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!
Top 5 Hacks To Maximize Your Child’s RESP
Many people are saving for their kids’ future education costs in an RESP. For some parents, it is a higher priority and they want to be able to maximize the benefits of an RESP – not just contribute the standard $2,500/year for each child. In my latest blog post, video, and podcast episode I talk about the five hacks to maximize your child’s RESP. You’ll learn: Should Your Child Pay for Their Education? Parents often have different approaches to funding their child’s education: Teaching Kids Money Skills Teaching children financial responsibility is crucial. The amount of money you give them can impact…
Read MoreWhat Happens if the Liberals Attack the Smith Manoeuvre?
The Smith Manoeuvre has long been a popular strategy for Canadian homeowners seeking to convert their mortgage debt into tax-deductible investment debt. However, recent tax and regulatory changes have impacted the efficacy of the Smith Manoeuvre, and further changes from the Liberal government could pose additional challenges. In my latest blog post, YouTube video and podcast episode I give an analysis of the current landscape and potential future threats to this investment strategy. You’ll learn about: Recent Changes Affecting the Smith Manoeuvre Negative Impacts: Positive Impacts: Potential Liberal Policy Changes If the Liberal government targets the Smith Manoeuvre, several policy changes could…
Read MoreHow Long Will You Live?
Have you ever wondered how long you might live? Understanding life expectancy is crucial for planning a secure and fulfilling future. In my latest blog post, YouTube video and podcast episode I explore the dramatic changes in life expectancy over the past century, why it’s expected to continue increasing, and how this impacts your retirement planning. You’ll learn: The Journey of Life Expectancy Life expectancy has seen remarkable changes over the past century. Since 1900, it has nearly doubled, increasing from 48 years to 83 years. This significant rise is due to several factors: The Future of Life Expectancy Life expectancy continues…
Read MoreTFSA or RRSP? – The Right Answer for You (2024)
Deciding between a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) and a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) can be one of the most challenging financial decisions you’ll face. Each has its benefits, and the right choice depends on your unique financial situation. In this post, I’ll guide you through understanding the factors that determine whether a TFSA or RRSP is better for you and how a financial plan can provide you with the precise answer. In my latest blog post, video and podcast episode I talk about: Understanding Tax Brackets Before and After Retirement A common misconception is that tax brackets are always lower after…
Read MoreHow To Have a Long Lifespan, Healthspan & Wealthspan With 3.0 Level Thinking
How long should you expect to be retired? You want your money to last the rest of your life. How long will you live? What quality of life will you have? What will your lifestyle cost you when you are older? What if you could: 1. Live longer (long lifespan). 2. Be healthy longer (long healthspan). 3. Have financial freedom longer (long wealthspan). In my latest video and podcast episode I talk about: New thinking in Medicine & Personal Finance Great book “Outlive” by Dr. Peter Attia, MD. Recommended to me by my doctor & my personal trainer. Medicine 1.0 (2000 year…
Read MoreHow To Create a Financial Plan That Is Your Life Plan – Interview with Kornel Szrejber
I recently worked with Kornel Szrejber, host of Canada’s #1 financial podcast “Build Wealth Canada,” on his family’s financial plan, so he could feel confident about his retirement. Kornel retired in his 30s, but he was starting to feel anxious because he wanted to make sure he wasn’t overspending. This YouTube interview and podcast episode is a Q&A between the two of us where we talk about Kornel’s situation, as well as other situations people may go through when they are saving for retirement. We talk about what makes a good financial plan, tax planning, and understanding how to foresee how much…
Read MoreHow to Successfully Implement the Smith Manoeuvre (Podcast with Ed Rempel)
You know the basics about the Smith Manoeuvre. It’s a big decision. Here is a discussion of the big issues. Listen to my new podcast with Sean Cooper from BurnYourMortgage.ca . Here is the link: How to Successfully Implement the Smith Manoeuvre with Ed Rempel We discuss: • Why should you consider the Smith Manoeuvre?• How to know if the Smith Manoeuvre is right for you.• Managing the risks. Avoiding the common errors.• Tax tracking & Capitalizing.• Dealing with CRA.• How the Smith Manoeuvre can fit into your retirement plan.• What happens if you move?• What happens once your mortgage is paid…
