Unconventional Wisdom

Are you one of those investors for whom things just seem to always work out well?

Getting superior long term returns seems to take little effort. Whatever strategy you use seems to eventually work. You don't spend much time or effort, yet most of the time you are feeling quite confident about your investments.

Or are you the type of investor who always seems to struggle?

It seems everything you buy goes down right after you buy. When you finally sell, they take off. And the investments you hold long term mostly underperform.

We have often encountered both these types of investors. Struggling investors are far more common. They usually have trouble believing that many investors outperform with little effort. Those that find investing effortless just shake their heads at the frantic activity of struggling investors. This applies to both professional and amateur investors.

Why is investing so easy for some and for others it is always a struggle?

In my podcast episode you'll learn:

• The real reason some investors succeed with ease while others constantly struggle — and it's not about picking the right stock.

• The 3 core beliefs that define successful investors: Faith, Patience, and Discipline — and how each one dramatically impacts your long-term returns.

• Why faith in the market and humanity is more important than trying to outguess short-term movements.

• The staggering cost of impatience: how chasing performance can quietly erase up to 75% of your lifetime returns.

• Why fewer transactions = better results, and how overtrading (especially by DIY investors) sabotages success.

• The #1 mistake most investors make — and how having a long-term financial plan keeps you grounded and growing.

When can I retire with the lifestyle I want?

That's the #1 priority for our clients—based on my experience creating thousands of financial plans over the last 25+ years.

They want financial freedom.

It's what we all really want. But you need a retirement plan to get there. It won't happen on its own.

Creating your retirement plan is fun. It's not about the money. It's all about your life.

Your retirement plan is the GPS for your life. It makes you wealthier, because it gets you to your goal the quickest and most effective way.

In my latest podcast episode you'll learn:

• What types of financial questions do people most ask about?

• Is it worth the effort to create your retirement plan?

• What insights from experience have I learned about financial freedom?

• Can your house be your retirement plan?

• What is the good news and bad news about retirement planning?

• How does your retirement plan make you wealthier?

• What are the steps to creating your Retirement Plan?

• How can you think through the retirement lifestyle you will want?

• How does interactive retirement planning help you make your plan personal?

• How should you invest effectively to become financially free?

Have you ever wondered how much your donation really helps the poor? Or how much it really helps find cures?

Which charities help the poor the most for each dollar donated?

You can now donate to the most cost-effective charities in the world with Ed & Ann's charitable foundation "Best Things First".

In my latest podcast episode you'll learn:

• How did Ed & Ann get started looking for cost-effective charities?

• Why is a cost-effective charity important?

• How did they learn about GiveWell?

• Why did Ed & Ann create a foundation?

• How can you support the world's top charities?

Enjoy!

Ed

I am heartbroken. My wife, life partner & business partner Ann Hetram passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 30.

Ann was truly one of a kind — wise, intuitive, endlessly generous, and the heart of everything we built together.

We shared our life, our work, our friends, and our dreams. We were together 35 years, and many years together 24/7, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

I've created this tribute — a YouTube video, podcast episode, and blog post to honour Ann's incredible life.

• Our life together and what she means to me.

• Her unique qualities.

• Some of the excessively generous acts she has done. I call them "Ann's Acts of Kindness".

If you have a story about Ann, your relationship with her, or you have an example of Ann's Acts of Kindness, I want to hear these stories. They are my most treasured thoughts about Ann.

If you want to share them at her Celebration of Life, please tell me so we can put you on the list. You could also just tell me at the reception, or email me the story so I have it forever.

We will have a Celebration of Life reception in Ann's honour on Thursday, April 17. The actual gathering to share stories about Ann is at 3 PM, followed by an informal reception until 8 PM. Bring your stories with Ann. It's casual dress.

Here's a link to my special post about Ann: https://edrempel.com/celebrating-the-life-of-ann-hetram/

With love,

Ed

Which is true?

1.The stock market is a gamble. Decent investment, but it may or may not make money for you.

2.The stock market is a reliable long-term investment. It should be the core of your long-term investments.

To invest effectively for your future, it is vital to be confident in your investments. Here is the historical data to give you a clear picture of what long-term investors can expect.

By the end, you'll have a clearer answer to the big question: Is the stock market the best way to build wealth over time?

This is an updated post with new insights.

Here's what I'll cover:

• How does the investment industry see risk?

• How do financial planners see risk?

• What is the highest return asset class?

• Why does the stock market rise?

• What is the most reliable asset class after inflation?

• How large and how long are stock market declines?

• How long is "long-term"?

• What exactly is risk tolerance?

• How should long-term investors invest?

Last year, I did a video on How to Donate Effectively, where we explored the idea that one of the ultimate status symbols is creating your own charitable foundation—and how to make a real impact with your giving.

