The Canadian Money Roadmap

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Evan and Sam recap their 100-day Savings Ladder Challenge  sharing what worked, what didn't, and the key lessons—automation beats willpower, hard pushes should be tied to specific goals, and accountability helps—while also discussing the surprising content-creation results from posting daily short-form videos.

Send us Fan MailThis week, financial planner Moira Rose joins the podcast to explain how group RESPs prey on new parents with predatory sales tactics, high fees, and rigid contracts that can cause families to lose thousands of dollars, arguing they offer no benefits over standard RESPs and should be avoided entirely.Follow Moira on Instagram: @moirarosefinancials

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Evan and Sam explore seven financial decisions—spending, savings rate, retirement timing, CPP/OAS timing, tax and account strategy, investor behavior, and stress-testing your plan—that matter more to your financial success than fine-tuning your investment portfolio.

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan and Sam reflect on their summer highlights and use them to walk through a four-step framework — awareness, priorities, feasibility, and a to-do list — for aligning your spending and time with what actually matters to you as you plan for retirement.

Send us Fan MailOn this episode, Evan and Sam explore whether retiring before age 65 makes sense, weighing the financial trade-offs (lost government benefits, tax credits, income splitting) against lifestyle factors like health, purpose, and how you want to spend your time.

Send us Fan MailThis episode walks through a practical framework—mandate, diversification, factor exposure, and cost—for evaluating whether an ETF or mutual fund actually deserves a place in your portfolio.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan and Sam each draft 5 things they each believe are worth the money. Ranging from Toyota vehicles, paying off your credit cards, to a day at a Nordic spa, their selections spark conversations about how spending fits into financial plans. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan and Sam argue that markets and life change too fast to predict, so financial success depends not on timing the market but on building a diversified, evidence-based plan focused on the variables you can actually control.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan and Sam examine common examples of bad financial advice they've encountered online and with real clients — including chasing past returns, being pressured to commute a pension into a complex insurance product, and having locked-in investments (like labor-sponsored funds and GICs) placed in accounts where money is needed by a specific deadline.

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan walks through his semi-annual "full financial picture" review process — a simple spreadsheet exercise that tracks net worth, insurance, and estate planning documents — and explains how to use it as a starting point for couples to get on the same page about their finances.

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Sam and Evan discuss how the markets have performed over the first half of 2026 covering how international stocks (especially South Korea) are outperforming the US, value stocks are beating growth stocks, the Magnificent Seven have stalled, and speculative assets like Bitcoin and gold have failed to act as expected hedges.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap podcast, Evan and Sam play a game of "This or That," debating personal finance preferences across six topics: TFSA vs. RRSP, paying down your mortgage vs. investing, stocks-only vs. including bonds in your portfolio, lump sum vs. dollar cost averaging, buying vs. renting a vacation property, and leaving an inheritance vs. giving money while alive.

Send us Fan MailThis episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap explores why chasing past investment returns is a losing strategy. Hosts Evan and Sam explain that actively managed funds overwhelmingly underperform their benchmarks over time. They advocate for an evidence-based approach built on broad diversification, low costs, and factor-based investing (size, value, and profitability) aligned with a personalized financial plan.

Send us Fan MailNearly two-thirds of Canadian pre-retirees don't have a retirement withdrawal plan.  On this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan and Sam use a case study to show how optimizing your withdrawals during retirement can have a significant impact on your available investments and estate projection. YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/6flzb8rwtP4

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Evan and Sam explore new research challenging the conventional wisdom of shifting to bonds as you near retirement, making the case that a globally diversified equity portfolio — tailored to your personal risk tolerance, capacity, and financial needs — may actually give you better odds of reaching your retirement goals. 

Send us Fan MailIn episode 200 of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan reflects on how his views on financial planning have evolved over his first decade in the industry. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode, Evan and Sam propose a new savings challenge that will allow people to save over $5,000 in 100 days. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode, Evan and Sam analyze the results from their Financial Foundation Scorecard — revealing that while listeners excel at saving, budgeting, and debt management, most lack a written retirement plan and the confidence to know if they're truly on track for retirement. 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Evan and Sam provide advice about how to help children financially during your retirement. Key point include: make sure you can afford it, communicate clear expectations, specify what the money is for, and consider non-cash ways to give — because intentional generosity protects both your retirement savings and your family relationships.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Sam puts Evan on the hot seat and gets him to answer questions related to ethical investing, building a portfolio, and financial red flags.

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan and Sam break down what prediction markets are and why Canadians should be cautious now that platforms like Wealthsimple are beginning to offer them.

Send us Fan MailOn this episode, Evan and Sam walk Canadians through the critical financial and lifestyle decisions to make in the 5–10 years before retirement — covering savings milestones, debt payoff, retirement lifestyle planning, asset allocation, and retirement withdrawal strategies.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan and Sam consider how much Canadians need to save for retirement based upon the recommendations in two Canadian finance books The Wealthy Barber and The Rule of 30. They also discuss other insights from both books. 

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan and Sam discuss the implications of Canadians holding more cash. The episode distinguishes between emergency funds, planned spending, and a "sleep at night" buffer, while warning against using cash as a market-timing tool.

