Submit your comments or questions via text message (Evan CANNOT reply to your text but your question could be featured in a future episode) In this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap Podcast, host Evan Neufeld shares his personal journey to becoming a certified financial planner at an independent investment firm in Canada. Evan discusses his educational background, early entrepreneurial ventures, and the pivotal moments that led him to his current role. He elaborates on his experience transitioning his firm's dealer to Sterling Mutuals and explains what it means to work at an independent fi ..read more

Submit your comments or questions via text message (Evan CANNOT reply to your text but your question could be featured in a future episode) In today's episode, we're tackling one of the biggest challenges pre-retirees face: accurately calculating their retirement income needs. Many people underestimate their expenses, leading to potential shortfalls in their retirement planning. Join host Evan Neufeld as he breaks down the essential expenses you'll need to consider, including those that will remain, those that will disappear, and new ones that might arise. Evan provides practical tips and a fr ..read more

Send Evan a Text Message In this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap Podcast,  Evan Neufeld addresses a wide range of listener questions. Topics covered include understanding capital gains on property sales, taxation of CPP payments, investment strategies for different time horizons, setting up custodial accounts for children, and managing pensions from previous employers. Evan offers practical financial advice, discusses the importance of timeline-specific investment risk, and highlights the value of working with a financial advisor.  00:00 Welcome to the Canadian Money Roadmap Po ..read more

Send Evan a Text Message Can You Retire at 55 in Canada with $500,000? Watch this episode on YouTube In this special Tuesday edition of the Canadian Money Roadmap Podcast, host Evan Neufeld shares the audio from his recent YouTube video discussing the feasibility of retiring with $500,000 in savings for a 55-year-old couple. He explores various factors such as spending needs, savings strategies, and the impact of deferring Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits to age 70. Using retirement planning software and Monte Carlo analysis, Evan evaluates the couple's retirement projections, highlights s ..read more

Send Evan a Text Message In this episode I explore why a significant number of investment funds fail to outperform their benchmarks (let alone survive for the long term).  This episode breaks down the critical factors of high fees and high turnover, offering insights on how these elements negatively impact fund performance.  -- 55 Year old couple wants to retire with $500,000 XEQT vs VEQT. Which ETF is better? How to stress test your retirement plan (For Free) Connect With Evan ..read more

Send Evan a Text Message In this episode, I introduce my new Fan Mail feature where you can text me your questions. Depending on the questions I receive, I might be able to feature it in a future episode!  Click on the link above the description to send me a text question.  To clarify a few questions about this service: I cannot reply to the text, I don't receive your full phone number, you will not receive any spam from me, and it doesn't give you my personal cell number either. At the end of the episode, I try to answer the first question I received about CPP timing for single p ..read more

Send Evan a Text Message Gain a clear understanding of trusts and how they can be leveraged for estate planning with tax expert Amanda Doucette, my insightful guest and fellow podcaster from The Tax Chick. We take the mystery out of trusts, explaining the three certainties - intention, subject matter, and beneficiaries - that are essential to their formation. Whether you're considering setting up a formal or informal trust, this episode illuminates the importance of precise documentation and the implications of each type. The landscape of trust taxation is ever-evolving, and we're here to gui ..read more

On this week's episode, I was delighted to be a guest on Amanda Doucette's The Tax Chick Podcast to talk about all things Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs).  As we delve into the nuanced world of TFSAs, you'll gain a clearer understanding of how these accounts can be much more than a place to stash your cash. Get the scoop on navigating over-contributions and withdrawals, and learn the critical aspects of setting up beneficiary designations and successor holder arrangements—vital knowledge for polishing your estate planning. This episode isn't just about saving; it's about strategizing ..read more

Could the financial strategies that appear flawless on paper be leading us astray in the real world? We're peeling back the layers of investment principles to reveal why some inefficiencies might just be your portfolio's best friends. Taking a page from Morgan Housel's "Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes," we delve into the unexpected virtues of financial buffers and the fallacy that cost always equates to value. Discover how the pandemic's strain on just-in-time manufacturing shines a light on the need for slack in our systems, and why the presence of an emergency fund during economi ..read more

This week I'm joined by Mark McGrath as we dig into segregated funds. These investment vehicles blend mutual funds with insurance and offer unique guarantees but….. the benefits to investors are less clear.  We delve into fees, performance, guarantees and other pros and cons.  We also examine the human side, critiquing sales practices and exploring seg funds in estate planning.  Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this episode provides essential guidance for informed decision-making in the Canadian investment landscape. -- Why bother filing your taxes ..read more