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In terms of net worth, what does it take to be considered rich today? In the HBO series Succession, loosely based on the Murdoch family, naïve Cousin Greg boasts that he expects to inherit $5 million from his grandfather’s will, and he’ll be “golden”. “You can’t do anything with five million,” a wealthy relative tells him. “Five is a nightmare. Can’t retire. Not worth it to work. It will drive someone ‘un poco loco.’”.

In September’s issue of Canadian MoneySaver, I presented a list of eight questions to consider asking your financial advisor, and a basic overview of the sorts of answers you should be looking for. If you haven’t read that article yet, I’d suggest you go back and review it before diving into this one.

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, the Canadian MoneySaver team was excited to take part in The Toronto MoneyShow at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This marked our 13th consecutive year attending the event - a tradition we’re always proud to be a part of. This year’s theme, The Great Canadian Money Reset, could not have been more timely. It was reflected throughout the show in engaging sessions on topics including making the case for investing in Canadian Energy, exploring the growing influence of financial influencers, examining where we stand in the current economic cycle, discussing the hot topic of AI, and much more.

While we are typically an optimistic bunch, it is always good to think about the risks that lurk around the corner and understand the implications it may or may not have on our finances and portfolios. Being too focused on the risks can lead to someone simply hiding under the covers and ‘doing nothing’ which is a risk in and of itself, but if we are going to talk about the dangers that are out there, what better time to do it than in October where we embrace our fears and take to the streets dressed as zombies and monsters! We have curated a few spooky charts that should be on Canadian’s minds currently.

I’m in a bit of a bind. I lost my job in late 2023, I just turned 60, and I unfortunately panicked and sold about 80% of my stock portfolio when the tariff wars started. I have always been a successful buy-and-hold investor, but somehow it really felt like this could be a repeat of the financial crisis of 2008/09, and I wanted to avoid losing a lot of money. Luckily, my wife is still gainfully employed, and we own our house outright.

After going through multiple recessions, depressions and big drops in the market do you or your cohorts have a reasonable guess when the next one may occur and what would cause it? The day, month and year it might happen? How big a drop percentage wise? How long will it last? Would AI be able to come up with an answer to this?

So, you've got your eye on a stock. Maybe it's a company you use every day, one you've seen in the news, or a tip you picked up from a friend. Before you hit that “buy” button, take a breath. Investing isn’t gambling—it’s a thoughtful process. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be complicated.

When considering your next stock purchase, think about The ABCs of Investing: a simple, practical framework for making smarter investment decisions.

Q: I understand it is impossible to predict, but do you feel itís wiser holding cash at these all-time highs? Should I wait for a drop and pounce? Or buy at these numbers as all-time highs indicate excellent businesses, assuming a long-term hold.

I am about 25% cash. Is that too much in this market?

While Canadians are notoriously polite and inclined to defer to experts, that deference can come at a cost to your financial future. In this article, I will provide you with some key questions you should ask your financial advisor, and a basic overview of the sorts of answers you should be looking for. Nothing should be taken as gospel, and answers don't need to be verbatim. However, they should demonstrate a comprehension of the situation, a purposeful rationale, and, if possible, be supported by empirical evidence.