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  • Home
  • About
    • About Russ
    • How We Work
  • Services
  • FAQ
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • General Resources
    • Calculators
    • Books
    • Podcasts
  • Contact

The “Canada First TFSA Top-Up” – A Policy Analysis

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

You may have heard that the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has proposed the introduction of the “Canada First TFSA Top-Up,” a plan to allow Canadians to contribute an extra $5,000 in their Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), as long as the amount qualifies as a...

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How Investors Nearing Retirement Can Navigate Market Anxiety

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

As I write this on Monday, April 7, 2025, the repercussions of U.S. President Trump’s tariffs continue to roil the stock market. Many readers, especially those in their 50s, 60s, and older, who have likely accumulated significant investment assets over their lives, are probably down...

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What Investors Can and Cannot Control: A Guide for DIY Investors

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

It should be understood that investing can be challenging. In this case, I’m not talking about the process of investing, the purchase of a mutual fund or Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). Rather, I am referring to the uncertainty, the inevitable fluctuations in the prices of the...

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Nature Risk: A Personal Finance Perspective for Canadians

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

The Unexpected Problem: Nature Risk Our home insurance renews at the end of January every year. In December, we received a document from our insurance broker informing us that the insurance company we had been using for the last several years was removing “overland water (flood)...

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S&P 500 or US Total Market ETF? The Better Choice for Canadian DIY Investors

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

The Problem – Choosing the Right US Market Exposure You’ve decided to add US equities to your portfolio but now comes the tricky part—choosing between the S&P 500 or a total US market ETF. They both sound great, but which is right for you?   If you follow...

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Hidden Challenges for DIY Investors and Ways to Overcome Them

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

Investing on your own can be rewarding, but it’s not without its difficulties. Adam Bornn, from Parallel Wealth, highlights eight challenges DIY investors often face in his YouTube video, "8 Hidden Challenges Every Investor Should Know."   While Adam provides valuable insights, his perspective seems to assume...

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We’re Not That Smart: Why Humility Wins in Investing

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

The Trouble The Overconfident Investor Andrew, 40 years old, single, and an always-in-demand skilled tradesman in the Greater Toronto Area, believes he has cracked the code for successful stock trading. Armed with flashy charts and tables as well as stories of success he’s read in the Facebook...

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Reflecting on “A Day in the Life of a Financial Advisor”: A Review of Financial Misconceptions

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

In the YouTube video A Day in the Life of a Financial Advisor – Funny or Truth, a woman sits down with a financial advisor, unknowingly burdened with misconceptions and a dose of naïveté about personal finance. Her questions and concerns provide a helpful reflection...

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Financial Realities for Unattached Canadians: Strategies for a Secure Future

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

The Income and Wealth Gap The Context An unattached Canadian is a person not in an “economic family,” that is, a person living either alone or with others to whom he or she is unrelated, such as roommates or a lodger. Unattached Canadians are a growing demographic...

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A Step-by-Step Approach to Starting DIY Investing

in Blog
by Russell Sawatsky

Matthew (Matt) is a 27-year-old social worker with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, which he completed three years ago. Currently working in the healthcare sector, Matt has seen firsthand how financial instability can cause stress and hardship. Whether due to inadequate insurance or...

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Russ Writes

  • Tax-Free Does Not Mean Rule-Free: Understanding the Limits of a TFSA
  • Taxing What We Earn, Spend, and Leave Behind
  • Downsizing in Retirement: Things to Consider
  • The Case for Cash: Emergency Funds, Sinking Funds, and Liquidity Risk
  • Old Age Security: Bigger, Smaller, or Better Targeted?

Contact

Russell J. Sawatsky
Certified Financial Planner®
T: (519) 852-0318
E: russ@moneyarchitect.ca

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