Whether you’re a political junkie or prefer to sit on the sidelines, here’s how to stay focused in an emotional world. Cherish your own emotions and never undervalue them – Robert Henri (1865-1929) Politics, Economics and Personal Emotion. How do these areas affect my financial plan? What if Donald Trump becomes president? How does the […]
Searching for your nest egg?
How to keep your basket full This year we celebrated Easter with an Easter egg hunt at my sister’s place. My kids and their cousins had to search for the Easter Eggs while doing an action like hopping on one foot like a bunny or acting like a Dinosaur. The favourite egg was the ‘Golden […]
What is money to you?
And how much is enough? Ever since I had my first book published I always like to pop into bookstores to see what other authors are writing in the subjects of money and financial planning. In my last visit I picked up a book from Felix Martin,Money: The Unauthorized Biography and the very first chapter […]
What a cup of coffee taught me about living from paycheck to paycheck
Developing a financial plan ensures the entire family comes first How many of you remember going out for a special dinner when you were young? For me, it was McDonald’s each month on the Fridays that my dad was paid. Each of us always had a ‘meal deal’ before there was such a thing. My dad always […]
Why you should consider living off 80 percent of your income
It’s time to consider a new vision for your financial plan My son asked the other day if he had to get glasses when he became an adult. I told him that I sure hoped he didn’t! I guess he assumes adults wear glasses since both of his parents have had glasses since he was […]
How to find work/life balance through your financial plan
Sometimes your kids need to be your ‘clients’ The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss is a dream for most Canadians. For me a 40-hour workweek is my dream. As a financial planner, I don’t see it as a job but as a passion for the past 18 years. However, I realized one day that my work and family life […]
Is taking equity out of your home really a good idea?
Get an outside perspective before you ‘let your house lend a hand’ I continue to hear a familiar commercial (with a catchy jingle!) on the radio where the company is suggesting that you should ‘let your house lend a hand’. Is my house going to help me buy that big screen television I’ve been asking […]
Money lessons learned, money lessons taught
How do your children define money – and what do you need to teach them? My three-and-a-half year old daughter told me the other day that “she has enough money so you don’t have to go to work daddy.” This was in response to the previous six months of me telling her that “daddy has to […]
Understanding critical illness insurance
Why you need it now more than ever You buy house insurance to safeguard your home, car insurance to protect your car, and life insurance to ensure your loved ones are financially cared for in case of unforeseen circumstances. But what about protecting your most important asset: your ability to work for a living. Critical […]
What should be P.A.C.T. into your financial plan?
How to know if you are on the right path to reaching your financial goals The financial planning process I go through with clients is not a product but a process. This process is one of the most important things to do. Completing a financial plan and updating it on a regular basis will make […]