Mohammad S. Ripon, RRC - Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network

05/08/2025

🧠 Is Your Retirement Plan on Track—or Off Course?
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You’re not alone—and you’re not wrong to be concerned.
With inflation, rising rates, and political uncertainty, the market’s unpredictable - savings for retirement feels more challenging than ever.
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📉 Just look at what happened in April:
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🔻 April 2 – Tariffs hit → Markets drop
📈 April 9 – 90-day pause → Massive rally
Volatility like this makes DIY investment planning a risky move.
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👥 That’s Why It Pays to Have a Pro in Your Corner
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When the market’s unstable, you need more than guesswork:
✔ Real, objective advice
✔ A personalized retirement roadmap
✔ Risk management strategies
✔ Emotional discipline—no panic decisions
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✅ You’ve worked hard for your money. Now it’s time to make your money work hard for you.

💬 Let’s talk about how to retire with confidence.
📩 Send us a message at (647) 785-2860 to start planning smarter.

05/06/2025

💭 How much do you really need to retire comfortably in Canada?

It’s a common concern, and one that many Canadians take seriously.

Saving for retirement can feel overwhelming—especially in today’s unpredictable market.

Trying to manage it all on your own, without the right time or experience, can lead to costly mistakes. That’s why working with a trusted financial team could be one of the smartest moves you make. With the right guidance, you can grow your retirement savings with clarity and confidence.

📉 Market Volatility Is Real
Just look at the recent swings:

🗓 April 2 – Tariffs announced (145% on Chinese imports) → Markets drop
🗓 April 9 – 90-day tariff pause → One of Wall Street’s strongest rallies in years

But deeper trends still raise red flags:

📉 Consumer confidence at a 13-year low (86.0)
🏭 Manufacturing activity slowed (PMI down to 48.7)
📊 Earnings growth revised: Q2 now at 5.7%, down from 12.8% in Q1

📊 What Can You Do Right Now?
✅ Diversify your investments
📈 Focus on financially strong companies
💰 Keep some liquidity ready for opportunities
🛡 Reassess your risk tolerance
📆 Stay focused on long-term goals—not short-term noise

👥 Why Professional Advice Matters
🔍 Objective guidance that cuts through market noise
🧩 Strategies built around your goals and comfort level
📉 Risk management to help protect your capital
📈 A disciplined approach to investing—even in uncertain times

You don’t have to do this alone.
Let’s build your retirement plan—together. 💬
📩 Send us a message to start the conversation.

01/05/2025

Are you approaching retirement and worried about outliving your savings?
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An annuity may be the solution you've been searching for.

What is an Annuity?
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An annuity is a financial solution that turns your savings into a guaranteed regular income for the rest of your life.

There are two main types of annuities:
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1. Life Annuity: Provides income for as long as you live—ensuring you can't outlive your money.
2. Term Certain Annuity: Pays a fixed income for a predetermined period.

Key Considerations:
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• Do you need guaranteed lifetime income, or would you prefer higher income in the early years of retirement?
• How will you integrate annuity income with other sources like employer pensions, CPP, OAS, and RRIF income?
• Do you want to leave money to a beneficiary?

Annuity Protection:
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Annuity income is protected by Assuris (a federally regulated non-profit organization).

Advantages of an Annuity:
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1) Guaranteed income for life
2) Protection from investment risk
3) Principal protection option
4) Financial security for the spouse and beneficiary
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For a complimentary consultation, feel free to reach out at 647-785-2860. 🙂

11/17/2024

Investing should bring peace of mind, not stress. Like the gentle, steady drip of water that shapes stones over time, consistent saving, mindful investing, and watching your portfolio grow gradually bring you closer to your financial goals—one step at a time.

With the right guidance, you can remain calm and confident, even amidst market fluctuations, knowing that every thoughtful decision is a step toward your future.

Let us partner with you to help you achieve lasting peace of mind. Call us at (647) 785-2860 for a complimentary consultation.

11/12/2024

Secure The Levels By Minimizing Your Financial Risks
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Hierarchy of financial needs (5 Levels):

Level 1: Cash Flow and Basic Needs: This is the foundation of financial security, covering essential expenses like food, housing, and daily needs. It's about making sure your basic physiological needs are financially covered.

Level 2: Financial Safety: This level focuses on creating a safety net, including insurance and an emergency fund. An emergency fund should ideally cover at least three months of living expenses to protect you in case of unexpected events, such as illness, job loss, or a family crisis.

Level 3: Accumulating Wealth: At this stage, the goal is to grow your financial assets. This involves paying down debt, building investments, and saving for retirement—essentially setting up for long-term financial health and stability.

Level 4: Financial Freedom: This level goes beyond basic wealth accumulation and includes long-term goals like saving for your children’s education, planning for retirement, and taking vacations. It also ties into personal accomplishments, like feeling secure and proud of your financial independence.

Level 5: Legacy: The final level focuses on creating a lasting impact. It includes estate planning, tax planning, and business succession planning, aligning with self-actualization needs—leaving a meaningful legacy for future generations.

Assistance available at (647) 785-2860
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Credit: https://advisor.visualcapitalist.com/hierarchy-of-financial-needs/

11/11/2024

We honour your sacrifices!

