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When I was a kid, my grandfather had Parkinson's.
At the time, I didn't understand what that meant financially. What it did to retirement plans, or how families had to adapt. What I remember are the Sunday visits to the hospital. Wheeling him around the halls. French fries from the cafeteria. The nurses who, over the years, became family friends.
Those memories have never left me.
Now, as a financial planner, I see the other side of that story. Parkinson's doesn't just change health. It changes finances, families, and futures.
How do we plan for unexpected costs? How do we keep income reliable? How do we protect the people we love if life doesn't go as planned?
These are questions I take seriously. Because even as a kid, just being there on those Sunday visits, I saw what it meant for a family to rally around someone they love.
On World Parkinson's Day, I'm thinking of every family going through this. If you have questions or just want to talk through what planning could look like for your situation, I'm always here.
At the time, I didn't understand what that meant financially. What it did to retirement plans, or how families had to adapt. What I remember are the Sunday visits to the hospital. Wheeling him around the halls. French fries from the cafeteria. The nurses who, over the years, became family friends.
Those memories have never left me.
Now, as a financial planner, I see the other side of that story. Parkinson's doesn't just change health. It changes finances, families, and futures.
How do we plan for unexpected costs? How do we keep income reliable? How do we protect the people we love if life doesn't go as planned?
These are questions I take seriously. Because even as a kid, just being there on those Sunday visits, I saw what it meant for a family to rally around someone they love.
On World Parkinson's Day, I'm thinking of every family going through this. If you have questions or just want to talk through what planning could look like for your situation, I'm always here.
The first year of retirement is one of the biggest financial transitions you'll ever make. And in my experience, it's also when some of the most common and costly mistakes happen.
Not because people aren't prepared, but because retirement looks a lot different in practice than it does on paper.
Here are five mistakes I see most often in that first year:
1. Spending too freely too soon. The first year often feels like an extended vacation, and it's easy to overspend before you've settled into a realistic rhythm.
2. Underestimating healthcare costs. Even with coverage, out of pocket expenses in retirement add up faster than most people expect.
3. Taking CPP or OAS too early. Timing your government benefits matters more than most people realize, and getting it wrong can cost you significantly over the long run.
4. Ignoring inflation. A retirement income that feels comfortable today may not stretch as far in 10 or 15 years without a plan to account for rising costs.
5. Not adjusting your investment strategy. What worked during your accumulation years may not be the right approach when you're drawing down. The risk profile changes.
The good news is that all of these are avoidable with the right plan in place before you make the transition.
If you're approaching retirement or just getting started, book a call with me at https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect. I'd love to help you get it right from day one!
Not because people aren't prepared, but because retirement looks a lot different in practice than it does on paper.
Here are five mistakes I see most often in that first year:
1. Spending too freely too soon. The first year often feels like an extended vacation, and it's easy to overspend before you've settled into a realistic rhythm.
2. Underestimating healthcare costs. Even with coverage, out of pocket expenses in retirement add up faster than most people expect.
3. Taking CPP or OAS too early. Timing your government benefits matters more than most people realize, and getting it wrong can cost you significantly over the long run.
4. Ignoring inflation. A retirement income that feels comfortable today may not stretch as far in 10 or 15 years without a plan to account for rising costs.
5. Not adjusting your investment strategy. What worked during your accumulation years may not be the right approach when you're drawing down. The risk profile changes.
The good news is that all of these are avoidable with the right plan in place before you make the transition.
If you're approaching retirement or just getting started, book a call with me at https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect. I'd love to help you get it right from day one!
Tax season is here, and April 30th tends to come up faster than most people expect.
For personal income tax returns in Canada, that's your filing deadline. If you're self-employed, you have until June 15th to file, but anything you owe is still due April 30th. It's a detail worth knowing ahead of time.
Filing late can result in penalties and interest, even on smaller amounts, so it's worth getting ahead of it now.
If you have questions about how your investments, insurance, or financial plan play into your return this year, we're always happy to help.
Book a call with us at: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
For personal income tax returns in Canada, that's your filing deadline. If you're self-employed, you have until June 15th to file, but anything you owe is still due April 30th. It's a detail worth knowing ahead of time.
Filing late can result in penalties and interest, even on smaller amounts, so it's worth getting ahead of it now.
If you have questions about how your investments, insurance, or financial plan play into your return this year, we're always happy to help.
Book a call with us at: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
Retirement doesn't mean the cost of living stops going up.
In fact, inflation can be one of the biggest threats to a retirement plan that looks great on paper. What feels comfortable today may not stretch as far in 5, 10, or 15 years.
That's why we don't just plan for where you are now. We plan for where things are going.
There are real, proactive steps we can take to help protect your purchasing power in retirement. From how your income is structured to how your investments are positioned.
If you haven't had that conversation yet, it might be time.
Ready to take a proactive look at your retirement plan? Let's talk. Book a call here: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
In fact, inflation can be one of the biggest threats to a retirement plan that looks great on paper. What feels comfortable today may not stretch as far in 5, 10, or 15 years.
