Posts by Ed Rempel
National Post article: Divorce wiped out her savings. At 65, should Kate start drawing CPP?
The National Post asked me to review the retirement and financial situation of Kate*, a 65-year-old who recently relocated to Alberta after a costly divorce wiped out her savings. She’s determined to rebuild her life and finances, but she has questions: “Can I realistically buy a house, or is renting my best option? How do…
Read MoreHow to Make Your Home a Good Investment
Wait. Don’t people say, “Your home is your best investment? For many people, their home may be their only major investment. For them, that old conventional wisdom might be true. But that is unfortunate. It is easy to find better investments with dramatically higher long-term returns. Despite the lower returns, homeowners on average are wealthier…
Read MoreNavigating the Financial Advisor Title Trap: Why Fee-For-Service Planners Are the True Superheroes
Are you ever confused by all the different titles that financial planners and advisors use? What types of advice and services do they offer? Which one offers what you are looking for? When you have real worries or questions about your money, “who you gonna call?” Who is the super-hero of advice? In my latest…
Read MoreShould I Delay CPP & OAS Until Age 70? – Complete Answer with Real-Life Examples (Updated)
Most seniors start their CPP and OAS when they retire or at age 65, without evaluating the options. The truth is that many seniors would benefit from delaying CPP until age 70. Here is how you can figure out what is best for you. The government pensions, CPP and OAS, are full of cool opportunities…
Read MoreNational Post article: Should Douglas, 66, start tapping his RRSPs and boost his TFSA to minimize tax?
The National Post asked me to review the retirement plan of Douglas*, a 66-year-old from Ontario enjoying a modest, comfortable lifestyle with his wife in their debt-free $900K home. He’s getting conflicting advice: “Should I start withdrawing from my RRSP to grow my TFSA and non-registered investments — or just let everything keep growing?” With…
Read MoreShould I start my CPP early? – Real-Life Examples (UPDATED)
The most common CPP question I am asked is: “Is it smart to take my CPP early?” The answer to this question is different for investors than non-investors, especially growth-focused investors like most of our clients. In my latest video, podcast episode, and blog post you’ll learn: This is an updated post based on 2025…
Read MoreTop 100 Personal Finance Podcasts in Canada: Ranked #14 by MillionPodcasts
Honoured to be awarded #14 in Top Personal Finance Podcasts in Canada by MillionPodcasts I’m thrilled to share some exciting news—Unconventional Wisdom has been named one of the Top 100 Personal Finance Podcasts in North America by MillionPodcasts. We started it just 2 years ago! Even more exciting? We’re currently ranked #14 in Canada and…
Read MoreNational Post Article: Couple wonders – Is saving $500,000 in investment income enough for couple to meet their retirement goals?
The National Post asked me to review the retirement plan of a mid-career couple from Ontario, Kathy and Trevor, who are trying to simplify their finances and meet some big goals before Kathy retires at 55. Kathy is 50 and Trevor is 53. They live in the GTA and have two adult children about to…
Read MoreWhy Don’t Most Financial Planners Plan Finances?
“If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.” – Yogi Berra What do you call a financial planner that does not plan finances? I know that sounds funny. But it is an important topic to understand. Most people assume that when they hire a financial planner, they’re getting a…
Read MoreHow to Reliably Maximize Your Retirement Income – Is the “4% Rule” Safe?
You want to retire soon. What is the best way to setup your retirement income to give you the maximum cash flow that will reliably last the rest of your life? Many financial planners use the “4% Rule”, which says that you can, for example, withdraw $40,000/year rising by inflation for life from a $1…
Read More