CG Financial Group

10/03/2024

For the first time in 16 years, I DON'T have to sit in a boardroom for hours on end to discuss my budget for next year. This took me 15 seconds...

Each year I was given an objective I had to achieve in order to stay "viable" and some years they were absurd! We spent weeks working on numbers and imagining what it would look like if we added the right clients next year.

That's Hope Planning. I don't need to do that anymore. My boss (me) doesn't have a 10% growth rate in mind. I strive to treat all my clients with kindness and respect. This approach has led to my new firm having its best year ever in 2024.

Now, with all this free time, I'm off to work on a Financial Plan for new clients who were referred to me by someone who appreciates this approach.

09/12/2024

Part of my process is to empower my clients with knowledge and confidence in their financial world....It's right there on my website. Last week I lost a client and couldn't have been more proud.

We started working together 8 years ago when they had no idea what to do with a large amount of money they came into. In that time we broke each step down into manageable pieces, making sure they have all the information before they made a decision. We worked on a financial plan that saw them retiring early if they had the discipline to follow it.

Fast forward to now, they feel confident enough that they want to take a more active part in their investments and moved to a self directed platform. I have assured them that I will still be here to bounce ideas off of and am 100% on their side.

They grow up so fast.

08/21/2024

Life changes. So should your insurance. Did you know you might need to reassess your life insurance when you have kids, approach retirement, or experience major life events like marriage or divorce? Don't let unexpected changes catch you off guard. Schedule a free consultation today to ensure your coverage meets your evolving
needs.

07/03/2024

Summer 2024 Newsletter

If you've partnered with us for any amount of time, you've likely heard me say that the money part of Financial Planning is my least favourite part; it is heavily regulated, there are literally 1,000's of options to invest in and there are no guarantees (outside of GICs). Our main focus is making y...

04/11/2024

I read a report from a group of super-smart Professor types about how "FINfluencers" perform against the overall market. It's...not great.

Turns out that 72% are "unskilled" or have "negative skill" and ended up losing over 2% per month versus the S&P 500 as a whole. They also contribute to excess trading which hurts long-term returns.

Entertaining? Sure. Replacement for actual advice? Never!

01/08/2024

If you have a LIF (Life Income Fund) and you are taking the MAXIMUM, you may be getting a raise this year.
The amount you need to take out is the greater of the prescribed rate set by the government OR the portfolio return from the previous year.
Check your accounts this month and then give me a call.
If you are already a client, you'd already know. 😏

10/30/2023

Sometimes, stripping away all the tech and AI makes life simpler. Last week I spoke to The Wall Street Journal about why I ask clients to do homework...

Yes, that Wall Street Journal. We talked article I wrote about the IKEA effect and how you have more pride in something you have made. We ask clients
to fill in their own numbers for net worth and cash flow, allowing them to feel a connection to their REAL numbers.

Don't get me wrong, I use plenty of tech and AI in my business, but that's to make OUR job easier so we can spend more time with clients, not to replace what we do.

Why the DIY approach to tracking your spending pays off.

07/20/2023

Have you been hitting the gym and downing protein like its water? Are you an impressive specimen of the human form? You might have trouble getting insurance...

I have a client who is a former professional football player (the American kind)🏈 . He's about 5'8" but weighs over 260lbs of solid muscle! According to insurance companies, he's "obese" because he doesn't fit into their build chart (too heavy for his height).

After a few phone calls to the underwriter and links to social media posts of our client completely decimating a quarterback, they wisely decided to not call this man obese and issue the policy standard.

WARNING: Just because you feel good and look great doesn't mean insurance companies will take you on without digging deeper.

07/18/2023

Have a bunch of 💵 just sitting in your "savings" account at the bank 🏦? A lot of people feel safe with large amounts of money at the ready but riddle me this...when was the last time you needed $3,000 in cash to get something done?
You don't need to put your money at risk to earn high rewards anymore. We have access to many high interest accounts..
DM for details
Ps, I have hours of audio like this, should I make some more?

07/06/2023

Warning: Harsh Criticism to Follow...
I had a conversation with a DIY investing friend the other day and I had to be real with them....

"I spent a lot of time doing all my research and moved money around to make 15% last year." - Marketing Manager with 0 years of financial education

"I have a boring portfolio with low fees and I spend my time finding out what my clients want to do with their money" - Me, 14 years experience with other peoples money, 2 Univesity degrees in finance and 4 professional designations

Portfolio I use includes: 2 Nobel laureates, 8 portfolio managers with a combined 227 years experience, more staff around the Globe than I have Facebook friends, and access to tools and data I can't even imagine.

"The time you spent researching could have been spent with family and friends...or working to make more money. Not to mention all the transaction costs. So tell me, how are you saving money by doing it yourself?"