Posts by Robb Engen
The Wealthy Barber Returns (Again): A Canadian Classic Reborn for 2025
In April, in Sarnia, the story begins the same way it did back in 1989. But instead of Dave (and wife Sue), his sister Cathy, and his friend Tom sitting in Roy Miller’s barbershop, we meet Matt (and wife Maddie), his sister Jess, and his buddy Kyle. Roy’s still cutting hair, still wise as ever…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Points, Planes, and Permission to Spend Edition
I’ve long been a fan of rewards credit cards and the points-and-miles game. In 2019, we redeemed nearly a million points for a 32-day trip to Scotland and Ireland – Aeroplan flights for four, and five-night stays at the Sheraton Edinburgh and the Westin Dublin, all “free” thanks to Marriott Bonvoy. Then came the 2022…
Read MoreHow To Crush Your RRSP Contributions Next Year
*Updated for October 2025* If you’re a high-income earner staring at a mountain of unused RRSP room, you’re not alone. Many Canadians with strong salaries struggle to come up with enough cash flow to max out their RRSP deduction limit each year. And while we can debate whether middle- and low-income earners are better off…
Read MoreTurn Up the Dial: How to Actually Enjoy Spending in Retirement
I spend a lot of time telling people to automate their savings, keep costs low, invest in index funds, and stay the course. But do you know what might be even harder than saving? Spending. I see this all the time with retirees. The math says they can safely spend $120,000 a year, yet their…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: The Perfect Financial Plan Does Not Exi…
You’ve probably seen the meme: “The perfect financial plan does not exi—” But if one did exist, it would probably look something like this. During your working years, make a solemn vow never to carry a cent of credit card debt. That one rule alone will put you ahead of most Canadians. Then follow these…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: When Investors Lose Their Nerve Edition
It was a rough end to the week for markets, with a sharp sell-off on Friday reminding investors just how quickly sentiment can turn. For anyone who sold in late summer anticipating a correction and then bought back in at the start of October, that one-day drop might have felt like confirmation that they…
Read MoreNo, Canada Doesn’t Have a Death Tax: Here’s What Really Happened
A reader sent me a CTV News story that made the rounds this week titled, “Daughter hit with $660,000 tax bill when both parents died in same year.” The reader wondered if this was proof that retirees should drain their RRIFs early to avoid a crushing “estate tax.” It’s the kind of story that spreads…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Canadian Financial Summit Edition
This week I want to highlight the upcoming Canadian Financial Summit, taking place October 22–25. This annual online event brings together some of the top personal finance experts in the country – and the speaker lineup this year is incredible. You’ll hear new insights from David Chilton, Canada’s Wealthy Barber himself, along with Dr. Preet…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Why “Alternatives” Are a Trap Edition
A major Canadian bank brokerage recently said that it wants 25 percent of client portfolios in “alts” within five years. Translation: high-fee, hard-to-leave products. What “Alts” Really Are Advisors use “alts” as shorthand for alternative investments, anything outside plain-vanilla stocks, bonds, or cash. Think private mortgage pools, private apartment funds, private credit deals, hedge funds,…
Read MoreDon’t Wait Until 70: The Costly Retirement Planning Trap
A recent Financial Post Family Finance column profiled a 71-year-old woman who found herself in a financial mess. She owned two rental properties, was forced into mandatory RRIF withdrawals, and was receiving CPP and OAS. The result? A giant tax bill and a lot of frustration. Her mistake was waiting until her 70s to get…
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