7 Best Ideas to Optimize the Smith Manoeuvre (Canadian Financial Summit 2024)
Release Date: 01/16/2025
Exponential Thinking – How Major Wealth Happens
Unconventional Wisdom
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: What is exponential thinking? What are some real life examples? How does the...
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The Meaning of Life - Responsibility
Unconventional Wisdom
What is the meaning of life? What truly makes it worth living? How can having a meaningful life help you become financially independent? It comes down to responsibility. Choosing what you want to be responsible for gives your life structure, direction and purpose. It’s also the same mindset that can help you become financially independent. In my latest podcast episode you’ll learn: What is the meaning of life? What makes life worth living? How do many people avoid taking responsibility for their life? How can having a meaningful life help you become financially independent? How...
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Retirement Rookie: Worried about a Market Crash Right After Retiring?
Unconventional Wisdom
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 podcast episode you’ll learn: Do we need to worry about a market crash right...
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Go Big or Go Slow: Why 10x Wealth Is Easier Than 2x
Unconventional Wisdom
♦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...
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Why Renting Could Be Your Secret to Smarter Wealth Building
Unconventional Wisdom
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 podcast...
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How To Make Your Home A Good Investment
Unconventional Wisdom
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 podcast episode you’ll learn: How do homes compare to other growth investments for rate of return? Why is it unfortunate if your home is your largest investment? What are the 2 non-investment...
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Navigating the Financial Advisor Title Trap: Why Fee-For-Service Planners Are the True Superheroes
Unconventional Wisdom
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 podcast episode you’ll learn: When you want real advice, what are the most valuable types of advice to help you? What are the main titles planners & advisors use? What services and advice does each typically offer? Which type is the best to create a professional...
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Should I Delay CPP & OAS Until Age 70? – Complete Answer with Real-Life Examples (Updated)
Unconventional Wisdom
Most seniors start their CPP and OAS when they retire or at age 65, without evaluating the options. But many would benefit from delaying CPP until age 70. Here’s how to figure out what’s best for you. CPP and OAS offer cool opportunities to increase after-tax income, because seniors often have flexibility in choosing taxable vs. non-taxable income, and OAS comes with several “clawbacks” beyond regular tax. To spot these opportunities, you need to think creatively about pensions, tax, and investments. After 65, the biggest factors in deciding whether to delay CPP are whether...
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Should I start my CPP early? – Real-Life Examples (Updated)
Unconventional Wisdom
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 podcast episode you’ll learn: Why should you ignore “CPP breakeven” calculations? Why are life expectancy stats understated? What is the best way to estimate your life expectancy? What happens if you are still working? How does your tax bracket each year affect your CPP? How does your CPP fit into your overall retirement income? Who should take...
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Why Don’t Most Financial Planners Plan Finances?
Unconventional Wisdom
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 podcast episode you’ll learn: Why don’t most financial planners plan finances? What does Ed’s team see with the public? What is a financial plan? What difference does a Financial Plan make in your life?
info_outlineWith 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 invest for their future without impacting their cash flow.
When included as part of a comprehensive financial plan, this strategy can empower you to achieve the life you’ve always envisioned.
But optimizing the Smith Manoeuvre requires more than just the basics—it’s about mastering the practical details and understanding how to maximize its benefits.
In my latest podcast episode you’ll learn:
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What is the right reason to do the Smith Manoeuvre?
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How do you know if you are the right person for the Smith Manoeuvre?
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What is the right mortgage?
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How can you keep it 100% tax deductible?
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Which of the 8 Smith Manoeuvre strategies is right for you?
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Why is it critical that the Smith Manoeuvre is a long-term strategy?
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What is the right mindset to minimize the risk & maximize the benefits?