Shows / Unconventional Wisdom
Unconventional Wisdom
Welcome to the Unconventional Wisdom podcast. The show that helps you achieve financial security & freedom. Insights based on in-depth experience from Canada's #1 financial planner blogger. Find out what really works. Your host, fee-for-service financial planner & tax accountant, Ed Rempel.
Episodes
Unconventional WisdomHave You Thought of Turning the Doom Off? How Doomerism Is Quietly Wrecking Your Retirement
Have you thought about turning the doom off? Every year, we're warned that another catastrophe is just around the corner. Population bomb, nuclear winter, Y2K…
Unconventional WisdomFinancing Your Education in Canada: Student Aid, Savings, Lines of Credit & Building the Right Funding Mix
Paying for Your Education in Canada: How Much Should You Actually Borrow? Getting accepted into college or university is one thing. Figuring out how to pay for…
Unconventional WisdomUnderstanding Your Full Compensation Package: It's More Than Just Your Salary
Are you making the most of your full compensation package? Your salary is only part of what you earn. Bonuses, employer RRSP matching, pensions, stock options…
Unconventional WisdomUnderstanding Your Borrowing Options: Student Loans, Car Loans, Credit Cards, Lines of Credit & More
Borrowing money is often part of becoming financially independent. Whether you're applying for your first credit card, financing a car, paying for school or…
Unconventional WisdomEarly Diagnosis – How I Beat Cancer
On July 30, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Just 19 days later, I had surgery. Today, I'm 100% cancer-free! I'm sharing my story because early detection…
Unconventional WisdomBuilding Wealth for the Next Generation: A Guide to Bare Trusts and Informal "In-Trust For" Accounts in Canada
Want to start building wealth for your children or grandchildren — without creating an overly complicated estate structure? Two options families may come…
Unconventional WisdomHow to Make Financial Decisions When You Don't Feel Ready
You don't need perfect confidence before making a financial decision. But you do need a way to decide whether the decision actually works for your financial…
Unconventional WisdomProtecting What Matters Most: Trust Planning for Children, Dependents, and Vulnerable Beneficiaries in Canada
When you're planning your estate, it's not just about who gets what. For some families, the bigger question is: How do I make sure this money actually helps…
Unconventional WisdomBuilding an Emergency Fund When Money Is Tight (And How to Stay Protected While You Invest)
If money is tight, should you focus on building an emergency fund — or keep investing for the future? The answer does not have to be all or nothing. In this…
Unconventional WisdomThe Right Trust Structure for Business Owners in Canada- How Smart Planning Evolves as Your Business Grows
As your business grows, your financial structure may need to grow with it. The structure that makes sense in the early stages of a business may look very…
Unconventional WisdomRetiring at an All-Time High: What History Actually Shows
Is it risky to retire when the stock market is at an all-time high? It's a question I get all the time, and the conventional wisdom is usually that you should…
Unconventional WisdomBudgeting With a Full-Time Income Without Feeling Restricted
You're earning a full-time income, paying your bills, and still wondering: where did all my money go? That feeling is more common than you might think. In…
Unconventional WisdomDebt After Separation: How to Regain Control Without Panic
Sabiha Mukadam has a new podcast episode on debt after separation and how to regain control without panic. Separation can create significant financial pressure…
Unconventional WisdomWhy Economic Freedom and the Stock Market Make Us All Richer
Are free markets really responsible for inequality, poverty, financial crises and declining living standards? I constantly read books, and The Triumph of…
Unconventional WisdomYour First Real Paycheque: A Smart Money System for Young Professionals
What should you actually do with your first real paycheque? In this podcast episode, Sabiha Mukadam shares a practical approach for young professionals who are…
Unconventional WisdomSecure Your Future Together: The Power of Trust Planning for Couples
Estate planning is about more than having a will in place. For couples, it's also about making sure the financial pieces continue to work together if life…
Unconventional WisdomStay Invested - Your "Behavioural Vitamin C" to Build Real Financial Freedom
What does it really take to build lasting financial freedom? It's not reacting to every headline, market swing or economic forecast. It's having a clear…
Unconventional WisdomUnderstanding Credit Without Fear or Confusion
Credit can feel intimidating when no one has taken the time to explain it clearly. In this podcast episode Sabiha Mukadam, breaks down how credit works in…
Unconventional WisdomStarting Over Financially - When Life Changes and You Suddenly Have to Handle It All
When life changes after a loss, divorce, or separation, you may suddenly find yourself responsible for financial decisions that once belonged to two people, or…
Unconventional WisdomThe Smith Manoeuvre vs Cash Dam: How to Choose the Right Strategy and How Self-Employed Canadians Can Do Both
Many Canadians have heard of the Smith Manoeuvre. Many are also self-employed and don't realize they could be using the Cash Dam. How do they fit together in a…
Unconventional WisdomHow Interest Affects Your Money: Why Small Decisions Matter More Than You Think
Most Canadians are taught one simple lesson: "Debt is bad." But real life isn't that simple. Not all debt is created equal. Borrowing to finance a vacation is…
Unconventional WisdomAre There Really 8 Smith Manoeuvre Strategies?
