Hey Reader ♥, I almost missed it. The Bank of Canada announced their rate decision today, and my inbox didn't explode. My phone didn't blow up. Social media was... quiet. Because nothing changed. The rate held at 2.25%. And here's what I've learned after years of watching people's financial decisions: The biggest mistake you can make during a rate hold is assuming nothing's happening, so you should do nothing. Let me explain why this matters more than you think. What a Rate Hold Actually...
3 days ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader ♥, We're four weeks from the end of 2025, and I know what you're thinking about: holiday shopping, family gatherings, surviving December. Here's the thing: you're probably not thinking about taxes right now. But I am. Because I know what happens in April when first-gen professionals realize they left thousands on the table—money that could've gone toward supporting your family, building your wealth, or actually taking a break. The moves you make in the next four weeks aren't about...
11 days ago • 8 min read
Hey there Reader ♥, The holiday shopping has started, and I'm already seeing it everywhere: the lists, the sales, the pressure to buy the perfect gifts for everyone. And if you're a first-generation professional, there's an extra layer nobody talks about. You're not just buying gifts—you're trying to prove something. I did it for years. Expensive gifts for my mom to show her sacrifices paid off. Generous gifts for extended family to demonstrate I "made it." Over-the-top gifts for my nieces...
18 days ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader ♥, Black Friday is in two weeks, and I know what's happening. Your inbox is already filling up with early access deals, and somewhere in your mind, you're doing the math. Can I afford this? Should I buy this? What if Mom needs help next week? What if there's a family emergency and I just spent $200 on myself? I used to do the same thing. I'd skip Black Friday entirely, telling myself I was being "responsible." Then I'd watch everyone else enjoy the sales while I felt resentful...
25 days ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader ♥, If you are in the GTA, you probably woke up to its first snowfall this week. Clean, fresh, everything covered in white—until you actually have to deal with it. Then reality hits: the driveway, the sidewalk, the car, the shoes by the door. Debt repayment advice feels the same way. Clean and simple on paper: snowball method, avalanche method, aggressive payoff strategies. The advice is mathematically sound. It's also completely useless if you're supporting multiple generations....
about 1 month ago • 6 min read
Hello Reader ♥, Today, Prime Minister Mark Carney releases his first federal budget. The headlines are already written: "tough choices," "sacrifices," a deficit double what was projected last year, and cuts to operational spending while investing billions in defence and infrastructure. The government's calling it a "generational budget" for "ruptured" economic times. But here's what won't be in today's budget: any acknowledgment that millions of Canadians are managing budgets that support...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
Hey Reader ♥, An article crossed my desk this week about a 50-year-old who makes $45,000 a year and has only $15,000 saved for retirement. The Canadian average for that age? $437,400. The advice was predictable: max your RRSP, open a TFSA, trim your budget, see an advisor. But here's what they didn't ask: What if that person is you—or closer to that reality than you want to admit? Let Me Guess Your Story You didn't spend the last 20 years being reckless. You spent them being the person...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader ♥, The data is in, and it's saying what you've known all along. RBC just released a report confirming that 2.7 million more Canadians will hit retirement age in the next five years. That's on top of the 5.2 million who've already left the workforce over the past 15 years. For most people, this is an interesting economic forecast. For first-generation professionals, this is Tuesday. You've Been Living This Reality While mainstream financial advice treats multi-generational support...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader ♥, We're in Q4. For most people, that means holiday planning and vague promises about "doing better" in January. But here's what first-generation professionals need to understand: Q4 isn't the end of your financial year—it's your strategic planning window. Why Q4 Matters More for You You know what's coming. Family gatherings. Financial requests around the holidays. Cultural obligations colliding with personal goals. The exhaustion of managing everyone else's expectations for...
2 months ago • 4 min read