Category: Beyond Business
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Most Investors Don’t Want to Practice Wealth Management
I read a lot of commentary from wealth management pundits telling investors everything they should be doing. This is especially true when the conversation turns to family offices. In theory, doing these things makes sense. In practice, it often misses a critical reality: most investors don’t want to spend their lives practicing wealth management. Wealth
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Why Donors Give: The Motivations of Canadian Philanthropists
Why people give is often more complex than tax receipts or headlines might suggest. Philanthropy is often shaped by a mix of personal values, social context, family history, and a quiet sense of responsibility that sits alongside the role of government. Understanding these motivations matters, especially for donors who want their giving to be thoughtful,
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What Canada’s 2025 MFO Survey Really Reveals About “Family Offices”
The newly released Canadian Family Offices Multi-Family Office Landscape 2025 report provides a clear view into what Canadian Multi-Family Offices (“MFOs”) actually look like; who they serve, how they charge, and how they operate. But beneath the numbers lies a deeper story about what is and is not a true family office. Two findings stand
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Debating the Unique Role DAFs in Canadian Philanthropy
Donor advised funds (“DAFs”) are one of the fastest-growing charitable structures in Canada. For good reason! They provide donors with a strategic vehicle for their philanthropy and create the opportunity to enhance charitable giving. Billions of dollars are flowing into DAFs, with foundations holding DAFs now representing a major portion of annual giving. But, with
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Separating Facts from Opinions in Wealth Management
Making biased free financial decisions is challenging. As investors, we’re forced to confront our own emotions each time we make decisions. And, biases crop up and quietly work against us. Overconfidence, anchoring, and confirmation biases are some of the powerful forces that can cloud our judgment and lead to costly financial mistakes. To safeguard against
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Stop Paying More for Less: Why Pension Funds Underperform their Benchmarks
OMERS recently announced its mid-year investment results: a 2.2 % return in the first half of 2025 (Financial Post; OMERS update). The press release emphasizes “a challenging market” and “resilient performance” but let’s be honest: if your retirement savings grew only 2.2 % while simple index funds were delivering far better, you’d probably be disappointed.
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Investing Through Discomfort
Why Emotional Fortitude Matters Now More Than Ever Despite a growing list of global concerns such as geopolitical tension, trade uncertainty, and an uneasy economic backdrop, the S&P 500 has reached new all-time highs. For many investors, this feels hard to reconcile. How can markets be so strong when the headlines sound so fragile? This
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Emotions and Investing: What’s More Important: How You Feel or What You Earn?
Many novice investors assume the goal is simple: “make the most money”. But things rarely turn out this way. Even though we want the best outcomes, we often make decisions that that prioritize emotional comfort instead. Whether it’s the desire for peace of mind, fear of loss, or a need for control, emotions can be
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Wealth That Lasts, Follow These Key Principles
Live Below Your Means Even with significant wealth, maintaining financial discipline is crucial. If you want wealth that lasts, avoid unnecessary extravagance and ensure your expenses don’t outpace your income or investment returns. Sustainable wealth is built on prudent spending, not reckless consumption. Diversify Your Investments Don’t concentrate all your wealth in one asset class.
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5 Key Investing Principles to Build Long-Term Wealth
Investing is often perceived as complex, but the truth is, a few simple principles will set you on a path toward financial freedom. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your strategy, these five key investing principles will guide you to make smart, sustainable decisions. 1. Spend Less Than You Make This principle