I first met this family in 2021 after they were referred to me by longtime clients.

They were a blended family, getting closer to retirement, and navigating a period of significant change. For many years, they had owned rental properties. It had been a successful strategy, but they were ready to move on. Being a landlord had started to feel less like an investment strategy and more like a second job — one they were happy to resign from. Their financial picture had a few layers.

She had a pension and a long, steady employment history. He owned his own business, which meant income varied from year to year and there was no pension waiting at the finish line. They also had RRSPs and other investments scattered across different institutions, most of them set up through the banks over time with very little coordination or advice beyond “you should probably have an RRSP.”

They weren’t doing anything wrong.

They just didn’t have a clear picture. Add in adult children, an aging parent, health considerations, and a strong preference for enjoying art, music, and travel, and it was clear they needed simplicity, flexibility, and reassurance — not more accounts.

Where we focused:  We started by organizing and simplifying. That meant:

• Consolidating investments so everything could finally be seen in one place

• Reviewing and restructuring existing RRSPs to better support retirement income

• Coordinating pensions, registered, and non-registered accounts

• Building a tax-efficient strategy as they transitioned out of real estate

• Creating a clear retirement income plan they could actually understand

Consolidation turned out to be more powerful than they expected. It reduced unnecessary costs, improved overall portfolio performance, and made decision-making much easier. It’s amazing how much better things feel when you don’t need a spreadsheet (or three passwords) just to see where your money is. Tax planning was a major part of the process as well. We looked carefully at how and when to draw income, how to reduce unnecessary tax, and how to balance income between them in a way that worked both now and over time.

The Hardest Part: Learning to Spend One of the most common challenges I see with thoughtful, responsible people isn’t saving — it’s spending. We ran their retirement projections many times. We tested different market scenarios, spending levels, and longevity assumptions. And each time, the result was reassuring: they could spend more and still be on solid footing.

Still, seeing the math once is rarely enough. So we walked through it again. And again.

Eventually, the numbers stopped feeling abstract and started to feel believable — which is often the real turning point. 

 “The hardest part of retirement planning isn’t saving enough — it’s feeling confident enough to spend.”

Where They Are Now?

She officially retired in November 2025. Since then, they’ve been travelling, enjoying a slower pace, and feeling far more confident about their financial future. What once felt uncertain now feels manageable — and even enjoyable. That shift, from quiet worry to calm confidence, is one of the most rewarding parts of this work.

Why I’m Sharing This This relationship began with a referral, and that’s how most of our practice grows. When someone introduces a friend, colleague, or family member to us, it’s usually because they value a thoughtful, steady approach — one that includes organization, tax planning, and ongoing guidance, not just investment selection.

We don’t aim to work with everyone. We aim to work well with the people we do serve. If you’ve ever referred someone to us, thank you. That trust means a great deal. And if someone comes to mind — perhaps someone approaching retirement, running their own business, juggling multiple accounts, or quietly wondering whether they’re truly on track — we’re always happy to have a conversation.

Even one meeting can bring clarity, confidence, and sometimes a much-needed sigh of relief.

That’s how this work grows: thoughtfully, steadily, and one relationship at a time.

Laura