Unconventional Wisdom YouTube Channel
Welcome to the Unconventional Wisdom YouTube Page. The show about the most effective methods to achieve financial security & freedom. Find out what really works. Insights are based on in-depth experience - from a fee-for-service financial planner, tax accountant, Canada’s #1 financial planner blogger & your host, Ed Rempel.
This channel is about achieving financial freedom & security in real life. It’s often very different from what most people talk about. Few financial planners actually write detailed Financial Plans. I have written more than 1,000 professional, custom Financial Plans, and worked with many clients to achieve their life goals. You can listen to everyone else – and then come here to find out what works in real life. Unconventional wisdom – based on experience.
This channel has unconventional wisdom insights on many topics. Some of my favourite topics are:
- How to set & achieve your financial goals and achieve what you really want in life.
- FIRE – How to achieve financial independence & retire early.
- The outlook & attitude you need for financial success.
- Many topics on how you can minimize tax over your lifetime.
- Effective strategies that can be a huge benefit for you, such as the Smith Manoeuvre, Rempel Maximum, Lifecycle Investing, RRSP Top-ups, RRSP Catch-up Strategy & the 8-year GIS Strategy.
- How to set up a reliable retirement income with the least tax & most government benefits.
- How to invest for returns above the indexes.
- How to easily outperform investment advisors & robo-advisors.
- Money myths that block your financial freedom.
- Any interesting financial planning topic. I take requests.
“Unconventional Wisdom YouTube Channel”
I plan to post one every Thursday. Be the first to hear my new Unconventional Wisdom posts. Subscribe to my blog, YouTube channel or podcast.
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See you next week!
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 the top of several Canadian financial podcast rankings, including #4 of the Best 10 Canada Podcasts (all categories), #3 of the Best 10 Canada Financial Planning Podcasts in 2026 and #2 of the Best 10 Tax Podcasts in Canada in 2026 by Million Podcasts. Our podcast also…
RRSP/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 the Canadian Financial Summit you’ll learn: How does the RRSP/RRIF meltdown strategy help you withdraw from your RRSP with minimum tax? What does the traditional RRSP/RRIF Meltdown Strategy look like? Why should this strategy be called the RRIF Meltdown Strategy, not the RRSP Meltdown Strategy? Why are…
How Did the Wealthy Get Wealthy — and Can I Copy Them? (Canadian Financial Summit 2025)
In a recent video for the Canadian Financial Summit I talk about who the poor and wealthy are and how they got there. Today, we’re diving deeper into one crucial aspect: how the wealthy became wealthy? Can their strategies work for you? Over the years, I’ve seen the full financial picture of thousands of Canadians and read countless studies on wealth building. While my clients are generally higher-income, growth-focused individuals who work with a financial plan, I’ve also spoken to countless others—through my blog, in-person, and within my network of wealthy individuals. These insights have given me a clear understanding of who…
Random 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 makes stocks more predictable (and rewarding) than the ‘random walk’ myth suggests. For the average investor saving for retirement, understanding this could mean thousands more in your pocket annually—without switching to boring bonds. Just change your outlook and use a simple method to beat the market. In…
The 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 gurus alike. But what if I told you it’s mostly a myth? That “slow-go” isn’t about creaky knees or fading energy – it’s usually just code for “didn’t save enough”. Today, we’re busting that myth wide open with hard data, real surveys, and some eye-opening figures. Stick…
Why 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 in real life, how they push you toward boring bond-heavy portfolios that slash your retirement lifestyle by an average of 15-35% in annual spending, and why simply planning flexible actions during market dips is a game-changer for staying wealthy without the fearmongering. Ignore Monte Carlo panic porn…
Exponential Thinking – How Major Wealth Happens
Your investments may grow a bit each year, but have you wondered about how some people grow major wealth? Instead of growing 10%, how can they be 10 times larger? Many ordinary people build up millions of dollars, without having a high income or inheritance. How does that happen? It’s because real wealth doesn’t grow linearly. It grows exponentially — through compounding, smart investing, and a different way of thinking about progress. In my latest video, podcast episode, and blog post you’ll learn: Once you start thinking exponentially, you’ll see opportunities for wealth and growth everywhere. What is exponential thinking? Exponential thinking…
The Meaning of Life – Responsibility
What is the meaning of life? What makes life worth living? How can having a meaningful life help you become financially independent? You will learn: What is the meaning of life? What makes life worth living? The classic book “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl showed that the people that survived many years in the German concentration camps were not necessarily the youngest, strongest or most fit. They were the ones that had a reason important to them to survive. It could be to see a lover or family, personal aspirations, creative or intellectual pursuits, belief in a higher power or…
Retirement Rookie: Worried about a Market Crash Right After Retiring?
