Good morning, 

Mother’s Day is the perfect time to understand the personal and professional sacrifices needed to raise children.

Whether it's forgoing or taking a leave of absence from that dream job to raise a family or the unexpected expenses of motherhood, moms have to make tough decisions for the betterment of their families.

So much so that 72 per cent of Canadian mothers believe raising children has impacted their financial well-being, according to a recent survey by Toronto-Dominion Bank.

More specifically, 38 per cent said having children has hurt their ability to pay off debt, 30 per cent said raising children has hurt their ability to invest in their family’s future and 28 per cent said it’s changed their retirement goals.

Motherhood can also be expensive, with 31 per cent of mothers saying more than half of their discretionary budget goes toward their children, while 63 per cent said more than a quarter goes to their kids.

Many working mothers also grapple with burnout or have difficulty balancing a family and a professional career.

About 20 per cent said they are running their own business while parenting, but 80 per cent of entrepreneurial mothers are finding it difficult to balance work and motherhood.

Another survey, by Robert Half Inc., said 51 per cent of working moms reported burnout. To alleviate that, the working mothers suggested companies hire more staff and encourage moms to take time off work.

Most working mothers are also looking for flexible work options as they try to balance work and family life.

The Robert Half survey said 66 per cent of working moms will only consider a new position if flexible work is a benefit of the job, while 75 per cent of them are satisfied in their current position because of the flexibility their employer began offering during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey also said that less than a quarter of working moms would be interested in a promotion that requires people management — compared to 35 per cent of working dads — due to concerns about maintaining a work-life balance.

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LEADING INDICATOR

Portfolio flows into emerging markets slammed to an abrupt halt in April after the sharpest regime shift in trade policy in more than a decade spooked investors, said the Institute of International Finance. 

"The data underline the significance of the April 2 “Liberation Day” tariff announcement by the Trump administration, which triggered a meaningful repricing of global risk and a sharp increase in flow volatility across EM assets," said IIF senior economist Jonathan Fortun.

Total non-resident flows turned negative by US$200 million, a "dramatic reversal" from the US$37.5 billion in net inflows recorded in March.  

The IIF's high frequency data puts April among the top five months with the highest standard deviation in equity flows since 2021, highlighting just how huge the magnitude of this investor repositioning was. 

FP MUST READS

Bank of Canada warns Trump's tariffs could trigger 'market dysfunction'

Financial stability report says global trade war could lead to severe economic consequences for Canada

What's in the U.S.-U.K. trade deal and what does it mean for Canada?

Deal includes some relief on recent tariffs for the United Kingdom, including on steel and aluminum

How hard will tariffs hit the economy? Investors will be watching bank credit loss provisions for clues

Banks will need to find the right balance when adding to their PCLs to and ensure they don’t 'spook' investors

Taxpayer wasn’t fast enough to avoid penalty for TFSA overcontribution

Jamie Golombek: Though taxpayer tried to fix accidental excess contribution, she still owed CRA $2,272

Canada is at an economic crossroads. The FP Economy: Trade Wars newsletter brings you the latest developments from the Financial Post and across the Postmedia network every weekday at 7 p.m. ET. Sign up for free here.

Confused by the trade war? Bookmark the Tariff Tracker to keep tabs on Donald Trump's executive orders with our interactive graphic

MCLISTER ON MORTGAGES

Want to learn more about mortgages? Mortgage strategist Robert McLister's Financial Post column can help navigate the complex sector, from the latest trends to financing opportunities you won’t want to miss. Plus check his mortgage rate page for Canada's lowest national mortgage rates, updated daily.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

— U.S. President Donald Trump on tariffs on China, as the two nations head into trade talks this weekend 

MARKET SIGNALS

BREAKING TODAY

• Today's Data: Canada jobs report
  
• Earnings: Telus Corp., CI Financial Corp., Enbridge Inc. Onex Corp.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Investors are really worried about a recession these days, but downturns can also create stock market opportunities, says Investing Pro Peter Hodson. Read on as Hodson takes a closer look at the key facts of a dreaded U.S. recession. 

Are you worried about having enough for retirement? Do you need to adjust your portfolio? Are you starting out or making a change and wondering how to build wealth? Are you trying to make ends meet? Drop us a line at wealth@postmedia.com with your contact info and the gist of your problem and we’ll find some experts to help you out while writing a Family Finance story about it (we’ll keep your name out of it, of course).

FINANCIAL POST ON YOUTUBE

Visit the Financial Post’s YouTube channel for interviews with Canada’s leading experts in business, economics, housing, the energy sector and more.