In my latest video I interview John Bromley, the Founder and CEO of Charitable Impact, the platform we personally use to make giving easier and more effective.

John has dedicated his career to helping Canadians maximize their impact through strategic giving.

His company has proudly facilitated over $1.5 billion in donations, empowering tens of thousands of people to tap into their generosity, pursue their vision for change, and develop meaningful giving habits.

Beyond his work in philanthropy, John is a two-time TEDx speaker, a recipient of Business in Vancouver's 40 Under 40 award, a soccer coach, and a doting father of two.

In this podcast episode you'll discover:

• Why Charitable Impact was created.

• How Charitable Impact works for donors.

• Why open a personal charitable foundation?

• Donor-advised funds vs. private foundations.

• Should you involve your family in charitable giving?

• What happens to your foundation after you pass away?

• Does Charitable Impact help you find the right charity?

• Why donate?

• What is a proactive donor?

• Should you have a donation plan?

• Can others contribute to your foundation?

• The future of charitable giving.

• Biggest challenges & focus areas for charitable giving.

• What larger donors need to know.

• How to choose the right cause for your values.

Every year, tax rules change.

For 2025 there are six main tax changes that you'll want to know about.

And there's good news: two major uncertainties are finally gone!

1. No more reporting requirements for "bare trusts"—saving many Canadians unnecessary paperwork and fees.

2. The proposed capital gains tax hike? Likely off the table.

In my latest podcast episode you'll learn

• What are the 2 big uncertainties that are gone now?

• What are the 6 main tax changes for 2025?

• What is the new picture for saving for your first home?

Enjoy!

Ed

I often talk with people who realize—almost by surprise—that they've become wealthy.

They never really thought of themselves as wealthy, but after years of saving and investing effectively, it hits them: I'm actually wealthy.

And let me tell you—being wealthy feels different

In my latest podcast episode, I talk about:

• How do you become wealthy slowly?

• How do you know if you are financially independent?

• How do you know if you are "wealthy"?

• How does the mind shift feel?

• What mind shifts usually happen?

• What are typical mind shifts about how you spend your money?

• What are typical mind shifts about weekends & free time?

• What are typical mind shifts about vacations?

• What are typical mind shifts about friends & family?

• What negative feelings sometimes happen?

• Does the mind shift start when you realize you'll be wealthy in retirement?

• Rethinking your values as a wealthy person.

• What is your legacy? How do you want to be remembered?

Bloggers and advisors constantly warn about the "Sequence of Returns Risk"—the fear that retiring right before or during a market crash will drain your savings too quickly.

This fear often leads retirees to make poor investment choices, resulting in:

🚨 Inferior portfolios

📉 Lower returns

❌ A less reliable retirement

But how real is this risk? And do the conventional solutions—like investing in bonds or following the 4% Rule—actually work?

Is it true that "sequence of returns risk" has been debunked for long-term equity investors?

In my latest podcast episode you'll learn

• What is "Sequence of Returns Risk"?

• What solutions are typically recommended?

• What is the actual risk of running out of money with a bad sequence of returns?

• Why don't the typical solutions work?

• How long did it take to recover from the biggest crashes?

• How can you get the maximum reliable retirement income?

• What should you do if your risk tolerance is lower?

• What is "Your Personal Rule" for you to use instead of the "4% Rule"?

• What solution to "Sequence of Returns Risk" actually works?

• What dynamic spending rules are suggested by actuaries & advisors?

• What is Ed's dynamic spending rule?

• How is it customized for you?

Recently, I posted a video "New Study Supports 100% Equity Investing for Life" that went semi-viral with 14,000 YouTube views & 1,000 podcast downloads.

There is an interesting active debate mainly on YouTube, and a bit on my blog with a lot of comments and questions. Let's look at them and join the debate.

The evidence from the study to invest 100% in equities for life is certainly unconventional, so the comments revealed interesting insights.

This is an important topic. I have many posts on my blog over almost 20 years about how much better your Financial Plan and retirement income are with a high equity allocation.

I have posts about other studies, including my own. I believe people with a high enough risk tolerance who will stay invested through market crashes should invest 100% in equities. This is unconventional wisdom – but studies show it works!

In my latest podcast episode and blog post you'll discover:

• What did the study actually say?

• What did most of the comments agree on?

• Does the study support 100% equities right through retirement?

• Won't many people panic and sell?

• How does the recommendation of 67% international look for US vs. non-US investors?

• Do international stocks provide good diversification?

• Would this work in some time periods but not others?

• Would it work for narrower equity indexes, such as the NASDAQ?

• Is this study new?

• Isn't the risk of running out of money in retirement similar for 100%, 80% & 60% equities?

• Isn't it better to keep some cash?