Building a retirement portfolio isn't just about what you invest in it's about where you hold it. Today's episode breaks down how smart asset location can make or break your retirement income.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- Two considerations when building a retirement portfolio.
- The importance of considering where you place investments through a tax lens.
- A conversation I have with all our successful retirees.
- The importance of a portfolio that can weather market uncertainty.
- A sample retirement portfolio.
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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From that first coffee and handshake to personalized follow-ups and ongoing strategy, here’s what your first year as a client really looks like.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- How a team approach leads to a more robust relationship
- The importance of a coffee and handshake
- Your tailor first year experience – in writing
- How often we will meet, whether by phone, virtually or in person
- Our specialization and commitment to you
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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Estate planning is more than just having a will, it’s about protecting your family, reducing taxes, and making life easier for your loved ones. In the final step of the Fundamental Retirement Plan, we break down the essentials and the overlooked strategies you can’t afford to miss.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- The core estate documents you need to have in place
- The disconnect that can happen when you have a transactional relationship with legal council
- How decisions made in step one of our process trickles down to step 5
- One crucial strategy that is often overlooked but will have a significant impact on your spouse or executor.
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
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Health care is often the hidden cost of retirement. In this episode, we show how the right planning can protect your lifestyle, unlock tax credits, and even help you avoid tens of thousands in out-of-pocket expenses.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- The health care system as we understand it today.
- The underutilization of credits and benefits by Canadians
- A real-life scenario where a $25,000/year cost was avoided.
- Topics we discuss with prospective clients during this step.
- Why asking the right questions makes us different.
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
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Smart retirement planning isn’t just about investing, it’s about keeping more of what you’ve worked so hard to earn. Step three of the Fundamental Retirement Plan is all about tax planning and it could save you thousands.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- The difference between tax planning and tax advice
- Common strategies we develop for retirees
- Tax planning for incorporated professionals and business owners.
- The key benefits of tax planning, other than reducing your tax bill
- Our two most impactful client value adds
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
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Retirement isn’t the end of your income, it’s the start of your most important paycheque strategy.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- Four crucial aspects to income planning
- How decisions from step 1 impact step 2
- Planning for the go-go years of retirement
- Answering your retirement income concerns
- The single biggest decision during the income planning step
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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Most people enter retirement with a collection of investment accounts but no real plan. In this episode, we break down why your investment allocation sets the tone for every decision that follows, from income and taxes to long-term care and legacy planning.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- An introduction to the 5 steps in the Fundamental Retirement plan
- Why the crucial first step is Investment allocation
- Understanding if you are being properly compensated for the risk you are taking
- How lack of diversification means you are leaving a lot of quality business on the table,
- Key metrics we review as we diagnose your existing portfolio.
- How decisions you make in your investment allocation cascade into all other areas of your retirement plan.
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
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Could your retirement portfolio be silently underperforming because of cash you didn’t even realize you had? Cash drag may be one of the easiest retirement mistakes to fix—and the cost of ignoring it could be massive.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- What is cash drag, and how does it impact your retirement nest egg
- Three area’s we find excess cash, some of it hidden
- A reasonable buffer to keep in your bank account for ongoing needs
- A misguided reason some may hold excess cash in their investments
- A simple example to put it all together and illustrate what your missing out on
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
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Thinking about giving your kids money while you're stillalive to see them enjoy it? In this episode, we explore how to gift without jeopardizing your own retirement—and the conversations that need to happenfirst.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- The two kinds of gifts you can make
- How to set expectations
- A scenario I have come across with a substantial gift in mind
- A hierarchy of financial needs to address with a gift
- The tax implications of a gift.
- Fostering a deeper connection and implementing intergeneration wealth transfer
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to helpaddress some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
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DIY investing might save youmoney—but could it cost you peace of mind in retirement?
Before you decide to go it alone, hear the pros, cons, and what most DIY retirees wish they knew sooner.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
- Who is the typical DIY retirement investor
- The 3 core pain points of the Retirement DIY investor
- Four Pros and four cons to DIY investing in retirement
- 10 Thing you should expect if you work with an advisor
- How our biases impact our decision making
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to helpaddress some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
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Are hidden investment fees quietly eating away at your retirement? In this episode, we uncover what you’re really paying—and how to take back control of your financial future.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
Understanding the fees you pay – Advisory fee vs investment fee
Two fees that are mostly transparent
Four hidden fees that drag down your portfolio
A real life example of how a hidden fee can disrupt a retirement plan
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
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Did you know a few simple tweaks to your TFSA today, could transform your retirement in 30 years?
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
The first step to optimizing your TFSA account
The blanketed approach to investment decisions
A balanced investor’s TFSA balance from 2009 to today
The impact of changing your plan over the next 30 years
4 decisions that could ruin your TFSA
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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I’ve been targeted by scammers – and you probably have too. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
My own experience being targeted by scammers
A quick tip to help cut down on the phone calls and texts
Three common scam and fraud schemes we come across
On commonality across all scam and fraud schemes you can use to help spot a fraud
The importance of having a trusted contact person
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
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Think US estate tax doesn’t apply to you as a Canadian? Think again — you could be in for a costly surprise.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
What is the US Estate Tax
Two questions you need to consider to determine if you are required to pay US estate tax
Upcoming changes in 2026 that could expose your worldwide estate tax
Strategies to consider to help mitigate or eliminate your exposure
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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Is your will really saying what you think it is? In this episode, we uncover common estate planning mistakes and how to make sure your wishes are carried out.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
Potential issues that can arise with an estate
Three scenarios I have come across in the last 12 months
Considerations you should discuss with your legal counsel
Who should be reviewing their will
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
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Uncertainty is inevitable, especially during the fragile decade surrounding retirement. In this episode, I share practical strategies and critical questions to help you build a resilient retirement plan you can count on—no matter what life throws your way.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
The dos and don’ts when retiring during uncertain times
Time tested critical planning questions to ask when review your retirement plan
The value of a second opinion
A retirement resource library at your disposal
A thank you to people who helped get me to episode 50
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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Retirement income planning is a crucial piece to your overall retirement plan that must be protected! Through prudent planning that factors in investment, tax and income planning, you too can insulate your retirement nest egg from market draw downs.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
How uncertainty seeps into our day to day lives
The importance of tuning out the noise
Two crucial planning considerations to reduce the risk to your retirement income.
How to brace for an inevitable market downturn
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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Who handles the finances in your household? In this episode, we explore what happens when one spouse takes the lead, how financial responsibilities are divided and key steps to ensure both partners are financially prepared for the future.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
How responsibilities are split between spouses.
The probability the surviving spouse will find a new advisor within a year
A real-world experience when one spouse passes
Understanding what value means to you
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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EPISODE RESOURCES:
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Surviving Spouse’s leaving their Advisor
Entering retirement having more than enough to sustain your lifestyle can come with its on set of unique considerations and hurdles that should be well thought out and planned for accordingly.
In today’s episode, we are going to discuss:
Three considerations when you have more than enough
A real-world example of not having a plan in place
Working through the fear of spending in retirement
How to create a legacy from your abundance
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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Stock portfolios may look good on paper, but are you accepting too much risk by having this level of overconcentration? In today’s episode, we break it down and try and take the emotion decisions out of it.
Specifically, we are going to discuss:
What stock overconcentration looks like.
The pitfalls this can lead to in retirement.
The impact of stock options and company associated risks.
Ways to mitigate the tax implications of making a switch.
Lastly, I will finish up with some action items to help address some potential shortfalls in your current plan.
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***
EPISODE RESOURCES:
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