Archive for September 2026
How to Make Financial Decisions When You Don’t Feel Ready
A practical guide to making your first big money choices without waiting for perfect confidence. THE CORE IDEA Readiness is not a feeling you have to wait for. A good financial decision is one where you understand the trade-offs, can afford the downside, and have room to adjust if life changes. Some of the biggest…
Read MoreNational Post article: Could an RRSP/RRIF meltdown reduce Liam’s GIS clawback without triggering a big tax bill?
Liam thinks he is in a 19% tax bracket. He isn’t. He is effectively in a 50% tax bracket because he pays 0% income tax, but loses 50% of additional taxable income through the GIS clawback. His situation is interesting because: In my latest article for the National Post, I look at why withdrawing more…
Read MoreProtecting What Matters Most: Trust Planning for Children, Dependents, and Vulnerable Beneficiaries in Canada
A practical guide to creating structure, continuity, and protection for the people who may need extra care. Estate planning is not only about who receives what. It is about how the people you love are cared for when you are no longer able to guide the decisions yourself. This becomes especially important when you are…
Read MoreShould You Pay Off Your Mortgage Early or Invest Instead?
For many Canadians, becoming mortgage-free as quickly as possible feels like an obvious financial goal. But I think there’s a more important question to ask first: Once your mortgage is paid off, what percentage of that former mortgage payment will you actually invest? I call this the 95% test. If you pay off your mortgage…
Read MoreBuilding an Emergency Fund When Money Is Tight (And How to Stay Protected While You Invest)
How to Build a Safety Net Without Putting Your Future on Hold A practical guide for ages 16-25 to building emergency savings, understanding where a TFSA can fit, and balancing saving with investing – without making money feel all-or-nothing. The goal is not perfection.The goal is enough breathing room that an ordinary surprise does not…
Read MoreNational Post article: Can Tom afford to retire by 63 with a $1.16 million portfolio?
Having enough money to retire is one thing. Knowing how to use it wisely is another. Tom and Judy are in a strong financial position. With a $1.16 million investment portfolio and a valuable defined benefit pension, the bigger question isn’t whether Tom can afford to retire at 63 — it’s how they should make…
Read MoreThe Right Trust Structure for Business Owners in Canada- How Smart Planning Evolves as Your Business Grows
THE RIGHT TRUST STRUCTUREFOR BUSINESS OWNERS IN CANADAA calm, practical guide to using trust planning as your business grows, wealth builds, and family priorities become clearer. For business owners, incorporated professionals, and families who want growth, protection, and transition planning to feel clearer – not more overwhelming. Core idea Trust planning should not be about…
Read MoreRetiring at an All-Time High: What History Actually Shows
I get this question a lot. Is a retirement plan safe if you retire when the markets are at an all-time high? Can you reasonably still expect good performance in the future? The Conventional Wisdom About Retirement Risk The conventional wisdom here is 3 things: All the questions I get about sequence of returns risk…
Read MoreBudgeting With a Full-Time Income Without Feeling Restricted
A practical guide to managing your first full-time income with clarity, consistency, and room to enjoy your life. The Moment Your Income Starts Feeling Real There is a moment that happens a few months after you start earning a full-time income. First, everything feels new – your paycheques, your routines, your sense of independence. But…
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