For the first 30 or so years of working, saving and investing, you’ll be first in the mode of getting out of the hole (paying down debt), and then building your net worth (that’s wealth accumulation.). But don’t forget, wealth accumulation isn’t the ultimate goal. Decumulation is! (a separate category here at the Hub).
Now that 2024 is in the books, I thought I would look back financially to where we started this adventure, from January of 1991. The chart below shows the ascent of the S&P 500 Index over our 34 years of retirement.
On our retirement date of January 14, 1991, the S&P 500 index closed at 312.49. It has recently closed over 6000, making over 8% annual gains plus a couple per cent counting dividends. Hard to imagine, right? With all of the market ups and downs, global turmoil, governments coming and going, businesses expanding and failing, and still producing a better than 10% annual return.
But is this really a one-off period and not the norm?
Using a calculator, we can see that the S&P 500 returns for the last 100 years, including dividends, is 10.660%.
And recalculating for the last fifty years, total return is 11.411%. Clearly there is a trend here.
Does this mean that every year you invest you are going to have a 10% return? No!
But what it does tell us is that over longer time periods the return on your investment is handsomely rewarded.
However, if we look at the returns since the year 2000 they have been sub par at an annualized rate of just 7.817%.
And finally, since the financial crisis in 2009, the S&P 500 Index produced a total return of 14.934% including dividends.
Getting your house in order for retirement or financial independence is not that difficult. Many investment professionals, journalists, and commentators seem to complicate the issue to the point that even we can’t understand it. Safe withdrawal rates, stocks, bonds, balanced funds, commodities, options, laddered portfolios, annuities, offshore accounts, hedge funds, life insurance … are you kidding? No wonder some people are confused and scared!
What’s a person to do?
First, you need to recognize your needs. Let’s be realistic here. How much are you spending now? Not how much do you make a year, but how much are you paying out? With today’s computer online tools and spreadsheets, this is a very easy task to compute.
Once you know your expenditures per year, take a look at where that money is going. If it’s to pay credit card bills or other consumer debt, you need to pay that off first. It’s fine to use credit cards as long as you completely pay off your balance monthly. And stay out of debt. I know this is not easy, but it’s your future, and the money you were paying in interest can now be invested.
With your debts paid off, you can commit to financial independence. Analysts say a guideline of 25 times your annual capital outlay should be enough to sustain your current lifestyle. With the data you’ve collected in your chart, you can easily calculate a target amount.
If you had invested $1,000 in some of the world’s most innovative companies a decade ago, your portfolio would look vastly different today. The explosive growth of technology-driven businesses demonstrates the power of innovation and long-term investing. Let’s dive into the big winners of the last decade and explore which companies might lead the charge in the next ten years.
The Big Winners of the Last Decade
Here’s how $1,000 invested in 2013 would have grown in some of the most successful companies:
These companies have one key thing in common: they’re all rooted in innovation and operate mostly in the technology sector. They dominate fast-growing markets like artificial intelligence, renewable energy, cloud computing, and digital platforms.
Also, not all of us have the know-how or the time to pick any of those winning stocks, but all of us can easily pick the S&P 500.
What do these Companies have in Common?
Leaders in Innovation: Companies like Nvidia and AMD have revolutionized computing and AI, while Tesla has led the way in electric vehicles and renewable energy.
Fast-Growth Industries: These businesses are in sectors with enormous growth potential, such as semiconductors, e-commerce, and clean energy.
Global Reach: Serving customers worldwide has allowed these companies to scale operations and grow revenue exponentially.
Scalability: Their business models allow for significant growth without proportional cost increases.
Strong Network Effects: Platforms like Amazon and Meta thrive as they attract more users, creating self-reinforcing cycles of growth.
Who will be the Big Winners of the Next Decade?
While the future is never certain, several companies in the S&P 500 are well-positioned to dominate over the next ten years. Here are some categories and potential leaders:
1. Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia: Already a leader in AI hardware and software, Nvidia’s dominance in GPUs places it in a prime position.
Meta Platforms: With investments in the metaverse and AI-driven advertising, Meta has room for growth despite recent challenges. Continue Reading…
Canadians in retirement, or those nearing retirement, are faced with unique challenges in the present-day market. Interest rates have moved up from their historic lows since 2022. The benchmark rate for the Bank of Canada (BoC) reached its zenith of 5.00% in July 2023.
