Unconventional Wisdom

In a recent video for the Canadian Financial Summit I talk about who the poor and wealthy are and how they got there.

Today, we're diving deeper into one crucial aspect: how the wealthy became wealthy? 

Can their strategies work for you?

Over the years, I've seen the full financial picture of thousands of Canadians and read countless studies on wealth building. 

While...

Imagine checking your investments after a brutal market crash like during Covid with the March 16-20, 2020: -18% week. Your balance is down 32%, and panic sets in. 

But what if I told you the biggest rebounds, like the +12% surge the very next week almost always follow? 

This isn't luck; it's a pattern that makes stocks more predictable (and rewarding) than the 'random walk' myth suggests.

You've probably heard the conventional wisdom about retirement stages: the "go-go" years right after you clock out, full of adventure and travel; then the "slow-go" phase where things wind down due to age and aches; and finally, the "no-go" period of quiet homebound days. It's a neat little narrative, peddled by financial planners and lifestyle gurus alike.

But what if I told you it's mostly a myth? That "...

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...

Your investments may grow a bit each year, but have you wondered about how some people grow major wealth? Instead of growing 10%, how can they be 10 times larger?

Many ordinary people build up millions of dollars, without having a high income or inheritance.

How does that happen?

It's because real wealth doesn't grow linearly.

It grows exponentially — through compound...

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...

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...

♦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, n...

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 ...

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.

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:

• ...

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...

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?

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 yo...

You want to retire soon. 

What is the best way to set up your retirement income to give you the maximum cash flow that will reliably last the rest of your life?

Many financial planners use the "4% Rule", which says that you can, for example, withdraw $40,000/year rising by inflation for life from a $1 million portfolio. Is that safe?

I studied 146 years of investment history. The ...

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...

This is a personal post and my first post with a request.

My wife, life partner and business partner, Ann Hetram, passed away unexpectedly from cancer 2 months ago. 

She received excellent care at Princess Margaret Hospital, which is the best cancer hospital in Canada.

In her honour, I am co-captain of a team in the Journey to Conquer Cancer walk to support research at Princess Ma...

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...

Remember the show "Who wants to be a millionaire?" 

Are you the kind of person that wants to build some serious wealth?

Live an exceptional life? Be financially free?

I don't mean just a comfortable amount. I mean a lot – like being a multi-millionaire.

The truth is, average people can become very wealthy just by managing their money for maximum growth.

I'm not talking about a "get rich quick scheme". I'm ...