Read MoreHow to Avoid or Minimize Extra Tax From New Higher Capital Gains Tax
You may have heard that we just had a new budget here in Canada, and increased the taxes on capital gains. Canadians with a rental property, cottage or investments and their tax advisors are scrambling to figure out what to do before the deadline of June 25, 2024. Here are the questions we’ll cover: What is the new higher capital gains tax? It’s in the 2024 budget. It increased the inclusion rate. Now, being included usually sounds like a good thing. In this case, it’s not. Now 67 percent of capital gains are going to be taxed up from 50 percent. For…
Read MoreHow to Donate Effectively
You may be thinking – what difference can I make in the world? As a financial planner I talk a lot about money, however, it’s not really about the money itself, but what it does for your life – how to live well, retire comfortably, and give back. In my latest video and podcast episode, I give you some ideas to help you choose causes that matter to you, as well as talking about financial & tax planning for donating effectively. Watch and listen to find out: I hope you enjoy it! Ed
Read MoreHow to EASILY Outperform Financial Advisors
It is EASY to outperform financial advisors? Why? Conventional wisdom is they underperform because of fees, but there is a bigger reason. They don’t even try to outperform. They try for: “Reasonable return with less risk”. Financial advisors are mainly salespeople, not financial planners. They are more likely to lose a client because of a 30% 1-year market decline than 10 years of lagging the index. So, they focus on market fluctuations, not your life goals. This makes them do the “4 performance drags” that typically reduce their returns by at least 3%/year (which is more than their fees): This post is…
Read MoreFinancially Smart Divorce
Divorce is never financially smart! As a financial planner, I don’t recommend divorce. It’s bad for your finances! However, you can go through it in the most financially smart way – to leave both of you in the best possible position. We have seen quite a few people go through divorce. We’ve seen some total disasters, fighting for years through lawyers with monstrous legal costs. We have helped clients go through it amicably while talking & agreeing on what to do. I am a financial planner – not a lawyer. My insights here are based on experience about how to be as…
Read MoreTenant for Life by Choice: 5 Steps to “Tenant Freedom”
Many people today feel they have no choice but to be a tenant, however, what if you actually choose this? You can choose to be a tenant forever and it can be a great life! I’m going to introduce you to the concept of “Tenant Freedom,” to show you how great of a life it can be. Watch my latest YouTube video and listen to my podcast episode to find out: Advantages of Owning a home Owning a home offers stability and peace of mind, providing autonomy over renovations, decor, and building equity over time. However, the financial barriers to homeownership can…
Read MoreGold Goes Down on Inflation. Why Doesn’t the Industry Know This?
Gold goes down on inflation. Why doesn’t the industry know this? This is one of the most common and wrong conventional wisdoms. The conventional wisdom is that Gold protects you from inflation, so if we have high inflation Gold should be up. It should maintain its value. The problem is – this isn’t true and hasn’t been true for decades. So why does the investment industry keep promoting this idea? In my latest video and podcast episode I give you details on why you may have been told to invest in Gold, and what I suggest instead. Watch or listen to find…
Read MoreWhat is a Hedge Fund? Inside the Semi-Secret Hedge Fund World
20 years ago I took the most fascinating investment course, and by far the most in-depth. The course made me a “Certified Hedge Fund Specialist” (CHFS). I loved it so much I received the top mark in Canada. From the course and meeting with hedge fund people, I’ve learned the ins and outs of the Hedge Fund World, which to many, seems like a secret club. In my latest video and podcast episode, you’ll get a sense of what this world is like, insight into the categories of hedge funds and major hedge fund stories in movies. Should you invest in a…
Read More6 Key Lessons Learned as a Fee-For-Service Financial Planner – Talk With Ellen Roseman’s Investment Club
I was honoured to be invited by Ellen Roseman to speak with her Investment Club about the 6 key lessons I have learned as a fee-for-service financial planner. They have had investment guest speakers, but never someone just talking about financial planning. Ellen Roseman is a journalist who sticks up for ordinary Canadians. Her personal finance & consumer columns appeared in the Toronto Star for 20 years, she was the Star’s business editor, a columnist for the Globe and Mail, associate managing editor of the Globe’s Report on Business, author of 4 books, has a podcast, and she’s been teaching courses on…