That's why we don't just plan for where you are now. We plan for where things are going.
There are real, proactive steps we can take to help protect your purchasing power in retirement. From how your income is structured to how your investments are positioned.
If you haven't had that conversation yet, it might be time.
Ready to take a proactive look at your retirement plan? Let's talk. Book a call here: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
Building a business takes everything you've got. Late nights, big decisions, and a whole lot of trust in yourself.
I work with a lot of entrepreneurs, and one thing I see consistently is that protection gets pushed to the bottom of the list. There's always something more urgent, more exciting, more pressing.
But here's what I know: the smartest business owners I work with treat protection the same way they treat any other strategic investment. It's not a box to check. It's part of how they run a sustainable business.
The right plan looks different for everyone. It depends on your business structure, your family situation, and where you're trying to go. That's the conversation I love having.
If you're an entrepreneur who hasn't taken a real look at your protection strategy lately, let's change that.
Ready to protect what you've built? Book a call with me today: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
I work with a lot of entrepreneurs, and one thing I see consistently is that protection gets pushed to the bottom of the list. There's always something more urgent, more exciting, more pressing.
But here's what I know: the smartest business owners I work with treat protection the same way they treat any other strategic investment. It's not a box to check. It's part of how they run a sustainable business.
The right plan looks different for everyone. It depends on your business structure, your family situation, and where you're trying to go. That's the conversation I love having.
If you're an entrepreneur who hasn't taken a real look at your protection strategy lately, let's change that.
Ready to protect what you've built? Book a call with me today: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
Most people think financial freedom is one thing. It's actually three.
Stage 1: Security. This is the foundation. Knowing the basics are covered, that the unexpected won't throw everything off, and that you can stop worrying about money and start living. It sounds like a low bar, but getting here genuinely changes how people feel day to day.
Stage 2: Flexibility. This is where things start to feel different. You have real options. You can say yes to the things that matter to you and no to the things that don't. You're not just getting by, you're actually making choices that reflect what you want your life to look like.
Stage 3: Legacy impact. This one is about more than money. It's about what you leave behind for the people you care about most. The support, the opportunities, the values. It's one of the most meaningful conversations I have with clients.
Everyone I work with is somewhere in this journey. My job is to understand where you are, where you want to go, and walk through it with you over the long term. Not as a one-time conversation, but as someone who actually knows your situation and is there as it evolves.
If you're not sure where you stand, that's a perfectly fine place to start.
Book a call and let's figure out where you are on your journey: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
Stage 1: Security. This is the foundation. Knowing the basics are covered, that the unexpected won't throw everything off, and that you can stop worrying about money and start living. It sounds like a low bar, but getting here genuinely changes how people feel day to day.
Stage 2: Flexibility. This is where things start to feel different. You have real options. You can say yes to the things that matter to you and no to the things that don't. You're not just getting by, you're actually making choices that reflect what you want your life to look like.
Stage 3: Legacy impact. This one is about more than money. It's about what you leave behind for the people you care about most. The support, the opportunities, the values. It's one of the most meaningful conversations I have with clients.
Everyone I work with is somewhere in this journey. My job is to understand where you are, where you want to go, and walk through it with you over the long term. Not as a one-time conversation, but as someone who actually knows your situation and is there as it evolves.
If you're not sure where you stand, that's a perfectly fine place to start.
Book a call and let's figure out where you are on your journey: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
When you call a big bank, you get a 1- 800 number and whoever picks up.
When you call us, you get someone you actually know.
That's something we've always been intentional about. My clients have our direct line and email because when something comes up with your finances, the last thing you should have to deal with is a hold queue and a stranger on the other end.
You deserve an advisor and a team who know your name, your goals, and your situation. Not just your account number.
If that's the kind of relationship you're looking for, let's talk.
Book a call here: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
When you call us, you get someone you actually know.
That's something we've always been intentional about. My clients have our direct line and email because when something comes up with your finances, the last thing you should have to deal with is a hold queue and a stranger on the other end.
You deserve an advisor and a team who know your name, your goals, and your situation. Not just your account number.
If that's the kind of relationship you're looking for, let's talk.
Book a call here: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
Most people spend decades building their wealth. Not enough time is spent protecting it.
If you're approaching retirement or have built significant assets, the right tax strategy can change what your retirement actually looks like. We're talking more money in your pocket, less going to tax, and a plan that's working for you instead of against you.
You've worked hard to get here. The last thing you want is to hand more of it over than you have to.
This is something we work through with our clients all the time, and it's one of those conversations that can make a real difference to your long term picture.
If you're curious what that could look like for your situation, book a call and let's take a look together: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
If you're approaching retirement or have built significant assets, the right tax strategy can change what your retirement actually looks like. We're talking more money in your pocket, less going to tax, and a plan that's working for you instead of against you.
You've worked hard to get here. The last thing you want is to hand more of it over than you have to.
This is something we work through with our clients all the time, and it's one of those conversations that can make a real difference to your long term picture.
