What’s Important About Money to You?

The Montrealer, November 2025

We often hear “Money is important,” as though that statement alone is self-explanatory. But what kind of importance are we really talking about – practical, emotional, or something in between? We all feel its pull but rarely stop to ask why it matters, or what it quietly symbolizes beneath the surface. The truth is, we each carry a private definition of what money represents, and most of us never stop to examine it. Read more

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Alternatives: the Secret Sauce that most investors are missing

The Montrealer, October 2025

When you think about investing, your mind probably jumps to mutual funds, stocks, bonds, maybe a little cash on the side. But here’s a secret: the biggest players in the investing world – think pension funds, large endowments, and institutional investors – put a big chunk of their money into something else entirely: alternative investments. These are things like private equity, hedge funds, real estate, commodities, and infrastructure projects. They’re not the traditional public markets you hear about on the evening news. And they play a big role in how major investors aim to grow wealth while reducing risk. Read more

Inflation Is Cooling — What they say versus what you feel

The Montrealer, September 2025

You’ve probably heard that Canada’s inflation rate cooled to 1.7% year-over-year in July, a hint that price pressures might finally be easing. And yet, when talking to clients and friends, checking grocery receipts, or planning travel – it doesn’t feel like things are getting cheaper. So, what’s up with that? Let’s take a closer look at inflation, and what it means on a more personal level. The first thing I notice that some people misunderstand is that when headlines say inflation is lower, it means prices are rising more slowly than before, not that they’re dropping. Read more

Your Retirement Paycheque: Building Stability in a Volatile World

The Montrealer, August 2025

In the pre-retirement years financial focus is usually put on maximum savings growth. That tends to shift as people transition into retirement. Rather than growing their assets, retirees begin to prioritize income stability, capital preservation, and sustainable withdrawal strategies. Risk tolerance generally decreases, and decisions become more focused on ensuring that accumulated wealth can support lifestyle needs, healthcare costs, and legacy goals throughout an often-unpredictable retirement horizon. This shift requires a change not only in investment strategy but also in mindset, from accumulation to careful distribution and risk management. Read more

The retirement plan no one talks about: what happens if you live too long?

The Montrealer, June 2025

You planned for a 25-year retirement. What if it stretched to 40? It’s the kind of question most people avoid because, for many, it sounds like a good problem to have. Who wouldn’t want to live well into their 90s or beyond? But here’s the catch: a longer life doesn’t just mean more years of joy, travel, or time with grandkids. It also means more years of expenses, inflation, and market volatility. And if your retirement plan isn’t built to handle that, you could find yourself outliving your money.Read more

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When Emotion Takes Over: Why Market Timing Fails

The Montrealer, May 2025

Tariff concerns started shaking up the markets back in February, and things have been bouncing around ever since. We’ve seen some of the best and worst days in market history in just a matter of weeks. That kind of volatility can tempt even the most level-headed investors to try timing the market. Trying to time the stock market is one of the most tempting — and most dangerous — investor behaviors out there. The idea seems simple: sell before the market drops, buy back in before it rises. Easy, right? In theory maybe — but in practice, it’s nearly impossible to do consistently. Read more

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Finding a Trustworthy Financial Advisor: What You Need to Know

The Montrealer, April 2025

Some investors thrive in a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach, enjoying the challenge of managing their portfolios and keeping up with market trends. Others, especially those with complex financial situations, high incomes, or significant assets, stand to gain tremendously from comprehensive professional guidance. But if you do decide to work with an advisor, the world of financial advice is vast, and finding the right one is critical! So here are some things to consider.

Navigating Uncertainty: U.S.-Canada Tariffs and Investing

The Montrealer, March 2025

Canada’s thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament has sparked excitement across the country, reinforcing a deep sense of national pride. This victory, another moment in a long-standing rivalry, reminds Canadians of their resilience and competitive spirit.

However, beyond the hockey arena, another issue is stirring strong emotions—trade tensions with the US. The ongoing threat of tariffs has led many Canadians to rethink their spending habits, with some choosing to boycott American products, some cancelling U.S.-based vacations, and others making a conscious effort to support Canadian businesses. Read more

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Not Everyone Needs a Wealth Advisor… Do You?

The Montrealer February 2025

When it comes to managing money, it’s no secret that everyone has different needs. Some people thrive on handling their own finances, while others feel more secure with professional guidance. This may sound surprising coming from an industry veteran, but although financial advisors play an important role, the truth is, not everyone needs one. If you’re wondering where you fall on that spectrum, let’s look at the different types of investors and their unique requirements. Read more

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The hidden risks behind DIY investing success

The Montrealer, January 2025

The past few years have delivered exceptional returns in financial markets, leaving many do-it-yourself (DIY) investors feeling like they’ve cracked the code for investing success. From soaring stock prices during the pandemic recovery to a rapid rise in technology and growth companies, the bull market rewarded those who stayed “invested and aggressive”. However, this recent period of strong performance has also instilled a false sense of confidence among many DIY investors – an overconfidence that may prove costly when market conditions shift. Read more

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Sandwich Generation Part 2: Navigating the Squeeze of Children and Aging Parents

The Montrealer, December 2024

Navigating the responsibilities of caring for aging parents while managing your own family and career has become a defining challenge for many people today. If you’re in your 30s to 60s, you might find yourself part of the “sandwich generation,” juggling the needs of elderly parents alongside raising kids or running your household. With people living longer than ever, more adults are stepping into unexpected roles becoming caregivers, financial planners, and advocates for their parents. It’s a lot to handle and can bring emotional and financial challenges you didn’t see coming. 

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Sandwich Generation: Feeling the Squeeze

The Montrealer, September 2024

The sandwich generation refers to middle-aged adults (often in their 30s to 60s) who care for both their older parents and their own children, whether financially, physically, or emotionally. Often this care falls predominantly on women. The “Sandwich Generation” is not a new concept, every generation has one. The issue currently is that it’s lasting longer for this generation... Read more

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Inheritance Dynamics: Preparing for the Wealth Handover

The Montrealer, August 2024

There is an enormous amount of wealth that will be passed down to the next generations over the coming years. Current estimates put it over a trillion dollars! It’s predicted to be the largest generational transfer of wealth in Canadian history; fast-tracked in part by the increasingly popular philosophy of “giving while living”. This massive amount of wealth brings with it complex issues which weren’t often considered by previous generations... Read more

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Is Enough ever Enough? When does financial stress disappear?

The Montrealer, July 2024

A 2024 survey done by FP Canada revealed that for the seventh year in a row, Canadians say money is their top source of stress. The numbers have increase over each of the past three years, and interestingly, women report higher levels of stress about money than men.  Money-related stress is not just a matter of “not having enough”, it’s more than that.  In my experience, the stress and anxiety over money comes from the way we think and interact with money and can’t be solved by simply having more of it. Read more

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The Cost of Health: Planning for the Economics of Aging

The Montrealer, May 2024

Naturally, when planning for your long-term financial future, it is clear (especially these days) that we need to consider inflation, or a cost-of-living adjustment, usually somewhere around 2.5% over the long-term. But what can also be very costly, yet is often overlooked, is the cost of aging adjustment. Beginning somewhere in a person’s 30s or 40s, the effects of aging start to appear. It could be some gray hairs, more frequent changes to their eyeglass prescription, or joint aches and pains that weren’t there before. It’s a process we all go through in one way or another, and for some it’s an easier journey than others. Accounting for this inevitable progression through your financial plan can ease the ride, and provide the freedom to make choices that suit your needs best.

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