Retirement Income
When Can I Retire With the Lifestyle I Want?
When can I retire with the lifestyle I want? That’s the #1 priority for our clients—based on my experience creating thousands of financial plans over the last 25+ years. They want financial freedom. It’s what we all really want. But you need a retirement plan to get there. It won’t happen on its own. Creating…
Read MoreRealizing You Somehow Became Wealthy
I often talk with people who realize—almost by surprise—that they’ve become wealthy. They never really thought of themselves as wealthy, but after years of saving and investing effectively, it hits them: I’m actually wealthy. And let me tell you—being wealthy feels different. In my latest YouTube video, podcast episode, and blog post I talk about:…
Read MoreRetiring Right Before or During a Recession. Debunking “Sequence of Returns Risk”. (Canadian Financial Summit 2024)
Bloggers and advisors constantly warn about the “Sequence of Returns Risk”—the fear that retiring right before or during a market crash will drain your savings too quickly. This fear often leads retirees to make poor investment choices, resulting in: But how real is this risk? And do the conventional solutions—like investing in bonds or following…
Read MoreNational Post Article: Now retired, how do we withdraw funds without running out of money?
The National Post asked me to review the finances of Walter and Joanne, a retired couple in their late 60s, who have been struggling for years with the same question: How do we draw income from our investments in the most tax-efficient way—so we can maintain our lifestyle without running out of money? They’ve built…
Read More7 Best Ideas to Optimize the Smith Manoeuvre (Canadian Financial Summit 2024)
With its quirky name, the Smith Manoeuvre might sound unconventional, but it’s a strategy that truly works—when done by the right people, in the right way, over the long term. From crafting over 1,000 professional Financial Plans, I’ve seen firsthand how the Smith Manoeuvre can transform your finances, helping Canadians use their home equity to…
Read MoreNational Post Article: Couple shy of retirement goals with $2.1 million portfolio
The National Post asked me to review the finances of Tom and Amanda, a semi-retired couple in their early 60s, who are debt-free, own a $1.9 million home in Southwestern Ontario, and plan to spend $115,000–$120,000 annually in retirement. Tom and Amanda enjoy part-time consulting work, which brings in $24,000 annually before tax, but the…
Read MoreNational Post Article: With law-school loans and divorce paid off, couple unsure how to use freed-up funds
The National Post asked me to review the finances of a remarried Edmonton couple in their 40s with four children, navigating how to use $14,000 in freed-up monthly cash flow after paying off significant debts. Daniella, a 45-year-old lawyer, earns $200,000 after tax annually and wants to build savings, invest, and eventually buy two properties…
Read MoreNational Post Article: B.C. couple, both 49, wonder if retiring at 60 is possible
The National Post asked me to review the finances of a B.C. couple who are both 49-years old, wondering if they can retire at 60. George has a full-time position in the public sector, a private business and takes on consulting projects. His wife Elyse is a stay-at-home mom to their two teenage children. One…
Read MoreDo You Need Savings in Addition to a Government Pension Like OMERS?
When planning for retirement, many Canadians rely on a government pension like OMERS (Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System) as their foundation. Do you need savings in addition to your government pension to maintain the lifestyle you want? A buddy called me from his car and said, “I’m driving. Will I get to my destination on…
Read MoreHow To Design Your Retirement Income: An Overview (Canadian Financial Summit 2023)
With the Canadian Financial Summit coming up at the end of October, I wanted to share over the next few weeks some videos that Summit attendees watched last year. When you register you get access to talks like these, plus a myriad of other speakers who are some of Canada’s top financial experts. I’ll be…
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