Read MoreYour Corporation – What You Need To Know (If You Don’t Understand Your Accountant)
Do you own a business? If yes, then you’ll love my latest video and podcast episode. I cover the few things that you really need to know about corporations. You’ll learn: I hope you enjoy it! Ed
Read MoreThe 6 Steps to Become Financially Independent
What will it take for you to become financially free? To have enough money that you never have to work again? This video and podcast episode is my insight into the few key ideas you really need to know. It’s an overview to give you the big picture of what really works. Some of these ideas are not conventional wisdom. They are the ideas that give you results over time. I learned these 6 steps from working with more than 1,000 families to create detailed, personal plans for them to become financially independent. I am also a fee-for-service financial planner, tax accountant…
Read MoreHow to EASILY Outperform Robo-Advisors
It is EASY to outperform robo-advisors? Why? They don’t even try to outperform. They try for: “Reasonable return with less risk”. You would think robo-advisors would just invest in a few broad indexes, but often they don’t. And they require you to invest in bonds no matter how high your risk tolerance. Robo-advisors are big investment companies, not financial planners. They are more likely to lose a client because of a 30% 1-year market decline than 10 years of lagging the index. So, they focus on market fluctuations, not your life goals. This makes them use “performance drags” that typically reduce their…
Read More5-Year Fixed Mortgage Trap
The average Canadian wastes $22,000 after tax during their life for every $100,000 of their mortgage and takes 38 months longer to pay it off, according to a study by Moshe Milevsky. This is because of taking 5-year fixed mortgages instead of variable. They are marketed as being safe and a good protection against a sharp rise in interest rates. The reality, though, is that they are nearly always a huge waste of money, because the interest rate is nearly always higher and you lose your negotiating power for five long years. From 1975-2019, 1-year fixed mortgages saved money 100% of the…
Read MoreSmith Manoeuvre or Smith Maneuver?
Why the two spellings and which is correct? This strategy (which I’m most known for), helps Canadian homeowners make their mortgages tax deductible in a simple way. What’s the proper spelling? Who pioneered this legal strategy? Does it work in Quebec? Can you use it if you live in the United States? All these questions you’ll get answered in my latest video. Watch the video or listen to the podcast to find out: I hope you enjoy it! Ed
Read MoreAsset Allocation Loss Ratio (AALR) – What Is It & How Does It Help You?
When you go to any investment firm, they require you to fill out & sign a Risk Tolerance Questionnaire of some kind. The purpose is to prevent you from investing too aggressively. This can be important, because you might sell a more aggressive investment when it is down and lose money. However, there are 2 important questions: – What prevents you from investing too conservatively? – Can you achieve your life goals with the more conservative investments? These are critical questions, since almost nobody can retire comfortably with a typical balanced portfolio with 40-50%…
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 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…
Read MoreHow to EASILY Outperform Index Investors
It is EASY to outperform index investors? Why? You would think that people that consider themselves “index investors” would just own 1 or 2 broad indexes and try for the index return. However the ones I see usually do not invest this way. Most of them have suboptimal portfolios that may contain: 1/ Bonds – They usually invest partly in bonds, even though studies show that over 20-year periods, equities (stocks) are more reliable. Equities have a lower 20-year standard deviation after inflation than bonds. 2/ Home country bias – They invest in Canada because it sounds safer, even though returns have…
Read MoreGambling, Speculating, Saving & Investing. What’s the difference?
How should you invest your money? If you don’t invest wisely, it will be hard to fund your future. There are always new areas you can put your money into, but are they worthwhile long-term? In my latest video and podcast episode, I look at all the possible areas to invest your money and fit them into 4 categories: gambling, speculating, saving, and investing. Knowing the expected return & risk for each will help you decide what’s the most reliable for you to be confident in your future. I specifically talk about: I hope you enjoy it! Ed
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