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.

Being worried about a market crash right after retiring is a major fear for many people both before and after taking the plunge. I often hear these anxieties:

“I’m scared to retire even though I have enough money in every projection. What happens if there is a market crash right after I retire?”

“We just retired, but are hesitant to spend money in case we have a market crash.”

You’re not alone—thousands of people have had the same worry. But does the data actually support this fear?

In my latest podcast episode you’ll learn:

• Do we need to worry about a market crash right after retiring?

• Should we have the same worry in future years?

• Can I really be financially independent for life?

• How can I confidently take the plunge and retire when the market might crash?

• What should you do when the market crashes during retirement?

• Should I go back to work?

• What has happened in history with market crashes during retirement?

• What types of investments most reliably provide a solid income for a 30-year retirement?

• How can you let go of the fear?

♦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.

Owning a home is unaffordable for many people today. Here is some good news! If you rent, you can grow your wealth as fast or faster using the same 2 ideas that benefit homeowners.

Tenants have several major advantages over homeowners for wealth building.

Many homeowners think their home is their best investment. 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.

Tenants can use the same 2 ideas to grow as much or more wealth.

In my podcast episode you’ll learn:

• How do homes compare to other growth investments for rate of return?

• Why is it unfortunate for people if their home is their largest investment?

• Why do they call home equity "dead equity"?

• What are the 2 non-investment reasons homeowners tend to be wealthier?

• Why do homes start being a great investment but then stop?

• What are the advantages tenants have over homeowners for wealth building?

• How can you make renting your secret to smart wealth building?

• What are 3 effective strategies to grow wealth faster without owning a home?

Many people feel they are missing out because they cannot afford to buy a home or choose not to buy a home. They may think that owning a home is the cornerstone to building wealth and eventually being financially independent.

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?

Are you ever confused by all the different titles that financial planners and advisors use?

What types of advice and services do they offer?

Which one offers what you are looking for?

When you have real worries or questions about your money, “who you gonna call?” Who is the super-hero of advice?

In my podcast episode you’ll learn:

• When you want real advice, what are the most valuable types of advice to help you?

• What are the main titles planners & advisors use?

• What services and advice does each typically offer?

• Which type is the best to create a professional Financial Plan and confidence in your future?

• Which type offers on-going Full Service to be your financial guru and help you in all areas of your finances?

• Which types are unbiased, fee transparent, and have a fiduciary duty to you?

• Which types can help you with a wide range of investments and the best ones for you?

• Which ones are “Old Bay Street” and which are “New Bay Street?

• What would you look for to find your financial planner super-hero?

Quick disclaimer: Terms like financial planner and financial advisor are broad and often used interchangeably. What I’m sharing reflects common patterns I’ve seen, not a blanket description of every professional using these titles. There are lots of exceptions!

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.

The most common CPP question I am asked is: “Is it smart to take my CPP early?”

The answer to this question is different for investors than non-investors, especially growth-focused investors like most of our clients.

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?

• How does your CPP fit into your overall retirement income?

• Who should take CPP early and contribute it to RRSP?

• How does CPP affect the estate you leave for your kids?

• Who should delay their CPP to age 65? Real life examples.

This is an updated post based on 2025 CPP amounts and expectations, and my latest insights.