

-Wise card for FX

When I first launched the updated design of the site, I noticed that the ads that come up from the bottom of the screen (what I call "drawer ads" because you can collapse them back down) were seemingly more in your face than before. They are especially annoying on a mobile device. I disabled them. I noticed recently that they have come back. The reason why they came back (without my involvement) is that Google automatically runs experiments (which I allow as a general ad setting but don't really pay attention to or notice unless the ads are egregious) -- looks like they included those bottom of screen ads in an experiment. Google calls these "anchor ads". Although I didn't turn them on, I also have consciously not turned them off.

I also see these blue rectangles on the right, which I had not noticed before until I came to the site to read this post today. They are also part of another Google "experiment" that just started today. I've just turned them off. I don't like how they look like actual site content.

Several people have openly announced that they use ad blockers on this site, and that's everybody's free choice to make. My challenge is how to optimize the ad revenue without wrecking the user experience.

So why am I keeping the "anchor/drawer ads" for now? For one, at least they clearly look like ads. But more importantly: I've thought about turning off all ads several times this year, but so far, every time I come around to the idea of donating the money (a few thousand dollars) instead. I've been toying with the idea of making a forum post before the end of the year to announce this decision, but also to perhaps solicit suggestions on where to donate it. But I need to find the right way to word it so that the focus remains on doing something good with the ad money.

They look like Google Ads and links being aggressively injected into the pages of this site, including people's posts!

Only this site. Could be a recent misconfiguration of this site.

JenE said
I have an iPad. I’ve searched my apps and can’t see Gemini. I’ve opened Google app and can’t see anything there either.

The other pop ups are advertising and have become constant.  

Do you use Chrome as your browser on that iPad?

The other pop ups are advertising and have become constant.

(I tried to copy and paste but it won’t work. What I’m seeing are blue rectangles saying “online banking comparison”, and white rectangles saying “High yield savings accounts”. In both rectangles there is a tiny box which, when pressed, takes one to a lengthy explanation).

I also saw “Gemini produced, or words to that effect.

I’m also getting drop downs, and ups, constantly. Quite annoying.

I no longer have main FI.
All direct deposits still go to Tangerine account, but promptly transferred to other FIs by Interac or EFT.
Currently, I pay my bills from my accounts in Tangerine, EQ and Haventree.

Credit Cards:
1) American Express SimplyCash Preferred Card (4% for gas and groceries, 2% for everything else, $120 annual fee)- primary credit card for my household. If business accepts AmEx, I pay with it.
2) For places and businesses that do not accept AmEx I have Tangerine Mastercard (no fee).
3) EQ Bank prepaid card- for rare cases when I may need to get cash from whatever ATM is nearby. This card covers ATM fees (to some extent).

Chequing/savings:
* Main: Wealthsimple. Reasons: Everything is faster and better than the alternatives and good integration with investment and corporate accounts which meet our needs. And nice perks. And yes, mostly joint accounts.
* Other accounts: RBC (hardly used these days but it's free because of the legacy HSBC transfer), EQ, Tangerine and Simplii (for the occasional targeted savings account promos)
Credit card:
* Main for groceries, restaurants: MBNA World Elite ($120 annual fee). I get circa 5.5% redemption value at Walmart; could be a bit more, at other shops.
* Main for other purchases (2% cash back): Wealthsimple Visa Infinite Privilege, because there is no annual fee for my account level, it's a simple 2% cash back, and it also has no FX fees plus decent insurance.
* Others: I have a couple of other cards, like Amazon’s MBNA and Roger’s world elite mastercard.

Banking:
1) Scotia is my primary for personal Chequing and for our Joint Household Operating Account. Very basic accounts with no monthly service charges for either one due to limited transactions. It came about by default because my self-directed brokerage account was initially E*Trade Canada in 1998, bought out by Scotia and evolved to Scotia iTrade. I bank where I have my investment accounts.
2) Secondary is BMO because my secondary self-directed brokerage accounts are with BMO Investorline. The bank accounts are actually AccountLink attachments to BMO Investorline and have BMO Investorline transit numbers. Extremely basic accounts.
3) I also have EQ Bank for push/pull bridge between BMO and BNS, and for their prepaid MC for zero forex and minimal ATM fees when travelling ex-Canada. Only used when travelling.
I have zero interest in any other 'banking' services from 'banking' entities and no interest in account proliferation.

Credit Cards:
1) Rogers Bank World Elite cash back is primary household operating card due to us also having Rogers mobility and internet/cable accounts and the discounts that come with it albeit change is on the way commencing November. This card carries the majority of our transactions.
2) Primary personal CC is basic BMO MC cash back mostly to mitigate FI proliferation. Could just as easy be a Scotiabank card for same reason.
3) Secondary personal CC is basic CIBC Dividend Visa cash back for high credit limit for major travel expenses. I have had this account for 75 years.
4) Lastly, a Scotia USD credit card for USD transactions, sparingly used.

Being retired for 20 years, I have no interest in paying any annual fees for CCs and have no interest in loyalty cards tied to the likes of Aeroplan et al. Perks like travel insurance are meaningless for those of us beyond certain ages (for us, post-75).

Peter said
I could make a longer survey that's anonymized where I could ask some demographic information as well as specific questions about the importance of more detailed features.  

My take is designing a survey is difficult beyond base level information, simply because most of us have a specific set of various things for various reasons such as where we are at in our individual life's journey. What one might have at 30 yrs of age could be very different at age 50 and yet again post-retirement. Folk cannot convey that information well in a survey. That said, maybe some base level information would be insightful from the active members of this forum.