Retirement Planning Wisdom

New Study Supports 100% Equity Investing for Life

For years, conventional wisdom has preached the benefits of diversifying between stocks & bonds and gradually shifting to safer investments as we age.  But what if these widely accepted strategies are fundamentally flawed?  A newly published, high-quality study is flipping the script on traditional investment advice, making a compelling case for a 100% equity strategy…

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National 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…

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RRSP/RRIF Meltdown Strategies

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 and have very little income show on your tax return. However, there are some tricky complications, and these strategies are not for everyone. In my…

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Who Are the Wealthy and How Did They Get Rich?

As a financial planner, I’ve had a unique view into the full financial picture of thousands of Canadians and have read countless studies.  My experience spans clients of varying financial backgrounds, as well as countless conversations with readers of my blog, friends, and acquaintances.  Although our clients may not represent the entire population—they tend to…

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Do 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…

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