Weekend Reading: For Brock Hirsche Edition

Just over two years ago Brock Hirsche, the 23-year-old captain of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s hockey team, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It’s a disease most commonly found in men aged 15-35 and one that hit the Pronghorn family hard as three members of the program were diagnosed with testicular cancer within the span of a year.

Brock battled hard through chemotherapy and radiation to become cancer-free later that year. Unfortunately the cancer came back in November 2017 and, after another round of aggressive treatment failed, Brock’s doctors gave him a grim prognosis: continue invasive chemo and radiation treatment with a slim chance of survival, or forgo further treatment and live out his remaining months as best he could. He chose the latter, with the goal of making it to his 27th birthday next February.

Brock has worked with the University of Lethbridge, along with close friends and family, to establish the Brock Hirsche Pronghorn Hockey Scholarship, an annual student award that will support a Pronghorn men’s hockey player who will be a leader in his community and preferably have some experience in promoting men’s health issues.

A leader who also captained his WHL Prince George Cougars, Brock continues to raise awareness for testicular cancer and encourages young men to get tested. He courageously spoke in front of 200 people last night at the ‘Horns Hockey Alumni Dinner in Lethbridge, an event that raised $15,000 for his scholarship fund.

For Brock Hirsche

I can’t think of a time when I’ve ever mixed my work life with my blog life, but I also can’t think of a better cause with which to share with all of you. I’m a fundraiser for Pronghorn Athletics at the University of Lethbridge and it will be my personal mission over the next few months to ensure this award reaches the $25,000 mark and beyond so that the fund can be endowed and Brock’s legacy can live on with an annual scholarship in his name.

If you have an extra $20, $200, or $2,000 that you’d like to put towards a good cause, I ask you to please consider donating to the Brock Hirsche Pronghorn Hockey Award at gohorns.ca/for-brock

The University of Lethbridge is a registered charity and donations to this scholarship fund will receive a tax-receipt for the full amount.

Thank you for allowing me to use this platform to bring awareness to a cause that is near and dear to my heart.

This Week’s Recap:

On Monday I shared some shocking research on the misguided beliefs of financial advisors.

On Wednesday Marie looked at the implications of waiting for an inheritance.

And on Friday Marie asked if ETFs are becoming too complex as more and more niche products flood the market.

Many thanks to Erica Alini at Global News for allowing me to share my thoughts on mortgage brokers in her excellent piece on the deal hunter’s guide to getting the lowest mortgage rate.

Weekend Reading:

A Wealth of Common Sense blogger Ben Carlson offers some perspective on investment advice.

Tom Bradley explains that 83 percent of funds held in discount brokerage accounts pay a trailer fee:

“As a reminder, trailers are meant to pay for on-going advice. Discount brokers aren’t licensed to provide advice to clients.”

See the problem?

John De Goey explains exactly how mutual fund fees work and how your advisor gets paid.

Ben Felix tackles the big business of index creation with this video on why not all index funds are created equal:

Here’s Dr. Networth blogging about his journey to passive index investing. In part two of the journey, the good doctor offers readers a chance to win a copy of Andrew Hallam’s Millionaire Teacher.

Speaking of the millionaire teacher, Andrew Hallam explains how a seven-year old investor beats Harvard’s endowment fund.

Costco shoppers rejoice! The wholesale giant announces plans for grocery home delivery in Canada.

Rising debts explained: Rob Carrick says mortgage plus daycare equals financial overload.

Rob McLister explains the one week’s salary rule: a time-honoured maxim representing one month’s mortgage payment.

MoneySense’s Bruce Sellery says income properties aren’t as simple of a money-making venture as you think:

Income properties aren’t as simple of a money-making venture as one would think. Are they worth it? pic.twitter.com/30eMRwr2Tb

— MoneySense (@MoneySense) March 15, 2018

Can you use a financial planner even if you’re not rich? Why you don’t have to have a ton of cash in order to hire someone to manage it.

Jason Heath says to watch out for OAS clawbacks if you plan on working in retirement.

Blogger Michael James with a thoughtful reflection on why he retired.

Solo retirement is on the rise — here’s how you can mitigate the risks.

Why a planned car loan doesn’t have Half Banked blogger Des Odjick pressing the panic button on her debt.

Morgan Housel explains why luck is the flip side of risk. You cannot understand one without appreciating the other.

Want to be happy? Try moving to Finland, number one in the 2018 world’s happiness report.

Finally, here’s all the things you’re doing wrong when you travel, according to Anthony Bourdain.