Jay Forbes - Financial Services

08/29/2026

Financially Fit Friday Series — Week #18

THE RULE OF 72 HAS AN EVIL TWIN. 😈

Last Friday, we talked about something pretty incredible.

The Rule of 72.

We learned how this simple calculation can give us a rough idea of how long it may take money to double at a given rate of return.

But here’s the part we didn’t talk about…

The Rule of 72 works in the OTHER direction too.

And this time, we’re talking about inflation.

We all feel inflation.

At the grocery store.

At the gas pump.

At restaurants.

Utilities.

Insurance.

Travel.

Almost everywhere we spend money.

But inflation isn’t simply about things becoming more expensive.

There’s another way to look at it:

Your money is buying LESS.

That’s purchasing power.

And here’s where the Rule of 72 becomes really interesting.

Take 72 and divide it by an assumed inflation rate, and you get a rough estimate of how long it could take for prices to double — which is another way of saying the purchasing power of a fixed dollar amount could effectively be cut in half.

At 3% inflation → approximately 24 years

At 4% → approximately 18 years

At 6% → approximately 12 years

At 8% → approximately 9 years

Think about that for a second.

Imagine something costs $100 today.

If prices rose at a constant 4% per year, the Rule of 72 suggests that same basket could cost roughly $200 about 18 years from now.

Your $100 didn’t disappear.

It just doesn’t buy what it used to.

And THAT is why understanding the difference between saving and investing matters so much.

Remember Week #16?

Some money needs to be safe and accessible.

Absolutely.

Emergency funds and short-term money have an important job.

But money intended for 10, 20 or 30 years from now has a different challenge.

It doesn’t just need to survive.

It needs to maintain purchasing power.

And potentially grow beyond it.

That’s the battle happening quietly in the background:

COMPOUNDING can work FOR you.

INFLATION can work AGAINST you.

Both involve time.

Both compound.

And neither particularly cares whether we’re paying attention.

That’s why financial literacy matters.

It’s not about chasing the highest return.

It’s not about taking unnecessary risk.

It’s about understanding what your money needs to accomplish — today AND tomorrow.

So here’s this week’s question:

Is your long-term money growing… or is inflation quietly catching it?

If you’re not sure, maybe that’s a conversation worth having.

Let’s start the conversation.

Because your future isn’t only about how many dollars you’ve accumulated.

It’s about what those dollars will actually BUY.

If this taught you something, drop a 👍 or share it with someone who might never have thought about inflation this way.

06/26/2026

Financially Fit Friday Series – Week #10
Time Is Your Greatest Investment

This one has been sitting heavily with me for a while now so,

If this message resonates with you, drop a 👍, share it with someone who needs to hear it, and let's help more people start planning for their future.

If I could give every young person one financial gift, it wouldn't be money...

It would be time.

I'm seeing this more and more every day.

People often believe they need to make a lot of money before they can start investing.

The truth is...

The amount you start with is important.

But when you start is often even more important.

Time is one of the few things in life you can never get back.

And when it comes to building wealth, it can become your greatest asset.

The earlier you begin, the more opportunity your money has to grow through the power of consistency and compounding.

You don't need thousands of dollars.

You need a plan.

A purpose.

And the discipline to stay consistent.

Too many people wait for the "perfect time."

After the promotion.

After the kids are older.

After the debt is gone.

After they make a little more money.

But while you're waiting...

Time keeps moving.

Financial fitness isn't about trying to get rich overnight.

It's about making small, intentional decisions today that your future self will thank you for.

A contribution this month.

Another one next month.

Then another.

Over time, those small decisions have the potential to become something remarkable.

This is why financial literacy matters.

The more you understand how money works, the more you begin to realize that wealth is rarely built through one big decision.

It's built through consistency.

One deposit.

One investment.

One conversation.

One better decision at a time.

So don't let the size of your first step stop you from taking it.

Because money works for everyone...

But time only works for those who start.

Let's start the conversation — whether you're just beginning your investment journey or looking to make your money work harder, there is no better time than today to build a plan for tomorrow.

06/19/2026

Financially Fit Friday Series — Week #9
You're Closer Than You Think

Have you ever noticed that most people are incredibly hard on themselves when it comes to money?

I am seeing this more and more everyday!

They focus on the debt they still have.

The goals they haven't reached.

The investments they haven't started.

The retirement account that isn't big enough.

The mistakes they made years ago.

And because of that, they completely overlook the progress they've already made.

The truth is, financial success is not built in giant leaps.

It's built in small steps.

The first budget.

The first savings account.

The first investment.

The first insurance policy.

The first debt paid off.

The first conversation that changes the way you think about money.

Every one of those moments matters.

Too often, people believe they need to have everything figured out before they can move forward.

You don't.

