Unconventional Wisdom

Are free markets really responsible for inequality, poverty, financial crises and declining living standards?

I constantly read books, and The Triumph of Economic Freedom by Phil Gramm & Donald Boudreaux was a wonderful eye-opener. I believed a couple of these myths myself.

In my latest article, video and podcast, I look at 7 common myths about capitalism, free markets and economic freedom. I also look at what the numbers tell us.

You will learn:

• Why economic freedom and free enterprise are essential for strong, long-term stock market returns and widespread prosperity.

• How persistent myths blaming free markets for society's problems distort history and policy.

• The real evidence showing how free markets — not government intervention — have driven the greatest gains in living standards in human history.

• Practical reasons why protecting open markets benefits investors, workers and families alike.

Click the link for more: https://edrempel.com/why-economic-freedom-and-the-stock-market-make-us-all-richer/

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 starting to earn a full-time income and want to build good financial habits early.

She discusses:

• Why automatically saving part of every paycheque can be so powerful

• The impact of lifestyle creep

• A simple way to organize short-, medium- and long-term savings

• How to think about employer matching and registered accounts

• Why raises are an opportunity to increase both your lifestyle and your savings

• How to enjoy your money without losing sight of your future

The amount of your first paycheque matters far less than the habits you begin building around it.

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 changes unexpectedly.

In Sabiha Mukadam's latest article, video, and podcast episode she looks at how trusts can help Canadian couples create greater clarity and continuity around their wealth and estate plans, including:

• Protecting a spouse if capacity changes

• Reducing potential probate delays

• Planning for blended families and future beneficiaries

• Creating liquidity for future tax obligations

• Using different trust structures for different planning needs

• Making sure your legal, tax and financial strategies work together

Trust planning can sound complicated, but the goal shouldn't be complexity.

It should be creating a plan that protects the people you care about and makes the future easier to navigate.

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 financial plan, and staying focused on it through the noise.

In this mid-year update, I discuss:

• Why your financial plan is really a life plan

• What the first half of 2026 means for long-term investors

• Why we remain fully invested through both good and bad markets

• The powerful trends creating opportunities for the future

• How your "behavioural Vitamin C" can protect you from costly emotional decisions

Markets will always bring uncertainty.

A rational, goal-focused plan helps you stay grounded, participate in long-term growth and continue progressing toward the life you want.

Stay focused. Stay invested.

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 Canada and shares some simple habits that can help you use it with more confidence and less stress.

She covers:

• The difference between a credit report and a credit score

• Why credit is borrowed money—not extra income

• How to build credit without carrying debt

• Why paying on time matters so much

• How credit utilization affects your score

• Common credit myths that can cost you money

• What to consider before using Buy Now, Pay Later

• How to start rebuilding if your credit has been hurt

The goal is not to encourage you to borrow more.

It is to help you understand how credit works so you can make informed decisions and use it in a way that supports your life.

You do not need to be perfect. You need a simple system: pay on time, keep your balances manageable and check your credit report regularly.

You are not behind. You are building.

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 that someone else handled entirely.

The pressure to make immediate decisions can feel overwhelming.

But you don't need to solve your entire financial life today.

In Part 1 of this practical series on rebuilding financial confidence, Sabiha Mukadam explains how to "find your floor" by identifying:

• What money is currently coming in

• What essential expenses must be paid

• Where your accounts, debts, insurance policies, pensions, and benefits currently live

• Which major decisions can safely wait until you have a clearer picture

Before making permanent financial changes, start by understanding what is true today.

Stability comes first. Strategy can come later.

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 real financial plan?

I break down what each strategy is, why it works, when each strategy works, whether combining them can improve results, and what to watch out for.

Learn how to think about these strategies in the context of your overall financial plan, including considerations for self-employed Canadians.

In my latest blog post, video, and podcast episode, I cover:

• What is the Smith Manoeuvre?

• Why is it so powerful?

• What is the Cash Dam?

• Who does it work for?

• Why do many self-employed people not know about this easy tax deduction?

• Can you do both strategies at once? Why is it complicated?

• Which strategy is better for you?

• What is the long-term plan when you are doing both strategies?

• How do these strategies fit into your retirement and tax plan?

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 very different from borrowing to invest in your education.

A credit card balance charging 20% interest behaves very differently from money compounding inside a TFSA.

Understanding that difference can change your financial future.

In Sabiha Mukadam's YouTube video, blog post and podcast episode for the Youth Corner she discuss:

• Good debt vs. bad debt

• The power of compound growth

• Why big decisions matter more than your daily coffee

• The question everyone should ask before borrowing money

• Credit cards and Buy Now Pay Later

• The difference between borrowing that builds wealth and borrowing that creates stress

• How TFSAs can help Canadians build tax-free wealth

• Practical steps you can take today

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 Advice from the Sage Owl, Sabiha Mukadam explores the eight most common Smith Manoeuvre strategies and explains how different approaches may suit different financial situations and long-term goals.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What the eight Smith Manoeuvre strategies are

• How each approach works at a high level

• Which strategies are generally suited to beginners

• Which approaches are intended for more experienced or high growth investors

• Why most people only ever use one or two strategies

• Why the simplest approach is often the most appropriate

• How the right strategy depends on your goals, cash flow, and risk tolerance

The Smith Manoeuvre is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. Most people don't need the most advanced version to benefit. The key is understanding the different approaches and choosing the one that best fits your long-term financial plan.

Advice from the Sage Owl is a regular series featuring Fee-For-Service Financial Planner Sabiha Mukadam, where she shares practical insights to help Canadians make informed financial decisions.

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 point, what should you do and what are the few fundamental basics that you need to know?

Many retirement plans are designed to feel safe, instead of giving you freedom.

Safety usually comes at the cost of long-term growth and may mean you never retire with the lifestyle you want.

This is an overview of my philosophy, explains how a financial plan becomes the GPS for your life, how to determine the return you actually need for retirement, and why equities often need to play a larger role than most people expect.

Learn how to think about risk, long-term investing, and when more advanced strategies may be appropriate.

You will learn:

• When you get serious about your money, what is the first thing you should do?

• Why is your financial plan the GPS for your life?

• Why does thinking long-term completely change your life?

• How is an interactive financial plan fundamentally different?

• Why are most advisors' recommendations like driving with brakes but no gas pedal?

• Why do most people need a significant allocation to equities (stock markets)?

• What do equity investors need to know?

• Why can borrowing to invest be a relatively obvious way to grow wealth for many people?

• What do people who borrow to invest need to know?

• How important is tax planning and when should you do it?

• Why is financial freedom such an amazing time in your life?