Many people think of the Smith Manoeuvre as a single strategy, but it's actually a flexible framework with several different approaches. In this episode of…
Unconventional WisdomHow to Build a Retirement Plan That Actually Works (and Grows Your Wealth)
Most people go through life and at some point wake up and realize they should be doing something smarter with their money. When you reach that inflection…
Unconventional WisdomThe Financial Future Isn't Broken. It's Optional | Gen Z Investing
In this episode, Sabiha explores a question many young Canadians are asking: Is the financial system broken for Gen Z, or does long-term success depend on…
Unconventional WisdomRe-evaluating Canada's Best Re-Advanceable Mortgages: The New Top 4 Post-OSFI Rankings
If you're using the Smith Manoeuvre or considering a re-advanceable mortgage, this 2026 update is essential. Which readvanceable mortgage is best for you for…
Unconventional WisdomUnlocking Peace of Mind with the Smith Manoeuvre: Turning Your Home into a Wealth-Building Engine
For many Canadians, homeownership is about much more than a financial investment. It's where we build our lives, raise our families, and create lasting…
Unconventional WisdomRetirement Tax Shock: Why Many Canadians Pay More Tax Than Expected
♦Retirement Tax Shock: Why Many Canadians Pay More Tax Than Expected♦ Most Canadians expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement. But many end up paying…
Unconventional WisdomHow Banking Actually Works (And How to Set Up Your First Accounts)
🎓 Youth Corner with Sabiha Mukadam Most people don't think much about banking until that first real paycheck arrives. Suddenly, money is coming in, and just as…
Unconventional WisdomThe Longevity Revolution: Why We're on the Brink of Living Decades Longer
The longevity movement is transforming how we think about aging—not as an inevitable decline, but as a challenge we can overcome with science, technology, and…
Unconventional WisdomFinancial Planning Isn't Optional, It's Your Power Move: Financial Planning Myths and Why You Absolutely Need a Plan (and a Planner)
Many people know they should think about financial planning, yet often put it off for years. Not because they're irresponsible. More often, it's because of…
Unconventional WisdomWhy Feeling Behind Is Normal (And What It Means for Your Money, Investing, and Financial Plan)
In this episode of Youth Corner, Sabiha explores why so many people feel behind financially—and why comparison and expectations often have more influence on…
Unconventional WisdomThe Multi-Millionaire's Dilemma: Should an 84-Year-Old Stay Invested in Stocks?
Louise (not her real name) has far more money than she is ever likely to spend. She has always invested in equities and is comfortable with them. However, now…
Unconventional WisdomWhat Does Money Mean to You?
