VA/VE Cost Saving Projects is a compilation of posts I've written exploring creative ways to save money by using the Value Analysis/Value Engineering approach to personal finances 

As part of the series on VA/VE Cost Saving Projects, this post look at the savings of buying a Mid-Range Android Phone vs buying an iPhone on a contract. We are able to pay $1,239 less over a 2 year span!

The phrase "Financial Independence" has been gaining popularity as it does not carry the same baggage as the word "Retirement". Financial Independence gives you the freedom to choose how your time is spent (paid or not) and for some, can be reached in their 30s and 40s. Review these 5 factors to achieving FIRE.

Being a father of three young children, the topic of education costs particularly resonates with me as I start considering where we'll be financially in about 10 short years (gulp!).  Many clients list "sending their kids to university/college" as an important financial goal and make it a priority to save for this milestone event. This post crunches the numbers on a few 'home or away' scenarios for my kids 10 years from now. 

Working backwards from your Retirement goal can help make clear some of the unknowns and questions many people have about their current finances. This posts discusses how to 'Reverse Engineer' your Retirement Plan. 

Before you find yourself inside one of Canada's Big Banks for whatever reason, familiarize yourself with some survival tips. Don't end up as a salesperson's dinner.

MacGyver only ever needed a handful of objects to fight crime and save the world. Well, I've got a simple tool kit for you too. Use these three easy but essential tools/concepts to set up your investments.

It's never too early to teach your kids about money. You probably already are - through example. With a bit of planning and consistency, kids can learn to earn, spend, and manage their money responsibly too.  

Your superstar player doesn't wait for their team to start winning before they start warming up. They play the whole game. Similarly, your investment portfolio needs to spend time in the market, rather than depend on timing the market.  

What's worse than getting pulled aside for a random airport check at security? Answer: Being pulled aside and realizing that you didn't pack your own luggage and you don't know what's inside....

What is the worst investment advice you've ever received? I'm sure all of us have encountered an extremely confident person offering up advice on how successful they are at investing and making recommendations on what you should put your money in. Here's a short story about a conversation I had this past week.....

My wife and I were starting our careers, earning steady salaries. We were planning our life together and doing well. But then the questions started rolling in. As I climbed along this track, I was getting that uneasy feeling - Wait What!? - Where the heck is this thing going!?!?!?

One of the greatest downfalls to an investment portfolio is the human who owns it. We all know that the best way to ensure your assets grow is to "Buy low; Sell high". So why are we still struggling to see decent returns over the long run?

Feelings......

My 6yr old daughter built an Over-the-Air (OTA) High Definition Antenna so that our family could save $60/month by cutting Cable TV.  

In Canada, we pay some of the highest fees in the world for mutual funds. Management Expense Ratio (MER) fees are taken off your portfolio and can be 2% to 3% per year. To put this in perspective, for a portfolio of $100,000 with an MER of 2.5%, that's $2,500 per year in fees!

Whether you're single or spoken for, chances are you're fairly comfortable with your routine each year, your yearly love affair....with RRSPs. STOP! Think it oh-oh-ver....

One way to help curb excessive spending is to create a bucket system that makes it harder to overspend and also sets aside funds to ensure to have enough when you need it.

Building an investment portfolio is a lot like building with Lego. Just like your latest Lego creation, a lot depends on the types of bricks you start with.

A retirement projection can be the basis for your own "Choose Your Own Adventure" book.  Should I take some nice vacations with my kids now? Should I buy that sports car? Will I have enough when I am 65 to travel? The only way to really answer these questions is to take a look at your finances NOW and how they project out to the FUTURE. 

What do you love? Few of us have it as easily figured out as Mr. Ron Burgundy. To help me draw out client goals, I go through an exercise to help my clients understand and acknowledge what is most important to them.  The challenge is splitting up assets to support what we value most.