07/01/2024

05/10/2024

Interest Rate Cuts: Leader to Lagger
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SWITZERLAND
The Swiss National Bank started leading the race to cut rates by 0.25%. Traders are betting on another cut in June.

Current interest: 1.5% and Inflation: 1.4%

SWEDEN
Riksbank's 1st rate cuts on Wednesday's meeting lag the Swiss bank. Reduced by 0.25%.

Current interest: 3.75% and Inflation: 2.3%.

EUROZONE
The European Central Bank is expected to lower rates in June. Investors anticipate almost three cuts this year.
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CANADA
Kept its rate unchanged at 5%. Investors anticipate a 60% possibility of rate cuts in June.

Inflation jumped up to 2.9% in March because of upward price pressure.

UNITED STATES
No immediate rate cuts. Inflation jumped up to 3.5%. Anticipating another rate hike. Investors pushing back their bets.

BRITAIN
The Bank of England kept the interest rate unchanged at 5.25%. Market is priced for a cut in August. (Inflation: 3.2%)

NEW ZEALAND RESERVE BANK
No rate cuts until October /November.
Interest: 5.5% and inflation: 4%.

AUSTRALIA RESERVE BANK
Held rates steady at 4.35%. No rate cuts in 6 months mean inflation is upward there.

NORWAY CENTRAL BANK
Left rates unchanged at 4.5% and expects no move before December or even next year.

JAPAN
The Bank of Japan raised rates in March in its first hike in 17 years.
Interest rate (current): 0.05% and Inflation: 2.7%

Source: Reuters

02/25/2024

Are you Earning Interest Income in a regular taxable savings account? Let's see if it's a good idea or not.
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A hypothetical scenario for interest income earning in a Non-registered Savings Account vs TFSA.
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Mr. Smith is a 30-year-old gentleman who decided to maximize his TFSA up to the age of 65. His savings will generate a 5% compound interest income.

Assume that each year the maximum contribution room is $7,000. Then how much he can withdraw at his 65?

At his 65, the total withdrawal amount would be $632,242. (Not much, right?)

His total contribution is ($7,000 x 35) = $245,000.
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Let's see how much he can withdraw if he invests the same amounts in a Non-Registered investment account.

We'll illustrate his returns from the different tax perspectives:
If his Tax Rate is 20.05%, he can withdraw $515,566
If his MTR is 31.48%, the amount would be $460,322
If his MTR is 43.41%, the amount would be $409,560
If his MTR is 53.53%, the amount would be $371,853.

👍In TFSA, Mr. Smith, as a high-income tax filer can save $260,389 more than a taxable investment account.
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Investment returns in a Non-registered account depend on your personal tax bracket. If you're in a higher tax bracket, you'll earn less in a taxable investment account.

Investment returns in a TFSA ignore personal tax rates. It provides tax-free income to all Canadians over 18.

✌️Taking advantage of all the tax-efficient investment options can be a good idea for accumulating millions of tax-free wealth! 🙂

02/19/2024

Happy Family Day to you all!

02/04/2024

Halal Investing (RRSP Eligible)
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What is Halal Investing?

We know halal means permissible/lawful. Halal Investing is a religious form of investing that is permissible and complies with Islamic Laws. This mechanism of investing is developed by Islamic Scholars around the world only to meet the religious needs of Muslim investors.

Today, this concept has been accepted by all types of investors because it’s not only a halal investment but it’s also a specialized form of Socially Responsible Investment.

A Shariah-compliant investment excludes certain industries that are forbidden in Islam such as:
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1) Interest generating business
2) To***co industries
3) Alcohol-related consumer products
4) Gambling, night club industries
5) Weapon and defense industries
6) Food Industries (prohibited in Islam)

Features:
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1) Shariah compliant*
2) Uniq and Ethical
3) ESG compliant
4) Stable Growth

To meet your religious investing needs, you can ask for more information.

*A Sharia-friendly investment fund, with legal endorsement by the Islamic Finance Advisory Board to ensure all investments follow strict guidelines and principles of Sharia.

01/31/2024

Guaranteed Investment Option (RRSP Eligible)
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Segregated Investment Fund: A Guaranteed Investment Fund

It’s an Investment Fund similar to a Mutual fund. The difference is Mutual funds don’t offer any guarantee but Segregated funds offer guarantees at maturity or at death. Funds are managed by the insurance companies.

Investment Benefits are:
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1) Provides Guarantee: on the Initial Capital or Market Value (whichever is higher)
2) Reset option: Locks the higher portfolio value during the market upwards
3) Creditor protection: Limit the risk of loss in case of bankruptcy or lawsuit
(Suitable for small business owners and professionals)
4) Possibility of Guaranteed Income for Life
5) Possibility of Avoiding Probate Fees
6) Quick Settlement at Death: the beneficiary receives the funds within 10 – 15 days.

Key points:
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1) 75% - 100% of your capital is insured
2) Higher fees to cover the cost of insurance protection

Extra fee ensures the extra benefits:
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1) A guarantee against market fluctuations
2) Protect assets for you and your heirs
3) Save estate administration tax
4) Ensure a quick distribution to the named beneficiary

If you'd like to know more about this investment opportunity, please call/text (647) 785-2860.