Blog

Financial thoughts, tips and tricks for you to consider.

Reality Check

I must admit … we just got a reality check. As a wealth strategist, my job is to advise people.     And one of the pieces of advice I am often giving is to “Be Your Own Banker” and control the banking function in your life. But I must admit, while making great strides...

Is your term insurance Bad?

Is your term insurance bad? As an advocate of wealth insurance and infinite banking policies, I am often asked, “Is term insurance bad?”. There is nothing inherently wrong with term insurance.   Its a cost-effective way to get people coverage and peace of mind.     ...

Own, Don’t Rent Your Insurance

If what you KNEW to be true about insurance was not true, when would you want to know? Most consumers are under the impression that term insurance, like Term 10 or Term 20, costs significantly less than permanent insurance. But that is like saying renting a house...
Insure Your Lifestyle

Insure Your Lifestyle

As a Wealth Strategist the number one question I get from people approaching retirement is, “How much do I need to retire?”   And far too often we are not having the “What’s my number?” discussion early enough in the financial planning process.     Real Estate has...

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Longevity

Longevity

While insurance professionals are always mentioning the need for coverage to protect one from a premature death, they are rarely building in solutions to cover the risk of living too long – longevity risk.   Source:  World Bank The average life expectancy for a...

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Taxation Risk

Taxation Risk

The common financial belief is that you will be in a lower tax bracket in retirement and therefore saving within an RSP structure makes the most sense.   I however believe that in many, actually most, situations this will not be the case at all. Firstly, why on earth...

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Now is always better than later.

Now is always better than later.

When it comes to life insurance, now is always better than later. You can’t purchase home insurance when your house is on fire.  And you can’t purchase life insurance if your health has declined significantly. I have personally seen how waiting to purchase insurance...

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You Don’t Know Jack

You Don’t Know Jack

Jack is 45 and he just purchased $1,000,000 of Term 20 insurance. He pays $1,930 to the insurance company every year. The plan is to drop the insurance after 20 years. His family won't need it. Mortgage will be paid off. Wealth will be amassed. Children are through...

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Safe Withdrawal Rate

Safe Withdrawal Rate

If you are not familiar with the term “Safe Withdrawal Rate” you should be.   Its the key factor to guide you in determining how much money you can withdrawal from your savings each year once you reach retirement.     Nobody wants to run out of money.    So using this...

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Are you spooked yet?

Are you spooked yet?

​Today scary decorations are all around our neighbourhood.   Halloween, the day of dressing up and trick-or-treating, is full of fun and excitement for the young.    But there are often 365 days of fears for retirees. What scares retirees the most? The Market When you...

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Classic Financial Planning Mistakes

Classic Financial Planning Mistakes

I believe there are core financial planning beliefs that benefit financial instutions and not Canadians.    Which is why my wealth planning process is significantly different then most.  To get a taste of how you may be on the wrong track, consider listening to this...

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905-425-5327 • vws@live.ca

Kathleen van den Berg, MBA, CFP

4 Branthaven Court
Brooklin, Ontario  L1M 0B2
Canada