2017 was the first year of VAVE's Monday Money Meme. We had a lot of fun coming up with different ideas. Here are my top ten favorites: 

In the film Rounders, Matt Damon’s character, Mike McDermott, is quoted: “Listen, here’s the thing. If you can’t spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, then you ARE the sucker.”   If you're an amateur do-it-yourself investor buying stocks on your own, consider yourself the sucker. Read about why you should just walk away from the table instead of trying your luck against the professionals. 

FOMO and YOLO are the new "Keeping up with the Jones" or "Carpe diem!" See how these behaviours can combine to deplete your financial savings and gains. 

There are only an estimated 300 Fee-for-Service Financial Planners in Canada, compared to over 100,000 other financial advisors - the majority working for financial institutions that sell commissioned products.  Even the best of these will be confined to their company's objectives.

Many people either fail to think about or purposely decide not to get Disability Insurance.  As a financial advisor, I'm here to tell you that might be a scary decision indeed.

There are only an estimated 300 Fee-for-Service Financial Planners in Canada, compared to over 100,000 other financial advisors - the majority working for financial institutions that sell commissioned products.  Even the best of these will be confined to their company's objectives.

A Money Coach is a financial professional that helps implement a Financial plan and gives ongoing support and encouragement. A Money Coach helps you reach your financial goals by walking along side and giving continuing advice throughout your various life stages.

Property ownership is a major theme in the board game Monopoly, first marketed by Parker Brothers in 1935, enjoyed by billions. However, the ultimate winner is not always the one holding the most real estate in the end.

Fantasy Sports and Investing have some similar strategies. Take a look at some tips for your next fantasy sports pool. Your investments will thank you too. 

As part of my series, VA/VE Cost Saving Projects, this post crunches the numbers to see what combination of Credit Cards is optimal for our family. Based on our spending patterns, our family earns an extra $400 per year cash-back from implementing this strategy.

VA/VE Cost Saving Projects is a compilation of posts I've written exploring creative ways to save money by using the Value Analysis/Value Engineering approach to personal finances 

As part of the series on VA/VE Cost Saving Projects, this post look at the savings of buying a Mid-Range Android Phone vs buying an iPhone on a contract. We are able to pay $1,239 less over a 2 year span!

The phrase "Financial Independence" has been gaining popularity as it does not carry the same baggage as the word "Retirement". Financial Independence gives you the freedom to choose how your time is spent (paid or not) and for some, can be reached in their 30s and 40s. Review these 5 factors to achieving FIRE.

Being a father of three young children, the topic of education costs particularly resonates with me as I start considering where we'll be financially in about 10 short years (gulp!).  Many clients list "sending their kids to university/college" as an important financial goal and make it a priority to save for this milestone event. This post crunches the numbers on a few 'home or away' scenarios for my kids 10 years from now. 

Working backwards from your Retirement goal can help make clear some of the unknowns and questions many people have about their current finances. This posts discusses how to 'Reverse Engineer' your Retirement Plan. 

Before you find yourself inside one of Canada's Big Banks for whatever reason, familiarize yourself with some survival tips. Don't end up as a salesperson's dinner.

MacGyver only ever needed a handful of objects to fight crime and save the world. Well, I've got a simple tool kit for you too. Use these three easy but essential tools/concepts to set up your investments.

It's never too early to teach your kids about money. You probably already are - through example. With a bit of planning and consistency, kids can learn to earn, spend, and manage their money responsibly too.  

Your superstar player doesn't wait for their team to start winning before they start warming up. They play the whole game. Similarly, your investment portfolio needs to spend time in the market, rather than depend on timing the market.  

What's worse than getting pulled aside for a random airport check at security? Answer: Being pulled aside and realizing that you didn't pack your own luggage and you don't know what's inside....