Economic headwinds forced the hand of the BoC in 2024 and 2025. The benchmark rate now sits at 2.75% as of July 7, 2025. More rate cuts are expected before the end of the year. This downward trend for interest rates means that investors who want a secure investment while outpacing inflation may have to look beyond GICs and other fixed-income products in this changing climate. Market volatility is another headwind investors are now contending with, spurred on by a new and aggressive U.S. administration.
There was enthusiasm surrounding the broader economy and the stock market coming into 2025. The previous GOP administration cultivated a reputation as a market-friendly one in the late 2010s. That momentum ground to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the perception of a market-friendly GOP largely remained.
Investor sentiment soured in the spring, in large part due to the uncertainty surrounding U.S. government policy, particularly when it comes to trade. Trade tensions have remained elevated, but sentiment has improved into the summer as markets have normalized.
Uncertainty in the spring contributed to elevated levels of market volatility. Some names suffered steep retracements in the first half of April. However, the 90-day pause announced on tariffs led to a dramatic reversal. That led to a rapid recovery for the broader U.S. market. Despite the improved conditions, this market is unique in that lingering trade policy uncertainty is fueling negative sentiment. Headline risk will continue to be elevated through the second half of 2025.
A research note from Vanguard earlier this year speculated that volatility was likely to remain. This is due to factors like policy uncertainty, disruptive currents in the economy like Artificial Intelligence development, and the shifting policy of the Federal Reserve.
Demand for Low Volatility products has increased in this environment. These ETFs offer Canadian retirees a pure low-volatility play with exposure to 100% Canadian equities.
Harvest Low Volatility ETFs: A Smoother Investment Experience
Harvest’s new Low Volatility ETF suite may be appealing to defensive and long-term investors. This approach to equity investing is factor-based, disciplined, outcome-oriented, is designed to mitigate risk, as well as provide long-term growth. Moreover, the suite includes a high-income solution that generates monthly cash distributions through an active covered call writing strategy.
Low Volatility strategies can outperform in bull or bear markets. They follow a portfolio construction and investment strategy that is built to limit downside while capturing the upside. Investors can capture gains more efficiently by minimizing risk during periods of market turbulence.
The Harvest Low Volatility Equity ETF (HVOL:TSX) holds 40 top Canadian equities. These equities will be ranked and weighted by their risk score and market cap weight, with a 4% maximum weight per name. HVOL’s Canadian equities are scored according to risk and fundamental metrics.
Low Volatility – Portfolio Construction
Source: Harvest Portfolios Group, Inc. April 2025.
Low-volatility strategies have existed in the market since the 2007-2008 financial crisis. However, these strategies have typically followed a generic approach.
The Harvest approach utilizes multiple risk metrics to achieve its stated goals. These include Beta, Volatility, and fundamental analysis. Harvest emphasizes a robust portfolio construction to achieve a defensive low volatility portfolio and superior upside capture. Continue Reading…
I came across this article from The Globe and Mail the other day. The article profiled Jeremy Finney, who retired five years ago at age 41. Soon 46, he is dealing with regrets about early retirement.
According to the article, Jeremy worked at IT and used to push himself to the edge: 70-hour work weeks, back-to-back meetings, working 50 hours straight without sleep. His typical work week meant he was leaving home at 4 AM on Monday to fly to Chicago and returning home late Friday.
The work was so demanding that Jeremy couldn’t take time off around Christmas and from time to time, he had to work through statutory holidays. His job was so stressful that he believes it may have contributed to the breakdown of his first marriage.
That certainly doesn’t sound like a good work-life balance. From the article, my impression was that Jeremy was focusing on earning a high income, saving as much money as he could, and crossing the FIRE finish line as early as possible. [FIRE is an acronym for Financial Independence, Retire Early.] Spending quality time with his family and having an identity outside of work simply weren’t a priority.
Since I work in high tech, I can relate to this high-pressure, high-demand situation. It’s not unusual for me to have multiple meetings back to back. Since I deal with people globally, it’s also not unusual to have meetings as early as 6 AM and meetings as late as 8 PM.
