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Why I Started Money Moves Monday

Most financial content today either feels too sales-y… or way too complicated.
Meanwhile, Canadians are navigating the highest living costs in decades, rising mortgage payments, and an economy that’s changing fast.

People needed something better, something practical.

So I created Money Moves Monday. A passion project to share what I am thinking about on a weekly basis.

Every week, I share the same insights I give my mortgage clients and real estate investors:
✔ What the market is actually doing
✔ What strategies are working today
✔ What to avoid
✔ And how to build wealth even if you feel “behind”

It’s casual, it’s straight to the point, and it’s written the same way I talk to friends over coffee.

If you want simple, tactical guidance on mortgages, real estate, and money - without the BS; MMM is for you.

Join Money Moves Monday Here!

MMM - Why “Pay Off Debt” vs “Invest More” Misses the Point

There are two camps in personal finance:

Camp 1: Never pay off debt if your investment return beats your interest rate.

Camp 2: Pay off debt as fast as possible.

Both sides swear they’re right.
Both sides miss the real point: risk.

Camp 1 works because your return should exceed your borrowing cost.

But those higher returns only exist because you’re taking on more risk.

As your leverage grows, the house of cards gets taller — and the fall gets a lot uglier when something goes wrong.

Camp 2 works because paying off debt reduces risk.

Lower debt = lower stress = fewer ways for life to punch you in the face.

But here’s the flaw:

Playing only defense keeps you safe - and stuck. You don’t build wealth that way.

I don’t pick a camp.

I move between them depending on my risk and the season of life I’m in.

When opportunity is high and risk is manageable → I lean into leverage.
When leverage stacks up and things start feeling fragile → I de-risk.

Not because debt is bad.
Not because investing is good.

But because risk changes, and your strategy should too.

Wealth isn’t “leveraged forever” or “debt-free forever.”
It’s knowing when to push and when to pull back.

MMM-The laziest retirement plan you’ve never tried

I came across one of the simplest retirement concepts I’ve ever seen - and what caught my

attention wasn’t the strategy, but how small the contribution actually needed to be. 

We usually think of the TFSA as a “$7000/year problem” but when you break it down weekly, the

number feels surprisingly manageable. 

The part that hit me: my car payment is higher than this - honestly, my gas bill for my car is likely even higher.

And as always, if something sticks with me around real estate, personal finance or mortgages … I will share it with you.

1. Invest

$130 weekly ($540/month) 

Inside your TFSA

30 years 

8% annual return 

= ~ $963,000 tax free portfolio 

2. Withdraw

At retirement, use a 4% safe withdrawal rate:

That's ~ $3,200/month tax free …equivalent to earning $53,000/year. 

Is this going to set you up for retirement? Probably not. 

But if you are not maximizing your TFSA or not investing consistently, this is an easy, realistic

move that could change your entire financial trajectory.  

Most of us spend $130 per week without thinking about it. This just redirects it to your future. 

Automate it once, and let time do the heavy lifting. 

And yes - $50k in 30 years won’t feel like $50k today (think ~$20K in today’s dollars). That's why

you pair this with RRSPs, pensions, real estate, business assets etc. 

Build intentionally. Small moves, big outcomes. 

MMM-The ‘best’ time to buy real estate isn’t the same for everyone.

Confidence is missing, and that’s why the market feels flat.

The job market’s soft, affordability’s still stretched, and buyers don’t want to see prices drop after they buy. So activity slows. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to blindly “buy the fear.”

Low confidence isn’t a green light, it’s a signal to slow down and think strategically.

Here’s what that means depending on where you stand:

For buyers:

Don’t fall for the idea that just because others are scared, it’s your turn to jump in. Understand why confidence is missing and look for what could actually trigger a rebound in the area you want to buy. If you don’t know why confidence is missing - read last weeks newsletter. That’s where the real opportunity lies.

For investors:

Dig deeper than “prices are down.”
To be an investor, you need a thesis, an opinion - a reason that supports long-term growth or decline in that market or asset type. Without one, you’re not investing - you’re just observing.

For refinancing:

Ask yourself: what’s the game plan?
Are you freeing up cash, lowering payments, or re-leveraging for growth? Refinancing only makes sense when it aligns with a clear strategy.

The takeaway

Confidence is low, but it’s low for a reason.
This isn’t the time to react, it’s the time to plan.