What Canadians Are Really Asking About Money Right Now
Unconventional Wisdom
What Canadians Are Really Asking About Money Right Now In this one-off episode, I reflect on the topics listeners have engaged with most over time, and what that reveals about the financial decisions people are really grappling with. From retirement timing and government benefits to understanding risk, evidence-based investing, and long-term tax strategies, these themes point to a clear desire for clarity over hype. I also take a moment to say thank you to you the listeners and invite your input on what questions or challenges you’d like addressed in future episodes. This podcast works best...
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RRSP/RRIF Meltdown Strategies Explained (Canadian Financial Summit 2025)
Unconventional Wisdom
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 it be called the RRIF Meltdown Strategy, not the RRSP Meltdown...
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How Did the Wealthy Get Wealthy — and Can I Copy Them? (Canadian Financial Summit 2025)
Unconventional Wisdom
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...
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Random Walk Theory Debunked: The Best Market Gains Follow the Worst Crashes – And One Easy Rule to Beat the Market
Unconventional Wisdom
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...
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The Fake Stages of Retirement: Why ‘Slow-Go’ Is Really About Money — Not Age
Unconventional Wisdom
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...
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Why Monte Carlo Simulations Get Retirement Risk Wrong
Unconventional Wisdom
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, 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...
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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...
info_outlineHow 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 that have questionable and unproven scientific bases.
In my latest podcast episode you’ll learn:
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What is financial quackery?
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Why is it a major problem for Canadians?
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How can it ruin your retirement plan?
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What is “risk” in financial planning?
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How can you make informed decisions about your risk tolerance AND your goal?
If you’ve ever been handed a generic investment recommendation after a fifteen-minute chat and a “risk tolerance questionnaire,” you may have met a financial quack.
Just like in medicine, real advice requires a proper diagnosis—and skipping that step can be costly.
🦆 Discover how to spot the quackery, protect your retirement, and make decisions that actually align with your life goals.