Amy Orr

Amy Orr is a professional writer and editor with over 10 years of experience in the Canadian, U.S. and U.K. financial markets. She has written for numerous publications on topics as diverse as economic literacy, corporate finance, and technical analysis of numerical data. Prior to transitioning to full-time writing, she worked in the hedge fund sector. Her academic background is astrophysics, and she has a Masters in Finance from the University of Edinburgh Business School.

Articles by Amy Orr

The State of Alternative Lending in Canada 2018 Study

Canadians are warming up to alternative lenders, but remain skeptical. When they’re in need of a loan, a majority of Canadians now look to online lenders as a viable alternative to traditional financial institutions, according to the State of Alternative Lending in Canada 2018 study conducted by online comparison service Smarter Loans.

Alternative Lending in Canada 2018 – Insights for Lenders

Interest in alternative lending products is growing steadily in Canada, and as more consumers explore available options they are generally finding the information, products and level of service they are looking for, according to the State of Alternative Lending in Canada 2018 study published by Smarter Loans.

The Business of Creative Financing

There used to be a mere few options available to get financing for major ventures. The choices were traditional borrowing from a financial institution or from family and friends. Today, there are unlimited ways to get financing for any purpose. Creative financing has opened the doors for consumers who want or need an innovative way to get money to fulfill their dreams.

Guide to Getting a No Credit Check Loan

Misfortunes such as sudden job loss, poor health, and the death or illness of a spouse do happen, oftentimes quite suddenly. At times like these, monthly bills continue to come in the mail; food and other necessities won’t wait either.  When these problems arise, even someone with good credit for many years can find their finances in shambles. These types of scenarios present the need for a loan without a credit check.

mortgages in Canada

Qualifying for a Mortgage in Canada and the U.S.

Buying a home is a major expense; for most consumers it is the largest financial investment they will make in a lifetime. People that paid for their homes with cash make up the minority of homeowners. Simply put, having ready money to purchase a home is an ideal situation but is out of reach for most people. The path to owning a home more commonly involves qualifying for a mortgage.

Inside the World of Merchant Cash Advances

After being denied six business loans, Rhonda realized that because her business was new, most banks would not offer her enough financing to start her new venture. However, she had heard about an alternative to traditional lending known as a merchant cash advance, or MCA. Encouraged, she took off in the direction of getting funding via an MCA. And she is not alone; millions of start-ups and established businesses take advantage of the benefits of this type of financing. But before they do, they must understand the ins and outs of merchant cash advances.

The Types of Buses that Can Be Financed

The bus trade has increased by leaps and bounds since 1662 when Blaise Pascal launched the first horse and buggy bus line. Even the 1830 steam powered bus designed by Sir Goldworthy Gurney would not compare to the 21st century transportation goliaths of the present day.

Financing Equipment vs Leasing Equipment

A broad spectrum of customers either finance or lease equipment for business or personal use. And the list of the variety of equipment available is seemingly endless. The determining factors of whether to lease or finance equipment include a) who is the customer b) what the equipment is needed for and c) how long or how often it will be used.

How to Get a Business Loan for a Restaurant or Bar

Anyone who aspires to open a restaurant or bar is in good company for sure. Worldwide, there are approximately 15 million thriving restaurants that rake in hundreds of billions of dollars annually. By some investment company accounts, bars and taverns in the U.S. alone grabbed $24 billion in 2015. This article points entrepreneurs in the right direction toward their own success.

Truck Loans: Comparing the Merits of Fixed Versus Variable Rates

Vehicle loans are the one of the most common forms of financing. Terms may be as short as a couple of years or last for as long as six years. One of the decisions the buyer must make has to do with the type of interest rate. While a fixed rate installment loan is more well-known, it’s possible to secure a truck loan with a variable interest rate.

Boat Loans - Smarter Loans

How do Boat Loans Work?

Boat loans provide the funds needed to purchase a new or used boat for water activities like fishing, water skiing, sailing, and sometimes, living.

What is a Title Loan - Smarter Loans

What is a Title Loan?

Title loans let individuals get cash in exchange for the lender holding title to the vehicle until it is repaid. And the cost for these loans is many times over the cost of the average installment loan.

Veteran Loans - Smarter Loans

Home Loans for Veterans

Veteran home loans come with distinct advantages for men and women who serve, or have served, in the military. These loans are also available for reservists, active duty service members, and National Guard members.

Equipment Loans and Equipment Financing - Smarter Loans

How Equipment Loans Work

Learn all you need to know about getting equipment financing in Canada. Pros and cons, how the process works and where to get fast equipment financing.

business credit cards - smarter loans

Business Credit Cards

Get the Best Use Out of Business Credit Cards Most business owners have run into sudden unexpected expenses and could use business credit cards to tide them over. Equipment malfunctions, an abrupt rise orders to be filled, or any number of crises can send daily operations into a tailspin. Fortunately, business credit cards and other…

second mortgages - smarter loans

How Do Second Mortgages Work?

Second Mortgages in Canada Anyone who has bought a home knows the complicated process of getting a home mortgage to finance the purchase. Assuming all has gone as planned, the homeowner has been living peacefully in the house, making payments on time and building equity. These scenarios are suited for second mortgages, if the homeowner…

Business Line of Credit in Canada - Smarter Loans

What is a Business Line of Credit?

There are several very valid reasons for a company to open a business line of credit, since there is always a need to keep operations running smoothly no matter the nature of the business.

Home Equity Loans Canada - Smarter Loans

Home Equity Loans

Home equity loans are another way for homeowners to gain access to money based on the equity they have built in their property. Learn all about home equity loans here.

how to repair credit - smarter loans

How to Repair Bad Credit

How to Repair Bad Credit If you’ve received more credit rejection letters than you care to think about, don’t despair. Tons of information on how to repair bad credit is at your fingertips. You can start now by using the tools that millions of other people utilize and turn your credit rating around too. All…

Merchant Cash Advance Canada - Smarter Loans

Merchant Cash Advance – All You Need to Know About MCAs

Leveraging the funds built upon credit merchant accounts is one of the many ways in which a business might have access to some cash for capital when needed. Read the full story at Smarter Loans.

Peer to Peer Lending in Canada - Smarter Loans

Peer to Peer Lending in Canada

Peer to peer (or P2P) lending in Canada is the financial fit for borrowers in need of cash for any number of reasons. Read all about P2P lending at Smarter Loans.

How to qualify for a business loan - Smarter Loans

How to Qualify for a Business Loan

  If you’ve looked into securing a business loan at all, you’ll understand that qualifying is a process. You’re going to need a great business plan, a decent credit score, and knowledge of the criteria of the institutions you plan to apply to. In many cases, you must already be in business and generating sales…

How to fund a startup

How To Fund A Business Startup

Starting up a new business can seem like a fairly daunting task—there’s a lot that goes into getting it just right. Once you’ve got the idea and the business plan, it’s time to figure out where the money you’re going to need to get started will come from. The process of finding funding can be…

What is a Payday Loan

What Is A Payday Loan?

If you find yourself in a tight spot between paychecks, a payday loan may be a good solution but be extremely careful – it is easy to get sucked into something called a ‘payday loan cycle’ – at it can be vicious. These loans will spot you a little cash for the short term (1-2…

12