Posts by Robb Engen
Weekend Reading: The Power of Simplicity Edition
‘Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.’ – Henry David Thoreau I’ve fielded all types of questions from clients and readers over the years looking for that one magic hack or some shortcut to building wealth. Usually these half-baked ideas come from a friend, relative, colleague, or an unscrupulous advisor, or a random…
Read MoreInvestment Returns for 2024
Global stocks continued the positive momentum from a strong performance in 2023 to deliver another banner year for investment returns in 2024. The gap between the NASDAQ and the rest of the market shrank, but technology stocks once again led the charge, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ gaining 24.10% (XQQ). That mark was nearly equalled by…
Read MoreWhat Is Probate, How To Avoid Probate Fees, and Should You Even Try?
Some Canadians will go to great lengths to avoid probate fees and to reduce taxes applied to their estate. Indeed, estate planning strategies such as adding an adult child to the title of primary residence or a cottage, or as a joint owner of a non-registered account, can unknowingly expose you or your child to…
Read MoreTFSA Contribution Limit And Overview
The federal government kept the annual TFSA contribution limit at $7,000 for 2025 – the same limit we had in 2024. It’s still good news for Canadian savers and investors, who as of January 1, 2025, will have a cumulative lifetime TFSA contribution limit of $102,000. The Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) was introduced in…
Read MoreNet Worth Update: 2024 Year-End Review
Welcome to the end of the year and another net worth update. 2024 has been a banner year for both professional and financial growth. On the business side, we saw revenues increase by an incredible 35%. More and more of you reach out for unbiased financial advice each year, and my wife and I absolutely…
Read MoreYour Ultimate Guide to RRIFs: Strategies, Pitfalls, and the Secret Sauce to Retirement Income
A Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) is like an RRSP’s responsible older sibling. Once you hit retirement, the RRIF takes over where the RRSP leaves off – turning your savings into retirement income. Indeed, if RRSPs are the workhorse of your savings years, RRIFs are your retirement MVP. They take all that tax-deferred money you’ve…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Credit Card Rewards Edition
I used to be a hardcore credit card rewards junkie and wrote frequently on the subject (I even had a separate blog dedicated to it!). I considered it a game, and tried to win big each year by signing up for multiple cards with massive welcome bonuses, while optimizing rewards with specific cards for everyday…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: VEQT and Chill Edition
One question I’m often asked about my investment approach is when it makes sense to switch my portfolio from 100% global equities (represented by Vanguard’s All Equity ETF – VEQT) to something less risky that includes bonds and/or cash. In other words, does it make sense to switch from VEQT to VGRO to possibly VBAL…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: When To Hire A Financial Advisor Edition
A few months ago I made an offhand remark in a weekend reading update that caught the attention of several readers: “You might be surprised to hear that if something happened to me, my wife has been instructed to hand everything over to PWL Capital. That’s how much I believe in the good work that…
Read More2024 Financial Goals Check-up
I’ve been blogging for nearly 15 years and one reason I keep things going here (admittedly more infrequently than I’d like) is that I thoroughly enjoy looking back at old articles, especially when it comes to financial goals. In fact, one of my favourite posts of all time is a 2019 net worth update when…
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