Sara Makes Sense

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We’re all getting older. It is one of life’s certainties.
However, how we live when we age is something we can control.
But often, aging Canadians and their families wait until difficult decisions have to be made, rather than making them in advance.
In this episode of SARA MAKES SENSE, Sara speaks with an expert of why planning now could save you thousands of dollars and many sleepless nights later.

Guest Margot McWhirter

Got a question for Sara? Send her an email at [email protected] and she might respond to it in an upcoming episode

Sara's website is https://www.wddevelopment.ca/ 

The information in this podcast is intended for general information and illustrative purposes. For advice relevant to your specific situation, connect with a qualified financial planner, lawyer, or accountant before making any changes to your situation.

Sara's designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist (CFDS), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA).

For more of Sara's writing, find her on:

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Thousands of baby boomers are wrestling with this question right now as they plan for retirement.
Do I collect CPP early or wait?
The difference over years can be significant.
In this episode of SARA MAKES SENSE, Sara starts with a CPP report and sets the record straight on how to view Canada Pension Plan together with your retirement dreams.

See Sara's blog on this topic
Got a question for Sara? Send her an email at [email protected] and she might respond to it in an upcoming episode

Sara's website is https://www.wddevelopment.ca/ 

The information in this podcast is intended for general information and illustrative purposes. For advice relevant to your specific situation, connect with a qualified financial planner, lawyer, or accountant before making any changes to your situation.

Sara's designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist (CFDS), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA).

For more of Sara's writing, find her on:

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LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail

Real estate prices are way up.
Regardless, many people feel ownership is THE best path to security and wealth.
Homeowners, especially new ones, get caught between what the bank says they can afford, and what the REAL monthly costs are.
There are options, is renting one of them?
Sara offers real and impactful insight in this episode of SARA MAKES SENSE.

Related blog post: https://www.wddevelopment.ca/blog/

Got a question for Sara? Send her an email at [email protected] and she might respond to it in an upcoming episode

Sara's website is https://www.wddevelopment.ca/ 

The information in this podcast is intended for general information and illustrative purposes. For advice relevant to your specific situation, connect with a qualified financial planner, lawyer, or accountant before making any changes to your situation.

Sara's designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist (CFDS), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA).

For more of Sara's writing, find her on:

Substack

LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail

It happens in life, sometimes through a tax return, severance payment, increased income, inheritance, or the sale of a house. There are occasions when cash comes your way in a lump sum. 

It can be a good problem to have, but a solved problem gets you closer to your goals.

In this episode of SARA MAKES SENSE, we withdraw the myths about cash and deposit some useable, workable takeaways to solve your cash problem.

 Blog post related to episode:  https://www.wddevelopment.ca/blog/

Got a question for Sara? Send her an email at [email protected] and she might respond to it in an upcoming episode

Sara's website is https://www.wddevelopment.ca/ 

The information in this podcast is intended for general information and illustrative purposes. For advice relevant to your specific situation, connect with a qualified financial planner, lawyer, or accountant before making any changes to your situation.

Sara's designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist (CFDS), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA).

For more of Sara's writing, find her on:

Substack

LinkedIn

Send us Fan Mail

It happens.
You don’t want it to happen, but relationships change and employees get downsized. Those two events can have a major impact on your finances. There are ways you can navigate both.
Smart, calm, and comprehensive planning is the FIRST step.
Sara works with separating couples and workers who are resetting or even retiring after a layoff.
She offers impactful insight in SARA MAKES SENSE

Got a question for Sara? Send her an email at [email protected] and she might respond to it in an upcoming episode

Sara's website is https://www.wddevelopment.ca/ 

The information in this podcast is intended for general information and illustrative purposes. For advice relevant to your specific situation, connect with a qualified financial planner, lawyer, or accountant before making any changes to your situation.

Sara's designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist (CFDS), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA).

For more of Sara's writing, find her on:

Substack

LinkedIn

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Thousands of Canadians have been working from home for one entire year.
There are many pros & cons, but how does your new “workspace” or “home office” impact your taxes?
What are the benefits?
What can you claim or stay away from?.
Sara talks with our tax expert, James Rhodes.  A person who had a front row seat to all the tax mistakes we all make because he worked for the Canada Revenue Agency.  An insightful, impactful and timely inside look at the landlines that await when filing your 2020 taxes.

Guest: James Rhodes
[email protected]
See James' presentation information https://www.wddevelopment.ca/Tax-Management.htm 

Got a question for Sara? Send her an email at [email protected] and she might respond to it in an upcoming episode

Sara's website is https://www.wddevelopment.ca/ 

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You have a financial plan. But is it actually working for you?

In this episode, Sara McCullough cuts through the noise around what financial planning really is — and what most people never get from it. After 18+ years of working with clients across every stage of life, Sara has seen the same myths and mistakes show up again and again. This episode is about naming them, and showing what great planning actually looks like.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why most financial plans are generic, and what gets left out when your real goals aren't part of the picture
• The two questions every good financial plan needs to answer: Am I doing the right thing today? And am I going to be okay tomorrow?
• Three real client scenarios that show what comprehensive planning looks like in practice, from a high-income couple running short every month, a retiring couple navigating a complex cross-border estate, to a divorcing couple weighing a housing decision the bank would have happily funded
• The three biggest myths about financial planning (including why it's about so much more than investment returns and taxes)
• The must-haves of a well-developed financial plan, and how to know if yours has them

Sara also explains why she rarely uses traditional budgets, what it means when a plan belongs to the client (not the planner), and why reviewing your plan regularly isn't just routine— it's where some of the biggest opportunities show up.

This episode is for you if:

• You've met with an advisor but still don't feel like your questions were answered
• You have financial goals but aren't sure if your current plan reflects them
• You're going through a major life change — career shift, divorce, retirement, or inheritance — and want to understand your options clearly

Ready to find out if your financial plan is really working for you? Sara offers financial planning for individuals and families at all stages. Visit wddevelopment.ca to learn more or get in touch.

The information in this podcast is intended for general information and illustrative purposes. For advice relevant to your specific situation, connect with a qualified financial planner, lawyer, or accountant before making any changes to your situation.

Sara's designations: Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist (CFDS), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA).

For more of Sara's writing, find her on:

Substack

LinkedIn