It’s been a while since I wrote much about our children. So here’s a big update on what they are up to as the kids of early retired parents.  For those new to the blog, we have three kids: two adult daughters plus a teenage son. Our daughters are 19 and 21 years old while our son is 13.  When I first retired almost 13 years ago, our son was only one year old, still […]

The Canadian asset allocation ETF portfolios are game changers. Most Canadians who are still with an advisor should consider leaving said advisor and instead, invest in these investment options. They are so superior to poor-performing high-fee Canadian mutual funds. Those mutuals funds usually come with a salesperson not an advisor. You pay for the salesperson, you pay again for the poor investment option. In retirement, it’s even worse. The fees paid directly reduce your ability […]

Save, invest, prosper with My Own Advisor. Weekend Reading – Generating Your Retirement Income How are you going to generate your retirement income? Today’s post will share some of my brief thoughts on that as a newly minted retiree myself as part of a new pillar post on this site that I hope to refresh over time, annually. But first, some general… Early retiree thanks to DIY investing in stocks and ETFs. The article Weekend […]

Taxes are one of the biggest levers in retirement. The goal is straightforward: maximize what you keep after taxes. Where things go off track is how people try to do it. The way your portfolio is built and how income is pulled from it often matters more than any single-year tactic. Three decisions drive that outcome: how you invest, where you place those investments, and how you spend them down. When those pieces are coordinated, […]

Many retirees await the day they can say, “I have enough.” But the reality of having enough money to retire often brings surprising stress. When our retirement number is reached, we often believe that all of our problems are solved. Yet, achieving this reality can deliver “retirement anxiety” including stressors and issues, you never considered. Contents Toggle Learn How to:The Unexpected Challenge of “Having Enough”Why Reaching “Enough” Can Trigger Unexpected StressTackle Your Retirement Stressors Head OnDefine Your Retirement Purpose (Because Money Isn’t the Driver Anymore)Spend With IntentionCreate a Flexible Plan for Your TimeSummary: Navigating the Emotional Complexity of Financial IndependenceRelatedSources This article may contain affiliate links which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you sign up or buy through the affiliate link. Learn How to: Overcome Retirement Anxiety: Why reaching your financial “enough” number can unexpectedly trigger stress and identity loss. Mental Frameworks for Retirement Transition: Using CBT and Socratic questioning to challenge fears of worthlessness or financial insecurity. Define Purpose & Legacy: Shifting from a “saving mindset” to intentional spending and rediscovering your significance outside of a job title. Flexible Time Management: Tips for structuring a routine that balances personal growth, social connection and meaningful experiences. The Unexpected Challenge of “Having Enough” You’re in a unique club, one that you might be hesitant to acknowledge. You’re financially secure, you have time freedom and yet you may feel uneasy, anxious and without direction. You’ve spent years planning for a secure retirement, but no time planning what to do, when you achieve your goal. This article will touch on your retirement purpose, now after leaving the workforce, your identity, time, money and your legacy. Why Reaching “Enough” Can Trigger Unexpected Stress We’ve all experienced major life transitions; our first apartment, job, house, spouse and more. These types of changes, earlier in our lives, were usually exciting and led to new and bigger lives. These are the challenges and glories of adulthood. Retirement signals the passage of time, towards the end of life. It can indicate the end of a satisfying career, work friends and status. You might wonder, who am I, if I don’t have my job title? Several research studies, cited in a Harvard Business Review article entitled, “Coping With the Stress of Retirement,” by Ruth C. White, claim that some retirees experience increasing rates of depression and some memory impairment. The following retirement strategies can help. Despite having enough money saved, retirees might fear spending and feel pressure to be “perfect” in how they spend their remaining time. Fortunately, the emotional side of retirement can be improved by tackling the sources of your retirement anxiety and developing a plan for the next life stage. If you need help with your investments, we’ve partnered with WiserAdvisor to provide you with access to three vetted Financial Advisors – in your area. Click the image below to sign up. (no obligation when signing up) Tackle Your Retirement Stressors Head

A durable retirement income plan is not just about generating income. It is about making a series of interconnected decisions that must hold up over decades. It needs to provide reliable cash flow, manage risks such as market volatility and longevity risk, preserve flexibility as circumstances change, and support long-term goals like leaving a legacy. In practice, the difference between a plan that looks good on paper and one that actually holds up often comes down to […]

Listen to the pod Join us this week with Financial Advisor to Footballers & Athletes, Emmelia Powell to discuss what it’s like becoming a professional footballer and suddenly earning more money than you’ve ever dreamed of.  And why so many footballers go bankrupt when they retire plus lots more! ———A huge thanks to the episodes sponsor – Trading 212. Get FREE FRACTIONAL SHARES worth up £100 when you deposit £1 with Trading 212  https://www.trading212.com/join/MGP If […]

Image Source: Shutterstock If you’ve ever looked at your dual income and wondered, “Are we actually closer to early retirement than we think?”—you’re not alone. More DINK (dual income, no kids) couples are discovering that dividend stocks can quietly transform steady paychecks into long-term passive income. Instead of relying solely on savings or risky growth plays, they’re building income streams that pay them month after month—even before retirement officially begins. With rising living costs and […]