You just need to take the next step.

Because momentum is powerful.

A small step today becomes confidence tomorrow.

Confidence becomes action.

Action becomes habits.

And habits become results.

This is why financial literacy is so important.

Not because it makes you perfect.

But because it helps you make better decisions one step at a time.

So if you've been feeling behind, discouraged, or overwhelmed, remember this:

You do not have to win the entire game today.

You just have to keep moving forward.

One step.

One decision.

One conversation at a time.

Because the life you want financially is often much closer than you think.

Let's start the conversation — where are you today, and what's the next financial step that would move you forward?

06/12/2026

Financially Fit Friday Series — Week #8

You’re not investing… you’re guessing.

And if any of this resonates with you, do me a favour — drop a like, share this with someone who may need it, and let’s help more people start asking better questions about their money.

That may sound a little direct, but let’s be honest.

A lot of people are putting money into things they do not fully understand because they heard it was a good idea.

A stock someone mentioned.
A hot tip online.
A trend everyone is talking about.
A fund they picked once and never reviewed.
A random investment with no real plan behind it.

And here is the problem:

Hoping something goes up is not a strategy.

Investing should not be based on emotion, hype, panic, or guessing.

It should be connected to a bigger picture.

What is the money for?
When do you need it?
How much risk are you comfortable with?
Is it for retirement?
A home?
Education?
Long-term wealth?
Family security?

Those questions matter.

Because the right investment is not just about returns.

It is about matching your money to your goals, your timeline, your risk tolerance, and your overall financial plan.

That is where financial literacy comes in.

The more you understand how investing works, the more confident you become in making decisions that are actually aligned with your future.

Being financially fit is not about chasing the next big thing.

It is about building a strategy.

A strategy with purpose.
A strategy with consistency.
A strategy that helps your money work toward something meaningful.

So before you invest based on a hunch, a headline, or someone else’s excitement, take a step back and ask:

Does this actually fit my plan?

Let’s start the conversation — a quick review may help you understand whether your investments are working with a strategy, or simply running on guesswork.

06/05/2026

Financially Fit Friday Series — Week #7

Before you say yes to mortgage insurance, ask one question:

Does this protect the lender… or does it protect my family?

There is a big difference.

This is a conversation a lot of homeowners and new buyers do not fully understand.

When you are buying a home, mortgage insurance is often brought up quickly during the mortgage process. It can sound simple, convenient, and like the obvious thing to say yes to.

But before you say yes, it is important to understand what you are actually buying.

Mortgage insurance is usually designed to protect the mortgage.

That means if something happens, the money often goes toward paying the lender, not directly to your family. And as your mortgage balance goes down, the amount being protected may also go down.

So the question becomes:

Is the mortgage protected…
or is your family protected?

With a personal life insurance policy, the benefit is paid to your chosen beneficiary. That gives your family options.

They may choose to pay off the mortgage.
They may choose to cover bills.
They may need income replacement.
They may need money for funeral costs, childcare, debt, or simply breathing room.

The point is FLEXIBILITY.

Your family gets to make the decision based on what they need most at that time.

That is why this topic matters.

Mortgage insurance and personal life insurance are not always the same thing.

One may be tied to the lender and the mortgage.
The other can be owned by you, controlled by you, and designed around your family’s bigger picture.

This is not about fear.
It is about education.

It is about understanding the difference before making a decision that could impact the people you love most.

Being financially fit means asking better questions.

Not just, “Do I have coverage?”

But:

Who owns it?
Who gets paid?
Does the coverage stay level?
Is it portable?
Does it provide FLEXIBILITY?
Does it protect the mortgage only, or does it protect my family’s overall needs?

A home is one of the biggest purchases most people will ever make.

Protecting it matters.

But protecting your family matters even more.

Let’s start the conversation — if you have mortgage insurance, are buying a home, or are not sure what type of coverage you have, this is worth reviewing before life forces the question.

05/29/2026

Financially Fit Friday Series — Week #6

Debt is not always loud.
Sometimes it quietly steals your future one payment at a time.

Credit cards.
Lines of credit.
Car loans.
Minimum payments.
High interest.
Balances that never seem to move.

And the frustrating part?

A lot of people are making their payments every month and still feel like they are not getting ahead.

That does not mean you are failing.
It may mean your debt is not structured efficiently.

Because sometimes the issue is not just how much debt you have…

It is:

How much interest you are paying.
How much is actually going toward the balance.
How long the debt is projected to last.
How much cash flow it is eating up every month.
And whether there may be a better way to organize it.

Debt can create pressure, stress, and frustration — especially when you feel like you are working hard but the numbers are barely changing.

That is why financial literacy matters.

The more you understand how debt works, the more aware you become of where your money is really going.

And the more aware you become, the better decisions you can make.