If you're curious what that could look like for your situation, book a call and let's take a look together: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
Over the years, one thing has become very clear to me. People often think financial confidence comes from investments or returns, but in my experience, it has much more to do with clarity, consistency, and knowing you have someone in your corner as life changes.
I wrote a short LinkedIn article about this called The Value of Staying Connected, sharing some real observations from working with clients over the long term.
If you are curious, you can read it and subscribe here: www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7437949914124316673
And if you have been meaning to get a second opinion or simply want to talk through your plans, I am always happy to have a conversation.
Book a consultation: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
I wrote a short LinkedIn article about this called The Value of Staying Connected, sharing some real observations from working with clients over the long term.
If you are curious, you can read it and subscribe here: www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7437949914124316673
And if you have been meaning to get a second opinion or simply want to talk through your plans, I am always happy to have a conversation.
Book a consultation: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
Did you know?
Most bank advisors can only offer you their own bank's products. That's just how the system is built.
When you work with us, that changes. As an open architecture firm, we're not tied to any single provider, which means we shop the entire market to find what actually works best for you.
You get more options, less conflict of interest, and the potential for stronger returns for the same or less risk.
Your portfolio is built around your goals, your situation, and what's actually best for you, not around what one institution happens to sell.
Curious what that could look like for you? Book a call with me here: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
Most bank advisors can only offer you their own bank's products. That's just how the system is built.
When you work with us, that changes. As an open architecture firm, we're not tied to any single provider, which means we shop the entire market to find what actually works best for you.
You get more options, less conflict of interest, and the potential for stronger returns for the same or less risk.
Your portfolio is built around your goals, your situation, and what's actually best for you, not around what one institution happens to sell.
Curious what that could look like for you? Book a call with me here: https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag/connect/
Many business owners reinvest every dollar back into their business. Having a strategic plan helps you decide what to reinvest and what to set aside for your future.
Book a Sun Life One Plan conversation to map out your next steps. https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
#SunLifeOnePlan
Book a Sun Life One Plan conversation to map out your next steps. https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
#SunLifeOnePlan
A withdrawal strategy can help create dependable income while helping you manage risk. Let’s chat about income planning basics that fit your needs. https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Tax time is also estate-planning time. Reviewing your return helps ensure beneficiary designations, ownership structures and transfer plans align with your wishes, while reducing potential taxes on asset transfers.
Winter is still here, but your financial wellbeing can shine. Now's the perfect time to review your savings and investments and help ensure you're on track for growth. Let’s connect to explore Sun Life's diverse wealth solutions that we can tailor to your goals.
https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Do you want to keep more money in your business? Let's talk about smart tax strategies that fit your company to make it more tax efficient. 📊
Ready to save? Visit my website to set up time to chat. https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Ready to save? Visit my website to set up time to chat. https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Thoughtful planning ensures your assets reach the right people at the right time — with minimal tax impact.
Key considerations include:
-Estate planning strategies
-Tax-efficient wealth transfer
-Protecting family harmony
-Preserving your legacy
Start planning today for a seamless transition tomorrow. Get in touch today. https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Key considerations include:
-Estate planning strategies
-Tax-efficient wealth transfer
-Protecting family harmony
-Preserving your legacy
Start planning today for a seamless transition tomorrow. Get in touch today. https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Building wealth is about more than growing your money – it's about creating lasting financial security. 💖💰
Your financial wellbeing matters at every stage of life. Whether you're just starting out or well into your journey, now is the right time to take action.
Ready to connect? Let's work together to help you set achievable long-term wealth goals and build a brighter financial future.
Your financial wellbeing matters at every stage of life. Whether you're just starting out or well into your journey, now is the right time to take action.
Ready to connect? Let's work together to help you set achievable long-term wealth goals and build a brighter financial future.
Business owners, are you so focused on your company that your personal finances have been put on hold?
Let's work together to create a financial roadmap that supports both your business ambitions and personal dreams.
Get started here > https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Let's work together to create a financial roadmap that supports both your business ambitions and personal dreams.
Get started here > https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Avez-vous mis toute votre attention sur votre entreprise que vous en avez négligé vos finances personnelles? Le moment est venu d’adopter une approche globale.
Travaillons ensemble pour créer un parcours financier qui cadre avec vos ambitions professionnelles et vos rêves personnels.
Ça commence ici > https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Travaillons ensemble pour créer un parcours financier qui cadre avec vos ambitions professionnelles et vos rêves personnels.
Ça commence ici > https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Life changes, goals evolve and your estate plan should too.
Whether navigating business succession, protecting family wealth or maximizing tax efficiency, we can help ensure your legacy reflects your current vision and helps protect what matters most.
Ready to review your plan? Reach out today. https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Whether navigating business succession, protecting family wealth or maximizing tax efficiency, we can help ensure your legacy reflects your current vision and helps protect what matters most.
Ready to review your plan? Reach out today. https://advisor.sunlife.ca/trevor.schentag
Have questions?
Here to help answer your questions, provide clarity about products and get you started on the road to achieving your goals.
We are contracted with Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc., a member of the Sun Life group of companies. Mutual funds distributed by Sun Life Financial Investment Services (Canada) Inc.