Think Smart with TMFG

Episode 356: Client Stories Series - Travel Should Be Part of Life, Even Before Retirement with Jonathan van Bilsen

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG: Client Stories, we sit down with Jonathan van Bilsen, a longtime TMFG client, author, radio announcer, photographer, and world traveller who has explored more than 107 countries. Together, we talk about what travel has taught him about retirement, purpose, and health, and why so many people wait too long to do the things they truly want. 

From stories in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings to planning trips across England using AI tools, this conversation explores what it really means to build a retirement around experiences, flexibility, and long-term thinking. We also discuss travel insurance, budgeting for travel, changing health in retirement, and why memories often become more valuable than possessions over time.

We also want to give a special shoutout to Jon’s book Photos n Travel, featuring photography and stories from his travels around the world. If you enjoy travel, culture, and photography, we definitely encourage you to check it out.

📖 Buy the book here: https://www.photosntravel.com/ 

We also encourage you to check out The Jonathan van Bilsen Show, which features compelling guests from across the community and gives viewers an opportunity to learn the “Story Behind the Person.”

📌  If you’d like to build a retirement that gives you more flexibility to travel and enjoy the experiences that matter most to you, connect with our team here: Schedule a meeting.

Question for our listeners:
What’s one place in the world you’ve always wanted to visit, and what’s stopping you from going?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

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Episode 355: What No One Tells You About Your First Year of Retirement (Financially)

A smooth retirement doesn’t always start the way people expect… in fact, the first year is often where the real adjustment begins.

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we walk through what actually happens financially in your first year of retirement, and why it can feel so different from what you planned.

From shifting away from a steady paycheck to building your own income stream, we break down how sources like CPP, OAS, pensions, RRIFs, and investment accounts come together, and why they don’t always line up as neatly as a biweekly paycheque. We also explore the key decisions retirees face early on, from when to draw income and how different sources are taxed, to how poor market timing (sequence of returns) can impact your long-term plan.

The first year won’t be perfect… but it’s where your retirement plan starts to take shape.

📌 Want help building a retirement income plan that actually works in practice? Connect with our team:

Schedule a meeting here

📌 Want to better understand how your retirement income will be structured?
Download our free guide: 10 Critical Mistakes People Make When Planning for Retirement.

Question for our listeners:
What surprised you most (or what do you think will surprise you) about the first year of retirement?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmfg.ca
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Episode 354: Paying Tax Means You Made Money (Here’s How)

A tax bill doesn’t always mean something went wrong… it often means something worked.

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we explain why taxes, especially on investments, are often misunderstood, and how they’re usually the result of growth, income, or smart financial decisions.

From interest and dividends to capital gains, we break down how each is taxed and why capital gains, despite being the most tax-efficient, tend to trigger the biggest reactions.

We also cover why realizing gains on purpose, like during portfolio rebalancing, can actually protect your long-term plan, even if it means paying some tax today.

Avoiding tax at all costs can lead to bigger financial mistakes.

📌 Want to understand how taxes impact your financial plan? Connect with our team:

Schedule a meeting here

📌 Want to understand how your investments get taxed?
Download our free guide: 10 Mistakes That Investors Make

Question for our listeners:
Have you ever avoided a financial decision just to avoid paying tax?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

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LinkedIn: The McClelland Financial Group

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmfg.ca

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcclellandfinancialgroup_/

 

Episode 353: War, Oil, and the Strait of Hormuz - Where Will This Show Up in Your Financial Plan?

Global events don’t stay global; they show up in your day-to-day costs.

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we break down how disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are driving inflation, increasing oil prices, and impacting everyday Canadians.

We explain why this is a supply shock, not a demand issue, and why interest rates don’t always fix it. From gas and groceries to travel and manufacturing, rising oil prices affect more than most people realize.

We also discuss what this means for your portfolio, and why reacting emotionally during periods like this can do more harm than good.

These events are out of your control, but how you plan around them isn’t.

📌 Want to understand how rising costs and market changes may impact your financial plan? Connect with our team to continue the conversation:

Schedule a meeting here

📌 Want to understand how rising costs may affect your long-term plan?
Download our free guide: “Will You Run Out of Money in Retirement?” 

Question for our listeners:
Have rising costs changed how you think about your financial plan?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmfg.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcclellandfinancialgroup_/

Episode 352: Understanding the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) Part 2 – How Approval Impacts Taxes, Benefits, and Long-Term Planning

In the continuation of our Understanding the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) series, we shift the focus to what happens after approval, and why this step can be more impactful than many Canadians expect.

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we break down how the DTC works from a financial perspective, including how the non-refundable tax credit can reduce taxes payable and be transferred within a family when it can’t be fully used.

We also discuss the potential for retroactive tax adjustments, which can lead to meaningful refunds depending on how long eligibility has been in place.

Beyond taxes, we explore what the DTC unlocks, including access to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), government grants, and the long-term benefit of tax-deferred growth.

The conversation also covers important planning considerations, such as protecting government benefits, structuring assets properly, and how strategies like a Henson Trust can help preserve income support while managing wealth effectively.

📌 If you’d like help understanding how this could fit into your financial plan, you can connect with our team here: Schedule a meeting.