I'm pleased to introduce the first podcast episode in Sabiha Mukadam's new series, Advice from the Sage Owl. Sabiha has worked alongside me for many years…
Unconventional WisdomA New Addition to Unconventional Wisdom: Meet Sabiha Mukadam
For more than 20 years, Unconventional Wisdom has been where I share financial planning ideas, strategies, and lessons I've learned from helping Canadians…
Unconventional WisdomFinancial Independence, Retire Early: The Math Behind the Viral Money Movement
Every week, someone tells me they want to retire by 40. My first question is always the same: why? The FIRE movement promises freedom decades earlier than…
Unconventional WisdomDon't Let Today's Headlines Wreck Your Retirement
Gas prices are up from about $1.30/litre to $1.75/litre across Canada this year. There is conflict in Iran. Markets are reacting to geopolitical uncertainty…
Unconventional WisdomMulti-Millionaire's Dilemma: Stay in Stocks or Go Conservative After Retiring?
You've worked hard, built up a few million dollars, and now you're seventy-five, retired, and staring at your portfolio wondering — do I really need to keep…
Unconventional WisdomLiving Healthy Past Age 100 – Will Your Retirement Plan Survive?
Last week, I revealed my longevity journey, introduced some of the explosive developments, and why we may be able to start living significantly longer within…
Unconventional WisdomHow to Live with Health & Vitality Past Age 100
Is it really possible to live with health & vitality past age 100? I am on a longevity journey to try to achieve it. In my latest video and blog post, I will…
Unconventional Wisdom2026 Tax Changes – How They Affect Your Life & Your Retirement Plan
Taxes are far more complex today than they were 10 years ago — and 2026 adds another layer. There were not many headline changes this year, but several could…
Unconventional WisdomNew Study Supports 100% Equity Investing for Life (Canadian Financial Summit 2025)
Should you really reduce stocks and increase bonds as you get older? That's been conventional wisdom for decades. A new international study using long-term…
Unconventional WisdomWhat Canadians Are Really Asking About Money Right Now
What Canadians Are Really Asking About Money Right Now In this one-off episode, I reflect on the topics listeners have engaged with most over time, and what…
Unconventional WisdomRRSP/RRIF Meltdown Strategies Explained (Canadian Financial Summit 2025)
Ever wondered how you can get the money out of your RRSP with a minimum of tax? RRSP/RRIF Meltdown Strategies can allow you to withdraw from your RRSP or RRIF…
Unconventional WisdomHow Did the Wealthy Get Wealthy — and Can I Copy Them? (Canadian Financial Summit 2025)
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…
Unconventional WisdomRandom Walk Theory Debunked: The Best Market Gains Follow the Worst Crashes – And One Easy Rule to Beat the Market
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…
Unconventional WisdomThe Fake Stages of Retirement: Why 'Slow-Go' Is Really About Money — Not Age
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…
Unconventional WisdomWhy Monte Carlo Simulations Get Retirement Risk Wrong
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…
Unconventional WisdomExponential Thinking – How Major Wealth Happens
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…
Unconventional WisdomThe Meaning of Life - Responsibility
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…
Unconventional WisdomRetirement Rookie: Worried about a Market Crash Right After Retiring?
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…
Unconventional WisdomGo Big or Go Slow: Why 10x Wealth Is Easier Than 2x
♦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…
Unconventional WisdomWhy Renting Could Be Your Secret to Smarter Wealth Building
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…
Unconventional WisdomHow To Make Your Home A Good Investment
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…
Unconventional WisdomNavigating the Financial Advisor Title Trap: Why Fee-For-Service Planners Are the True Superheroes
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…
Unconventional WisdomShould I Delay CPP & OAS Until Age 70? – Complete Answer with Real-Life Examples (Updated)
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…
Unconventional WisdomShould I start my CPP early? – Real-Life Examples (Updated)
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…
Unconventional WisdomWhy Don't Most Financial Planners Plan Finances?
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…
Unconventional WisdomHow to Reliably Maximize Your Retirement Income – Is the "4% Rule" Safe?
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?…
Unconventional WisdomFinancial Advice or Financial Quackery?
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…
Unconventional WisdomJourney to Conquer Cancer Walk for Princess Margaret Research in Honour of Ann Hetram
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…