Archive for January 2026
Weekend Reading: The Retirement Consumption Puzzle Edition
One of the strangest things about retirement is that it’s often not about whether you’ll have enough money to last a lifetime, but whether you’ll feel comfortable spending it. Economists call this the retirement consumption puzzle. In theory, retirees should draw down their savings over time and enjoy the money they spent decades accumulating. In…
Read MoreETFs, Mutual Funds, and the Rise of Investing Slop
For a long time, investing in Canada came with a fairly simple rule of thumb. Mutual funds were expensive. ETFs were cheaper. If you wanted better odds, you bought ETFs instead. That advice was broadly right, and for many investors it made a meaningful difference. Moving from a two percent mutual fund into a…
Read MoreThis Is A Retirement Plan
Most people who reach out to me aren’t necessarily trying to retire early or do anything particularly clever with their money. They’ve worked for a long time, saved steadily, and are starting to wonder if this is the point where work becomes optional. Dan and Elizabeth are a good example of this. They live in…
Read MoreOut Of The Box RRSP Ideas For Retirement
A lot of RRSP advice follows a similar script. Contribute while you’re working, convert to a RRIF at 71, withdraw the minimum, and hope for the best. But retirement planning is where the interesting stuff actually happens. With a bit of flexibility and good timing, RRSPs can be used in ways that smooth taxes, improve…
Read MoreInvestment Returns For 2025
After years of watching U.S. markets and mega-cap tech stocks soak up the spotlight, Canadian stocks finally had their moment in 2025 and made it count. The Canadian market went elbows up and steamrolled its global peers, with XIC posting a massive 31.6% return. That’s not just a good year. That’s a statement year. Right…
Read More