Question for our listeners:
If you or someone in your family qualifies for the DTC, are you fully using the opportunities that come with it?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmfg.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcclellandfinancialgroup_/

Episode 351: Client Stories Series - What I Wish I Knew Before Building The McClelland Financial Group with Rob McClelland

In this special episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we’re launching a new series, Client Stories, conversations with clients about the experiences, decisions, and challenges that have shaped their lives and financial journeys.

To begin the series, we sit down with Rob McClelland, founder of The McClelland Financial Group of CI Assante Wealth Management Ltd, to reflect on what it really took to build a business from the ground up, and the lessons that only become clear in hindsight. Rob shares the uncertainty, financial pressure, and personal sacrifices that came with starting out, along with the mindset, discipline, and calculated risk-taking that helped him keep moving forward.

We also explore what it means to grow something sustainable over time, from leadership and hiring to systems, recurring income, and balancing business growth with family life. More than a business story, this conversation is about long-term thinking, resilience, and what it takes to build something that can last beyond you.

📌 If you’d like to learn more about who we are and how we help individuals, families, and business owners navigate long-term financial decisions, you can connect with our team here: Schedule a meeting.

Question for our listeners:
If you were building something from the ground up, what would you want to get right from the beginning?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

Follow us:
LinkedIn: The McClelland Financial Group
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmfg.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcclellandfinancialgroup_/

Episode 350: Understanding the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) Part 1 – Who Qualifies, How It Works and What It Can Unlock Financially

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is one of the most overlooked tax benefits available to Canadians, and many individuals and families may not realize it could apply to them.

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we break down who may qualify, how the DTC works, and why it can be much more important than people think. While many assume it’s the same as disability income or government support, the DTC is actually a federal tax credit that can open the door to other financial opportunities.

We also discuss why eligibility is based on how a condition affects daily living, and how approval may lead to benefits like retroactive tax savings, access to an RDSP, and other planning opportunities for individuals and families.

This episode is a starting point for understanding how the DTC works, and why it may be worth looking into if disability has affected you or someone in your family.

📌 If you’d like help understanding how this could connect to your financial plan, you can connect with our team here: Schedule a meeting.

Question for our listeners:
Have you ever looked into whether the Disability Tax Credit could apply to your situation?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmfg.ca
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Episode 349: Revenue Isn’t Success - This Is What Actually Makes a Business Sustainable

Revenue is often the first number people look at when measuring business success, but it rarely tells the full story. A business can generate strong sales and still struggle financially behind the scenes.

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we break down what actually defines a sustainable business. From profit margins and cash flow to debt management and clients, the real indicators of success go far beyond revenue alone.

We also explore the key difference between being a business owner and an employee, including the trade-off between income stability and control, and the risks that come with relying too heavily on the business itself.

A major focus is the importance of separating business and personal financial planning. Many owners reinvest everything back into the business, but without building personal wealth outside of it, long-term financial security, especially retirement, can be at risk.

A successful business isn’t just about how much you make; it’s about how sustainable, efficient, and aligned it is with your long-term financial plan.

📌 If you’d like help aligning your business and personal financial plan, you can connect with our team here: Schedule a meeting.

Question for our listeners:
Are you measuring your business success beyond just revenue?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

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Episode 348: Is the Canadian Dream Changing?

The path that once defined financial success in Canada is starting to feel less certain. Rising costs, shifting careers, and housing challenges are prompting many to question the country's economic direction. 

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we break down why Canadians are feeling this shift. From affordability and job market changes to the growing gap between wages and living costs, the traditional roadmap looks very different today.

Housing remains a key pressure point, especially for younger Canadians, while many families are now navigating how to support the next generation without compromising their own retirement.

We also explore how career stability and pensions have evolved, placing more responsibility on individuals to manage their financial future.

The takeaway? The Canadian Dream isn’t gone, but it requires a more active and adaptable approach than before.

📌 If you’d like help building or adjusting your financial plan in today’s changing environment, you can connect with our team here: Schedule a meeting.

Question for our listeners:
Do you think the Canadian Dream is still achievable today?

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

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Episode 347: From Saving to Spending - The Retirement Mindset Shift

For most of our working lives, financial advice is simple: save more, invest consistently, and build your portfolio. But eventually, the conversation changes. Instead of asking how to grow your money, the question becomes how that money will support your lifestyle.

On this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, we explore the psychological and financial shift that happens as people move from accumulation to spending in retirement. Many savers spend decades building their wealth, only to discover that actually using it can feel uncomfortable.

We discuss why this transition can be difficult, including the concept of loss aversion, a behavioural bias that makes people feel the pain of seeing their portfolio decline more strongly than the benefit of using it for their lifestyle.

We also look at the structure of retirement income in Canada. Programs like CPP and OAS provide a base level of income, but for most people, they are not enough to maintain the lifestyle they’re used to. That’s why personal savings, pensions, and investment withdrawals play such an important role in retirement planning.

The key is understanding that retirement planning isn’t just about building wealth. It’s about building the confidence to use that wealth in a way that supports the life you worked so hard to create.

Question for our listeners:
Do you think the harder part of financial planning is saving for retirement or learning how to spend in retirement?

📌 If you’d like help turning your savings into a retirement income plan, you can connect with our team here: Schedule a meeting.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on YouTube.

Follow us:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tmfg.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcclellandfinancialgroup_/