As we look forward to the holidays and 2024, one thing I know for sure is: "The World is Getting Better All the Time".

Every generation of young people thinks the world is getting worse, but the world is dramatically better in every important way than 100 years ago.

For example, 170,000 people are lifted out of extreme poverty every day for the last couple decades.

On average globally, humans have better technology, are richer and live better lives all the time.

I believe we should go into 2024 with the optimism that it is part of the long-term trend of "The World is Getting Better All the Time".

A few decades from now, the world will be dramatically better than today – like always.

You probably think credit card interest is pretty high.

It can be far higher than you think!

If you or your kids ever do not pay your credit card balances in full by the due date, this is the video to watch.

Credit card debt is the single most common place where Canadians get stuck, which can create havoc with your finances (and future).

In my latest podcast episode you'll learn:

• What is the small print "Gotcha" in credit card interest?
• Why credit card effective interest rates can be astronomical.
• How to eliminate credit card interest.
• Why you need an emergency plan, not an emergency fund.
• The wholesome way to think of credit cards.
• How to live within your means.
• Why budgeting is tough and how to do it.
• Why eliminating credit card interest is worthwhile.

Can You Be Confident in the Stock Market?

There are two schools of thought on this question.

1. The stock market is a decent investment, but it's a gamble that may or may not make money for you.

2. The stock market is a reliable long term investment that should be the core of your future financial planning.

Most investors are scared of suffering a major loss, so they invest conservatively for lower risk & lower returns. Are conservative investments more reliable than the stock market?

If you invested 100% in the stock market and held it long term, what are the odds that you would have strong growth over time?

In my latest podcast episode you'll learn about the historical returns of the stock market and discover how many years you'll need to invest in the stock market to be confident of a strong investment gain.

You should open up an FHSA Account this year!

This is for you if you don't own a home now or in the last four years and are age 18 - 71.

You get contribution room starting the year you open your FHSA, but if you wait until next year you lose that room.

The deadline is December 31.

An FHSA Account is the # 1 way to save for a home down payment if you buy within the next 15 years. You get a tax deduction for contributions, and withdraw tax free to buy your home and you don't have to repay it.

More reasons in this podcast.

Financial freedom. It's what we all really want. The question is: how do we get there?

One key component to achieving financial freedom is creating a retirement plan.

Building the nest egg you need doesn't happen on its own.

Most people only save enough to get 20-30% of the investments they need for the retirement lifestyle they envision.

Creating your retirement plan can be fun. It makes you wealthier. It's not about your money – it's about your life.

This article is one of the Must Read posts on my blog. It originally appeared in MoneySaver Magazine.

Listen to the podcast episode to learn:

• How investing in the stock market can close the percentage gap.
• Why it's important to educate yourself on equity investing.
• 4 key steps to creating a retirement plan.
• Why you need to define the retirement lifestyle you want.
• How to determine your "magic" retirement number.
• The easiest way to calculate how much you should invest.
• 4 options for creating a doable retirement plan.

How much do you need to be financially independent?

That is just one of the many questions posed by Kornel Szrejber of Build Wealth Canada.

He recently interviewed me for his podcast, where I go into depth about financial planning practices I use with my clients, as well as complex tax questions.

Listen to the podcast episode to learn:

• How much you need to be financially independent and retiring with the lifestyle you want, along with the process to figure this out.
• Sustainable withdrawal strategies that you can use to not run out of money when you're living off your investments.
• How to pay less tax here in Canada.
• If Ed has ever used some type of variable withdrawal strategy with his clients where the amount withdrawn every year varies depending on how the markets did that year.
• If Ed has done any sort of variable withdrawal strategies using a spending ceiling and floor for the year.
• For those that don't feel comfortable going with 100% equities, what Ed recommends.
• The process and calculations to ensure that you are withdrawing a sustainable amount from your portfolio every year.
• Why it's important to work one-on-one with a financial planner.
• How to properly set up your portfolio and manage your income when you retire.

Invest a Lump Sum or Bit-by-Bit. Which Is Smarter?

You have a lump sum of cash and you're trying to figure out how to invest it.

The stock market seems pretty turbulent at the moment, so you may be wondering if you should invest your lump sum all at once or bit-by-bit.

Maybe you got a big bonus, a lump sum from Smith Manoeuvre, or a large amount of money to invest.

What to do?

In my latest podcast episode, you'll learn the pros and cons of both strategies, so you can decide what's right for you.

• Discover dollar cost averaging (industry jargon for investing bit-by-bit).
• How to beat the index with dollar cost averaging.
• The pros and cons of dollar cost averaging.
• How often should you invest bit-by-bit?
• Should you trust your gut when investing?
• What does conventional wisdom say about dollar cost averaging?
• Studies of investing with a lump sum vs. bit-by-bit.
• How often does the stock market go up?
• What growth focused investors do.
• What is the right and wrong type of risk?
• What is smartest for people with a Financial Plan?
• What is Ed's advice?

I've talked with thousands of Canadians that will not have the life they want because their advisor gave them bad advice.

Why do they stick with their advisor?

I've heard it over and over again. They say: "because he's a nice guy".

The advice here is, you need a competent advisor & real advice, not a nice advisor.

A competent advisor might be really great to work with too, but this is the type of advice you need, so you should beware of who you trust with your finances.

In my latest podcast episode I give you ideas on how to discover if you're currently working with a "nice" advisor, and what type of financial advice you really need for a successful and secure retirement.

Listen to find out:

• How does a "nice" advisor kill your financial future?
• Signs you got caught up in the "nice" advisor trap.
• What's wrong with staying with a nice advisor?
• Why don't advisors give real advice?
• What is real advice?
• Why does everyone need a Financial Plan?
• Top 4 reasons for not getting a financial plan.
• Benefits of having a financial plan.

How can you get above index returns?

Index funds and ETFs deliver below index returns. With global equities, their returns are typically 0.5 or 1% below the index.

So how can you beat the index?

In my latest podcast episode I offer two paths to achieving above index returns.

You'll also learn about:

• How to identify All Star Fund Managers who beat the index based on skill.
• How most people pick funds vs the skilful way to do it.
• The best way to identify the skill of a fund manager.
• Why Ed's skill isn't in predicting funds, but in choosing the right fund managers.
• How many fund managers Ed Rempel's team has chosen who have beaten the index.
• Why you want to work with the Tom Brady or Warren Buffet of investing.

Optimism is the Only Realism.

You'll learn why in my latest podcast episode.

I feel compelled to talk about optimism for two reasons:

1/ Optimism is absolutely necessary for financial success – effective investing and financial planning. You need to feel you will be better off in the future you are building and you need to be confident in your investments long-term.

2/ Many young people are pessimistic today. They believe the world is in decline because of issues like climate change, and that the world is unfair with inequality.

Listen to this podcast episode to find out:

• The beauty of capitalism.
• Putting climate change into perspective.
• Benefits of a free market.
• Reliability of the stock market long-term.
• A book I recommend, which proves the world is getting better every decade.