Being financially fit is not about pretending debt does not exist.

It is about facing it, understanding it, and building a plan around it.

Not with shame.
Not with judgment.
Not with “just stop spending” advice.

But with clarity, education, and solution-based options.

Sometimes the opportunity is not about finding new money.

Sometimes it is about making the money already leaving your home work more efficiently.

Let’s start the conversation — a quick financial review may help you understand where your debt stands, what it is costing you, and whether there may be a better way forward.

05/22/2026

Financially Fit Friday Series — Week #5

FHSA: The First Home Savings Account

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to present to a great group of realtors and mortgage brokers, and one thing became very clear:

There are still a lot of new buyers who do not know what the FHSA is, how it works, or how powerful it can be when used properly.

And honestly, that matters.

Because for many Canadians, buying a first home can feel overwhelming.

The down payment.
The closing costs.
The mortgage approval.
The timing.
The paperwork.
The rising cost of everything.

It can feel like a lot.

But the FHSA was created to help first-time home buyers save toward that first home in a more tax-efficient way.

Think of it as a powerful blend between an RRSP and a TFSA.

Like an RRSP, eligible contributions may be tax-deductible.
Like a TFSA, qualifying withdrawals for a first home can be tax-free.

And here is what makes it even more powerful:

The growth inside the account can also become tax-free when used toward a qualifying first home purchase.

That is a big deal.

You can contribute up to $8,000 per year, with a $40,000 lifetime contribution limit. Unused FHSA participation room can also carry forward, up to a maximum of $8,000, once the FHSA has been opened.

So even if someone cannot max it out right away, opening the conversation early can still matter.

This is a very general overview, and it absolutely deserves a further conversation — because every person’s situation is different.

Here is why this matters:

A lot of people are working hard to save for a home, but they may be doing it without knowing all the tools available to them.

That is where financial literacy comes in.

The more educated you are, the more aware you become.
The more aware you become, the better decisions you can make.

The FHSA is not just an account.

It is a strategy.

A strategy to help first-time buyers save smarter, reduce taxable income, grow money tax-free when used properly, and build toward one of the biggest purchases of their life.

So if you are looking to buy a home now, later, or even just starting to think about it — now is the time to have the conversation around opening your FHSA.

Let’s start the conversation — a quick review may help you understand whether the FHSA fits into your first-home plan and how to start building toward that down payment.

05/08/2026

Financially Fit Friday Series — Week #2

You don’t have a money problem…
It’s a spending awareness problem.

And first off — you are not the only one, and you are not alone here.

In my opinion, when it comes to money, most people usually have one of two problems:

They either have a making money problem…
or a money spending problem.

And here’s the crazy part:

It does not matter if someone makes $1,000 a month or $10,000 a month — for a lot of families, it still feels like there is always more month than money.

The bills come in.
The subscriptions come out.
The debt payments keep going.
The groceries cost more.
The gas tank needs filling.
And somehow, the money disappears faster than expected.

Most institutions will tell people the same thing:

Cut.
Cut.
Cut.

Cut the coffee.
Cut the dinner out.
Cut this year’s family holiday.
Cut the fun.
Cut the little things that bring you joy.

And don’t get me wrong — spending habits matter.

But sometimes that advice feels like a financial diet.
Nobody enjoys it, and most people cannot stick with it long term.

The other challenge is that many institutions point out the spending problem, but rarely slow down enough to help create a real-life solution around it.

That is where a solution-based conversation matters.

Instead of just saying, “spend less,” we look at the full picture.

So here is a better question:

Before we go looking for new money, what if we looked at the money that is already leaving the home?

What if we looked at:

Where your debt payments are going?
How much interest is quietly costing you?
Whether your money is flowing in the right direction?
Whether there may be ways to pay debt more efficiently?
Whether there may be ways to structure things better and potentially pay less tax?

Because sometimes the opportunity is not about making more money right away.

Sometimes it is about being more intentional with the money you already have.

That is what being financially fit is all about.

The more educated you become, the more aware you become.
And the more aware you become, the better decisions you can make for yourself and your family.

Not punishment.
Not shame.
Not cutting everything.

Just awareness, clarity, education, and a better plan.

Let’s start the conversation — a quick financial review may help you find opportunities already sitting inside your current cash flow.

05/02/2026

05/01/2026

Hard question for a Friday…

If you disappeared tomorrow, would your family be okay financially?

Not emotionally.
Financially.

Because the mortgage won’t pause.
The bills won’t wait.
And future dreams still need funding.

That’s why protection matters.

It’s not about fear.
It’s about love, responsibility, and making sure your family isn’t left scrambling if life changes overnight.

Most people don’t need a complicated plan.

They just need to start.

Let’s start the conversation — even a quick review can bring clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.