Unconventional Wisdom

Ever been terrified by those retirement calculators showing a scary chance of running out of money? That's Monte Carlo simulations at work—spinning wild "what-if" scenarios that often paint a doom-and-gloom picture far worse than reality. In my latest video, we'll debunk why most of these simulated failures could never happen in real life, how they push you toward boring bond-heavy portfolios that slash your retirement lifestyle by an average of 15-35% in annual spending, and why simply planning flexible actions during market dips is a game-changer for staying wealthy without the fearmongering. Ignore Monte Carlo panic porn for empowered planning. Focus on adaptability over probabilities. Retirement isn't about avoiding every storm—it's about sailing through them smarter. You will learn: What are Monte Carlo Simulations? Why most simulated failures are myths that can't happen in real life. Why the stock market is not a "random walk". How the solution of more bonds can make your retirement miserable. Why action plans for market downturns are a better solution. Why failures are not catastrophic – just temporary lifestyle adjustments. Retirement isn't about avoiding every storm—it's about sailing through them smarter.

What is the meaning of life? What truly makes it worth living? How can having a meaningful life help you become financially independent? It comes down to responsibility. Choosing what you want to be responsible for gives your life structure, direction and purpose. It's also the same mindset that can help you become financially independent. In my latest podcast episode you'll learn: What is the meaning of life? What makes life worth living? How do many people avoid taking responsibility for their life? How can having a meaningful life help you become financially independent? How can you become wealthy? If you've ever wondered how to align your deeper "why" with your financial success, this post is for you.

♦Go Big or Go Slow: Why 10x Wealth Is Easier Than 2x♦ This title may be hard to believe, but it is a common theme in coaching for small business entrepreneurs. The concept is from the popular book "10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less" by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Most of us think about incremental improvements in our lives, not dramatic life-changing improvements. That would require a completely different way of thinking. The 10X concept works for entrepreneurs. You can also use the 10X concept to dramatically improve your finances. In my latest podcast episode you'll learn: Why does this concept work for world class entrepreneurs? Stories of how and why it worked. Why can becoming 10 times wealthier be easier than 2 times? How can this idea be used for your finances? What specific concepts can give you 10X wealth? How can you figure out what 10X concepts might be right for you? This is a unique post that is a completely new way of thinking. It includes some insight into my mind and my life.

Wait. Don't people say, "Your home is your best investment? For many people, their home may be their only major investment. For them, that old conventional wisdom might be true. But that is unfortunate. It is easy to find better investments with dramatically higher long-term returns. Despite the lower returns, homeowners on average are wealthier for 2 non-investment reasons. In my latest podcast episode you'll learn: How do homes compare to other growth investments for rate of return? Why is it unfortunate if your home is your largest investment? What are the 2 non-investment reasons homeowners tend to be wealthier? Why does your home start being a great investment but then stop? Can your home be your retirement plan? Is home equity the key to wealth or is it "dead equity"? How can you make your home a good investment? What are the 2 best strategies to make your home a great investment?

Most seniors start their CPP and OAS when they retire or at age 65, without evaluating the options. But many would benefit from delaying CPP until age 70. Here's how to figure out what's best for you. CPP and OAS offer cool opportunities to increase after-tax income, because seniors often have flexibility in choosing taxable vs. non-taxable income, and OAS comes with several "clawbacks" beyond regular tax. To spot these opportunities, you need to think creatively about pensions, tax, and investments. After 65, the biggest factors in deciding whether to delay CPP are whether you'll need to withdraw more from your investments, and whether you're a growth investor, as this decision looks very different for growth-focused portfolios. In my latest podcast episode you'll learn: Why should you ignore "CPP breakeven" calculations? Why are life expectancy stats understated? What is the best way to estimate your life expectancy? What happens if you are still working? How does your tax bracket each year affect your CPP & OAS & GIS? How can you qualify for the maximum GIS? How does your CPP & OAS fit into your overall retirement income? Who should take CPP & OAS early and contribute it to RRSP? How do CPP & OAS affect the estate you leave for your kids? Who should delay their CPP to age 65? Real life examples.

What do you call a financial planner that does not plan finances? I know that sounds funny. But it is an important topic to understand. Most people assume that when they hire a financial planner, they're getting a personalized roadmap for their financial life. Yet surprisingly, that's often not the case, and it can have a huge impact on your future. In my latest podcast episode you'll learn: Why don't most financial planners plan finances? What does Ed's team see with the public? What is a financial plan? What difference does a Financial Plan make in your life?

How can you tell whether financial advice you receive is real financial advice or financial quackery? Much of what happens in the financial industry is financial quackery, but because the common methods are familiar to most of us, they appear normal. You can't really see how inadequate and funny many financial procedures are until you compare them to other fields. "Quackery" is a fun word that normally refers to medicine. It is a type of health fraud that promotes products and services that have questionable and unproven scientific bases. In my latest podcast episode you'll learn: What is financial quackery? Why is it a major problem for Canadians? How can it ruin your retirement plan? What is "risk" in financial planning? How can you make informed decisions about your risk tolerance AND your goal? If you've ever been handed a generic investment recommendation after a fifteen-minute chat and a "risk tolerance questionnaire," you may have met a financial quack. Just like in medicine, real advice requires a proper diagnosis—and skipping that step can be costly. 🦆 Discover how to spot the quackery, protect your retirement, and make decisions that actually align with your life goals.

How can your life really be different if you focus on maximum wealth-building principles? It's not about the money. It's about your life. This story is an extreme version of the life of an ordinary person managing his money exceptionally. The concepts are in my last post, "Rempel Maximum – 5 Steps to Becoming a Multi-Millionaire". We often hear that building wealth is just about numbers. But here's the truth: the numbers are just the tools. What really matters is what those numbers do for your life. In this article, you'll see the stark contrast between two ordinary guys—Joe and Rich—who made radically different financial choices. One followed conventional advice. The other followed a plan most Canadians don't even know exists. In my latest podcast episode you'll learn: Why conservative investing may quietly sabotage your retirement, and what you can do instead. How aggressive (but smart) leverage can massively increase your net worth. The truth about long-term stock returns compared to balanced portfolios. How the Smith Manoeuvre can create wealth without using your cash flow. What "last decade risk" is, and how to avoid it derailing your retirement. The power of tax-efficient investing and how to compound your tax refunds. How building wealth gives you more than luxury — it gives you freedom, confidence, and impact. Why hardly anyone should actually follow these principles to the maximum. What living an "exceptional life" actually looks like when you manage your money exceptionally.