Posts by Ed Rempel
National 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 MoreFinancial Advice or Financial Quackery?
“You gotta be careful if you don’t know where you’re going, otherwise you might not get there.” – Yogi Berra How can you tell whether financial advice you receive is real financial advice or financial quackery? Much of what happens in the financial industry is financial quackery, but because the common methods are familiar to…
Read MoreJourney to Conquer Cancer Walk for Princess Margaret Research in Honour of Ann Hetram
This is a personal post and my first post with a request. My wife, life partner and business partner, Ann Hetram, passed away unexpectedly from cancer 2 months ago. She received excellent care at Princess Margaret Hospital, which is the best cancer hospital in Canada. In her honour, I am co-captain of a team in…
Read MoreRempel Maximum – The Story of Joe & Rich
How can your life really be different if you focus on maximum wealth-building principles? It’s not about the money. It’s about your life. This story is an extreme version of the life of an ordinary person managing his money exceptionally. The concepts are in my last post, “Rempel Maximum – 5 Steps to Becoming a…
Read MoreRempel Maximum – 5 Steps to Becoming a Multi-Millionaire
Remember the show “Who wants to be a millionaire?” Are you the kind of person that wants to build some serious wealth? Live an exceptional life? Be financially free? I don’t mean just a comfortable amount. I mean a lot – like being a multi-millionaire. The truth is, average people can become very wealthy just…
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