Retirement Planning Wisdom
What Canadians Are Really Asking About Money Right Now
Today’s episode is a bit different from the usual format. I want to take some time to speak directly to you — to say thank you, to reflect on what you’ve been listening to most, and to ask for your input on what would be most helpful going forward. Recently, Unconventional Wisdom was listed near…
Read MoreRRSP/RRIF Meltdown Strategies Explained (Canadian Financial Summit 2025)
Ever wondered how you can get the money out of your RRSP with a minimum of tax? RRSP/RRIF Meltdown Strategies can allow you to withdraw from your RRSP or RRIF with little or no tax. However, there are some tricky complications, several options, and these strategies are not for everyone. In my latest video for…
Read MoreNational Post article: Is $15,000 for cross-border tax help too much?
The National Post asked me to look at the retirement plan for Rita, 61, and Darcy, 60, a Quebec couple who spent half their careers in the U.S. and the other half in Canada. Most of their retirement money is still in U.S. employer plans, and they’ll both receive U.S. Social Security as well as…
Read MoreRandom Walk Theory Debunked: The Best Market Gains Follow the Worst Crashes – And One Easy Rule to Beat the Market
Imagine checking your investments after a brutal market crash like during Covid with the March 16-20, 2020: -18% week. Your balance is down 32%, and panic sets in. But what if I told you the biggest rebounds, like the +12% surge the very next week almost always follow? This isn’t luck; it’s a pattern that…
Read MoreThe Fake Stages of Retirement: Why ‘Slow-Go’ Is Really About Money — Not Age
You’ve probably heard the conventional wisdom about retirement stages: the “go-go” years right after you clock out, full of adventure and travel; then the “slow-go” phase where things wind down due to age and aches; and finally, the “no-go” period of quiet homebound days. It’s a neat little narrative, peddled by financial planners and lifestyle…
Read MoreWorthvieW article – Why Renting Could Be Your Secret to Smarter Wealth Building: Insights from Toronto-based Financial Planner Ed Rempel
Many Canadians believe homeownership is the only real path to building wealth. If you’re renting, it can feel like you’re falling behind or missing out. After decades of working with clients and studying long-term data, I don’t believe that’s true. Renting can be a deliberate and effective wealth-building strategy when it’s approached intentionally. This article…
Read MoreMONEY PIP article – How to Make Your Home a Good Investment: Financial Wisdom from Toronto-based Financial Planner Ed Rempel
Is Your Home Really a Good Investment? Most Canadians think so. My experience tells a different story. For decades, Canadians have been told that their home is their best investment. After preparing thousands of financial plans, I’ve found that this belief often leads people to rely too heavily on home equity for their retirement. The…
Read MoreWhy Monte Carlo Simulations Get Retirement Risk Wrong
Ever been terrified by those retirement calculators showing a scary chance of running out of money? That’s Monte Carlo simulations at work—spinning wild “what-if” scenarios that often paint a doom-and-gloom picture far worse than reality. In my latest video, blog post and podcast episode, we’ll debunk why most of these simulated failures could never happen…
Read MoreNational Post article: How to leave RRIF, TFSA, property and other wealth to your children while avoiding probate and minimizing taxes?
The National Post asked me to review the retirement and estate planning situation of Frank, 84, a widower in British Columbia. Frank owns his home outright, worth $1.4 million. He has about $743K in a RRIF, $265K in a TFSA, and $473K in a non-registered investment portfolio, bringing his invested wealth to $1.48 million, rounded.…
Read MoreFeel My Worth article – Why Financial Plans Fail: Insights from Toronto-based Financial Expert Ed Rempel
Most Canadians assume that having a financial plan means they’re prepared for the future. In reality, many plans fail from the start because they’re built on the wrong assumptions, not because people are careless. In my new article for Feel My Worth, I break down the biggest reasons most financial plans don’t hold up in…
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