Sometimes, it can feel like I’m working constantly and the so-called work-life balance is simply not possible.
Three things I learned about work-life balance
Having said that, I have learned a few key things over the years to help me improve my work-life balance:
Setting limits and boundaries. Block off early morning, lunchtime, and dinner time in my calendar.
It’s OK to turn down meetings
If possible, delegate the meeting to someone else
I’m not perfect, but I’m working on getting better at finding the right balance between work and life.
When it comes to FIRE, I think it’s important to approach it with a balanced mindset. The FIRE journey isn’t a sprint, it is a marathon. It takes years and years of planning, saving, investing, and dedication to achieve FIRE. If you approach it like a sprint, I believe you will burn out very quickly. Even if you end up achieving FIRE, you will regret it like Jeremy.
Some additional thoughts on the FIRE journey and approaching it with a balanced mindset: Continue Reading…
Discover practical strategies for achieving Financial Independence beyond the confines of a traditional job.
This article presents expert-backed advice on creating multiple income streams and aligning work with personal goals. Learn how to leverage your skills, build value-based income, and take concrete steps towards your vision of financial freedom.
Leverage Your Skills for Side Income
Transform Evenings into Venture Capital
Build Value-based Income Streams
Adopt a Side Hustle Mindset
Future-Proof your Professional Value
Align Work with your Core Purpose
Build a Financial Foundation first
Get Specific about your Goals
Cut Expenses to Create Options
Leverage your Skills for Side Income
In today’s evolving job market, many professionals find themselves tethered to traditional 9-to-5 roles: secure, yes, but often creatively or financially stifling. The desire for financial freedom is not just about escaping the office; it’s about reclaiming time, purpose, and the ability to design life on your own terms. We’ve worked with countless individuals who once felt exactly this way: stuck, uncertain, but ready for a change.
If you’re feeling trapped in a conventional job, the most important first step is to acknowledge that your desire for more isn’t selfish: it’s strategic. Financial freedom isn’t just about money; it’s about choices. And that journey starts by understanding your own value in the marketplace.
Step 1: Audit Your Skills and Strengths
Take stock of what you’re naturally good at and how those skills can translate into high-demand, high-autonomy industries. Digital skills like coding, copywriting, digital marketing, or consulting are especially valuable in today’s freelance and remote economy. Ask yourself: If I had to solve someone’s problem for a fee: what could I offer today?
Step 2: Start a Low-Risk Side Income Stream
This doesn’t mean quitting your job immediately. Start small: freelancing on Upwork, tutoring online, offering resume reviews, or starting a blog or YouTube channel around a niche you know well. Build proof of concept without jeopardizing your current income.
Step 3: Invest in a Career Coach or Mentor
Working with a coach can help you shortcut the confusion. We help clients identify the right path forward based on their lifestyle goals, not just job titles. Our structured guidance has helped people launch side businesses, shift into more flexible roles, or double their income by making strategic pivots.
According to a 2024 report by LinkedIn Workforce Insights, over 60% of professionals under 40 are actively seeking roles that offer greater flexibility and autonomy. Additionally, Harvard Business Review found that professionals who pursue “career portfolios” — multiple income streams from various skill-based services — report 43% higher job satisfaction and 31% faster income growth than peers in static roles.
Feeling stuck isn’t the end of your story: it’s a signal. A signal that you’re ready for change. We believe that financial freedom isn’t just for the lucky few—it’s for anyone willing to make bold, informed moves. — Miriam Groom, CEO, Mindful Career inc., Mindful Career Coaching
Transform Evenings into Venture Capital
If you’re feeling stuck in a traditional job and craving more financial freedom, you’re not alone: and you’re not broken. That restless feeling? It’s your internal compass telling you that what you’re doing no longer aligns with where you want to go. My advice? Don’t silence it: study it.
The most powerful first step I ever took was treating my evenings and weekends like venture capital. Instead of doom-scrolling or complaining about my 9-to-5, I built skills that made me valuable outside of it. I didn’t quit blindly. I audited my strengths, explored high-leverage models like consulting and digital products, and tested small bets until one clicked. It was less about passion and more about leverage: where can I help people, solve problems, and get paid well for it?