Being worried about a market crash right after retiring is a major fear for many people both before and after taking the plunge. I often hear these anxieties: “I’m scared to retire even though I have enough money in every projection. What happens if there is a market crash right after I retire?” “We just retired, but are hesitant to spend money in case we have a market crash.” You’re not alone—thousands of people have had the same worry. But does the data actually support this fear? In my latest video, podcast episode, and blog post you’ll learn: Do we need to…
Go Big or Go Slow: Why 10x Wealth Is Easier Than 2x
This title may be hard to believe, but it is a common theme in coaching for small business entrepreneurs. The concept is from the popular book “10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Most of us think about incremental improvements in our lives, not dramatic life-changing improvements. That would require a completely different way of thinking. The 10X concept works for entrepreneurs. You can also use the 10X concept to dramatically improve your finances. In my latest video, podcast episode, and blog post you’ll learn: This is a unique…
Why Renting Could Be Your Secret to Smarter Wealth Building
Owning a home is unaffordable for many people today. Here is some good news! If you rent, you can grow your wealth as fast or faster using the same 2 ideas that benefit homeowners. Tenants have several major advantages over homeowners for wealth building. Many homeowners think their home is their best investment. 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 for 2 non-investment reasons. Tenants can use the same 2 ideas to grow as much or more wealth. In my latest video, podcast episode,…
How 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 for 2 non-investment reasons. In my latest video, podcast episode, and blog post you’ll learn: How do homes compare to other growth investments for rate of return? For many people, their home may be their only major investment. For them, that old conventional wisdom might be true.…
Navigating 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 video, podcast episode, and blog post you’ll learn: First, let’s look at what advice and services you need to get real answers. Then, we’ll look at all the different types of advisors and what you can normally expect from them. Then we’ll look at where to look…
Should 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 to increase after-tax income, because: – Seniors often have flexibility in taking taxable or non-taxable income. – OAS is subject to several “clawbacks” in addition to income tax. To see these opportunities, you need to think creatively about pensions, tax and…
Should 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 CPP amounts and expectations, and my latest insights. Delaying from age 65 to age 70 is a different question with different answers. I discuss this in a separate post: Should I Delay CPP & OAS Until Age 70? – Complete Answer with Real-Life Examples A quick review…
Why 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 personalized roadmap for their financial life. Yet surprisingly, that’s often not the case, and it can have a huge impact on your future. In my latest video, podcast episode, and blog post you’ll learn: Why don’t most financial planners plan finances? We went to a fascinating conference…
How 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 million portfolio. Is that safe? I studied 146 years of investment history. The conclusions are surprising: Prefer an overview? Like videos or podcasts? Check out our whiteboard video and podcast episode, or read the full post below! You will learn: “Conventional wisdom” Let’s look at the typical…
Financial 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 most of us, they appear normal. You can’t really see how inadequate and funny many financial procedures are until you compare them to other fields. “Quackery” is a fun word that normally refers to medicine. It is a type of health fraud that promotes products and services…
Journey 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 the Journey to Conquer Cancer walk to support research at Princess Margaret Hospital. My team is the Harbour Square Team for my condo building. The walk is on Sunday, June 15 at 9 AM. It starts at the University of Toronto, Varsity Stadium, 299 Bloor Street West,…
Rempel 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 Multi-Millionaire”. We often hear that building wealth is just about numbers. But here’s the truth: the numbers are just the tools. What really matters is what those numbers do for your life. In this article, you’ll see the stark contrast between two ordinary guys—Joe and Rich—who made…
Rempel 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 by managing their money for maximum growth. Prefer an overview? Like videos? Check out our whiteboard video, podcast episode, or read the full post below! The chart is based on “The Story of Joe & Rich”. This story is an extreme version of the life of an…
Smith Manoeuvre
The Smith Manoeuvre – Is your mortgage tax deductible? The Smith Manoeuvre is an efficient strategy to use equity in your home to invest for your future without using your cash flow. It converts your mortgage over time into a tax deductible investment credit line. Most Canadians are searching for a feeling of financial security, but all the bills & life expenses mean they never build up enough of a nest egg to be secure. The Smith Manoeuvre is a strategy that can help you build your nest egg and help you achieve the retirement you want without using your cash flow.…
3 Principles of Successful Investors (UPDATED)
“There are some people who, if they don’t already know, you can’t tell ’em.” – Yogi Berra Are you one of those investors for whom things just seem to always work out well? Getting superior long term returns seems to take little effort. Whatever strategy you use seems to eventually work. You don’t spend much time or effort, yet most of the time you are feeling quite confident about your investments. Or are you the type of investor who always seems to struggle? It seems everything you buy goes down right after you buy. When you finally sell, they take off. And…
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 your retirement plan is fun. It’s not about the money. It’s all about your life. Your retirement plan is the GPS for your life. It makes you wealthier, because it gets you to your goal the quickest and most effective way. In my latest video, podcast episode,…