Hey Reader ♥,

I need to tell you something embarrassing.

I contributed $0 to my TFSA in 2025.

Zero dollars.

And I'm a CPA who's been managing my own investments for over 20 years.

Here's what happened:

Twenty years ago, when I started investing, there was only one choice: the RRSP. The TFSA didn't even exist yet—it wasn't introduced until 2009.

So I did what every "responsible" person was told to do: I maxed my RRSP. Every year. Every chance I got.

I learned about compound interest. Tax-deductible contributions. Tax-deferred growth. It felt like magic.

And here's the thing: I'm the eldest daughter. I'm first-generation.

My parents are smart and resourceful—they built a life here from scratch—but they didn't have the same financial opportunities I did.

I knew, even back then, that I was going to be the family safety net.

So I thought: If I max my RRSP at every chance, if I build this up, I'll be able to take care of myself AND help them when they need it.

It felt responsible. It felt smart.

But I was optimizing for the wrong thing.

THE RRSP TRAP I FELL INTO

The RRSP strategy I followed was built on assumptions that didn't match my actual life.

​I break this down in detail in this week's video →

Assumption #1: You'll be in a lower tax bracket in retirement.

At 72, I'll be forced to start withdrawing from my RRSP. If it's grown significantly (which is the goal, right?), those forced withdrawals could push me into the SAME or HIGHER tax bracket I'm in now.

So that tax deduction I got 20 years ago? I might be paying it back. At a higher rate.

Assumption #2: You won't need the money until 65.

My mom is retired now. I pay her mortgage—it's basically forced savings, but it also means I need accessible money for my family.

I also want OPTIONS. I'm serving on boards. I'm building this financial education business. I might want to semi-retire in my 50s.

But my RRSP? Locked until 65.

Assumption #3: You're only planning for yourself.

As the eldest daughter, as first-gen, I'm not just planning for my retirement. I'm planning for multi-generational support.

And I need FLEXIBILITY for that. Not money locked away until 65.

WHY I IGNORED MY TFSA FOR 15 YEARS

When TFSAs were introduced in 2009, I barely paid attention.

I thought: "That's just a savings account. My RRSP is for retirement."

But here's what I didn't understand:

The TFSA isn't a savings account. It's a FLEXIBILITY account.

Tax-free growth. Tax-free withdrawals. No forced withdrawals at 72. No penalties for accessing before 65.

It's the better account for people who need options before traditional retirement age.

And I completely ignored it because:

1. I was seduced by the RRSP tax refund. Getting $5,000-$10,000 back at tax time felt like winning. TFSA contributions? No refund. So it felt less important.
2. I thought I was being responsible. "Max your RRSP first" is what you're SUPPOSED to do, right? Every article. Every advisor. Every podcast.
3. I was being obedient, not strategic. I was following advice designed for someone else's life. A life with no family obligations. A life where you retire at 65 and that's that.

Not MY life.

WHAT I'M DOING NOW

Last year, I looked at my accounts.

My RRSP? Healthy. Growing. I've been managing it successfully for 20 years. Compound interest did its job.

My TFSA? Nearly empty.

And I thought: What am I actually building here?

So in 2026, I'm catching up my TFSA. Here's my plan:

✅ Moved $5,000 in to start (stopped procrastinating)
✅ Contributing $50/week in Q1 ($650 for the quarter)
✅ Increasing to $75/week in Q2, then $100, then $125
✅ By end of year: $10,200 invested in my TFSA

I'm keeping it simple: One all-in-one ETF. Set it and forget it.

My RRSP is more complex—multiple holdings, rebalancing, attention.

But my TFSA? Simple.

Because the goal isn't to optimize every percentage point. The goal is to build FLEXIBILITY. Options my parents never had.

THE QUESTION FOR YOU

Here's what I want you to think about:

Are you building wealth in the account that locks you in until 65, while ignoring the account that gives you options before that?

If you need flexibility—to support your family, to retire early, to pivot careers, to take a sabbatical—TFSA might be your better account to prioritize.

Not because RRSP is bad. But because it's designed for a different life than the one many of us are actually living.

WHAT'S NEXT

I'm documenting this entire TFSA catch-up journey publicly—the good, the messy, the "I should have known better" moments.

New video every Sunday.

This week: TFSA vs RRSP—which account should you prioritize for self-directed investing?

​[WATCH THIS WEEK'S VIDEO HERE]​

Because if I've been getting this wrong for 20 years, maybe you have too.

And maybe it's time we both fix it.

Building options my parents never had,

P.S. Wondering if you should prioritize your TFSA or stick with RRSP-first? Watch this week's video—I break down exactly when each account makes sense, including the three key assumptions that might not fit your life.

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