If you’re after financial freedom, don’t chase quick wins. Chase agency. Build something that compounds. Start by learning one monetizable skill: something you can offer tomorrow. Package it, test it, refine it. You don’t need to be loud online or have a business plan that wins awards. You need to take the first step: and then the next.
What I’ve learned from growing multiple businesses and coaching founders is this: freedom doesn’t arrive fully formed. It’s built in the margins before it becomes the main thing. So if you’re reading this wondering if it’s too late or too risky: it’s not. Your current job might pay the bills, but it doesn’t have to define your ceiling. — John Mac, Serial Entrepreneur, UNIT
Build Value-based Income Streams
If you feel stuck in a traditional job, it’s because your income is locked to your hours. Financial freedom begins when you earn based on value, not time. The fastest path is building a side income that proves you’re worth more than your salary. That means selling a skill — marketing, coding, design, sales strategy — directly to people who need results, not resumes.
I replaced my paycheck by packaging my experience into targeted offers. One client became two. Two became four. The process wasn’t complicated. I identified a problem, built a simple solution, and sold it. The first $1,000 didn’t change my life. It changed my mindset. From there, scaling was execution, not hope.
Most people stall because they’re waiting for the perfect idea or ideal conditions. Neither exists. Start by solving one problem for one customer. Build income that’s not tied to your boss. Cut costs, track results, and reinvest profits. Don’t romanticize the idea of freedom. Make it measurable. Give yourself a deadline to match and then exceed your job income.
You’re not trapped. You’re unproven. The solution isn’t to quit. The solution is to validate your value outside the structure you’ve been conditioned to depend on. You move forward the moment you stop waiting. — Steven Mitts, Entrepreneurial Coach, Steven Mitts
Adopt a Side Hustle Mindset
Traditional jobs are great for many reasons, but I completely understand. I was stuck in a normal or traditional 9-5 job, and the only thing I was dreaming about was freedom. This feeling is more common than you might think, so anyone who is experiencing it, you are not alone. The best advice I can offer is to change your mindset, more specifically, to adopt a side hustle mindset.
Think about what you currently have in your job: stability, which hopefully provides a decent income. This is a huge asset. Use this stability to your advantage; don’t think of it as a cage, but rather as your investment stream to financial freedom. Then, make a list of the skills you have, things that you like (passions) that could be monetized, or if you’ve noticed a problem that many people experience and you may have the solution, it could be your golden ticket.
Once you have your idea, don’t quit your day job. Dedicate a small but consistent chunk of your time each week to your new adventure (5 hours to start with will do). When it comes to the steps I’d recommend you take, there is only one: validate your idea. Do your research; you don’t want to waste countless hours on something that is already thriving. Once validated, begin your journey. Draw up a business plan, get a name (register it), open a bank account (do not use your personal one), then start. Take that first bold step. It is incredibly exciting, and it can induce a whole heap of fear, but you will never know if you don’t take it.
My encouragement is this: every great entrepreneur started with a tiny step. No one jumps into success; it is built from the ground up. — Aiden Higgins, Senior Editor and Writer, The Broke Backpacker
Future-Proof your Professional Value
Honestly, the biggest shift for professionals feeling trapped isn’t just leaving a traditional role: it’s strategically future-proofing their value. Research shows 65% of workers who feel ‘stuck’ actually suffer from skill obsolescence, yet those who dedicate just 5 hours weekly to learning in-demand capabilities like automation fluency or data-driven decision-making see a 47% faster transition to higher-paying, flexible roles.
Start by auditing daily tasks for automation potential: this reveals immediate efficiency gains and highlights valuable skills to develop. Platforms offering certified, applied learning in operational tech turn that insight into tangible leverage. That frustration? It’s actually a compass pointing toward untapped potential.
Financial freedom isn’t about escaping the grind; it’s about equipping yourself to command the work that matters. Every expert was once someone who decided their growth couldn’t wait for permission. — Anupa Rongala, CEO, Invensis Technologies
Align Work with your Core Purpose
First, define your freedom.
I’ve sat across from many successful people who feel completely trapped by their traditional jobs. My advice is always to stop focusing on the financial spreadsheet and start with a psychological one. The feeling of being “stuck” is rarely about money alone; true freedom comes from aligning your work with your “why.” Continue Reading…
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