Send us Fan MailOn this episode, Evan and Sam consider the practicality of retiring in Canada without pension through a case study of Tracy and Derek, who have saved $500,000 at age 50. 

On this week's episode, Evan and Sam discuss key reasons to file your taxes, the relationship between taxes and financial planning, and discuss ways to use your tax refund to optimize saving. Schedule an intro call for the Cedar Point Pathway retirement planning process - 2 Spots open in April 2026

On this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan and Sam discuss how to balance family spending and retirement savings across three life stages — early parenthood, supporting older kids, and legacy/retirement planning. 

On this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Sam puts Evan in the hot seat and asks questions about market volatility, investment fees, retirement savings, and more. 

In this episode, Evan discusses the value of staying invested during periods of market volatility, specifically the market decline triggered by fighting in the Middle East, explaining that diversified portfolios are still positive year-to-date and why panic-selling during downturns is a costly mistake.

On this episode, Evan and Sam discuss why building a "better" investment portfolio requires looking beyond past performance to factors like diversification, fees, and turnover—challenging the oversimplified belief that higher returns automatically mean a better portfolio.

In this episode, Evan and Sam explore whether historical patterns and current market data suggest there is an AI Bubble.

In this episode, Evan  explains how Canadian government retirement programs (CPP, OAS, and GIS) work, emphasizing their value in retirement planning.

In this episode, Evan examines the pros and cons of RRSP loans—borrowing money to contribute to your retirement savings. He notes  while RRSP loans offer tax deductions and lower interest rates, most people would be better off avoiding them due to the costs, risks, and limited flexibility of leveraged investing.

In this episode, Evan explains how Canadian retirement income accounts—RRIFs, LIFs, and PRIFs—work, covering how to convert accumulation accounts into income-producing accounts, the minimum and maximum withdrawal rules, tax implications, and province-specific regulations for managing retirement savings.

On this episode, Evan describes the key accumulation accounts available to Canadian  and their potential uses for investors.

In this episode, Evan and Sam discuss gold's historical performance as a hedge against market downturns, inflation, and economic crises, ultimately concluding that while gold has surged recently, the evidence doesn't support it as a reliable hedge in times of economic uncertainty. The episode concludes with a discussion of ways to get exposure to gold's upside through diversified evidenced-based investing.

On this episode, Evan examines mutual funds and ETFs. He notes both mutual funds and ETFs can be useful investment containers for building diversified portfolios, challenges the idea that one is inherently better than the other, while clarifying that the real differences lie in their transaction mechanics rather than their investment strategies or tax efficiency.

On this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, Evan describes what stocks and bonds are, why they're essential building blocks of a retirement portfolio, and how diversification and long-term holding periods reduce risk and increase the likelihood of positive returns.

This episode analyzes whether a 20-year-old Quebec lottery winner made the right choice by taking $1,000 per week for life instead of a $1 million lump sum.

In this episode, Evan highlights three common financial mistakes to avoid in the new year while sharing practical tips to help you get ahead and retire confidently.

In this year-end episode, Evan pulls back the curtain on his personal finances, the launch of Cedar Point Wealth, and the growth of The Canadian Money Roadmap, sharing real numbers, lessons learned, and what's ahead for 2026.

Evan shares his annual checklist of key financial tasks to consider before the year ends. Topics include maximizing your First Home Savings Account (FHSA), TFSA withdrawal timing, spousal RRSP strategies, charitable giving, capital gains/losses, mutual fund distributions, workplace benefits, and tips for staying organized. Evan also highlights useful resources to help you get your finances in order for the new year.

Learn one of the most reliable ways of increasing your happiness when it comes to your money.Free Kindle Books from Dr. Daniel Crosby - Until the end of December 20251. The Behavioural Investor2. The Soul of Wealth: 50 Reflections on Money and Meaning3. The Laws of Wealth

Most Canadians have no idea what they're actually paying to invest — and many are overpaying by a lot.In this episode, Evan breaks down how investment fees really work in Canada, what's reasonable, what's not, and how to tell if you're paying for advice you aren't actually getting. You'll learn how to read MERs, Fund Facts, and trailing commissions so you can spot red flags and avoid getting ripped off.

In this Q&A episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap Podcast, Evan answers two listener questions:How do TD ETFs compare to other providers like Vanguard and BlackRock? Evan breaks down the differences, explains why TD funds may get less attention, and shares what to look for when evaluating ETFs for your portfolio.What's the best order to withdraw funds in retirement? Evan discusses the factors that influence withdrawal strategies, including account types, tax implications, and personal goals

Record your money question here - No account or email required.

In this episode, we explore how the art of making the perfect smash burger—mastered by burger expert George Motz—parallels the principles of smart investing. Discover why simplicity, quality ingredients, and avoiding unnecessary complexity lead to better results, whether you're building a great burger or a strong investment portfolio. Tune in for practical insights and a fresh perspective on financial success.

In this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap, we explore why chasing last year's top-performing stocks or sectors can leave your investment strategy “late to the party.” Evan breaks down the pitfalls of following market hype—like AI, tech chips, utilities, and even nuclear power—and explains how much of the expected growth is already priced in by the time most investors notice.Learn why diversification, humility, and keeping costs low are the real keys to long-term investing success. Plus, hear research on why only a tiny fraction of stocks drive most market gains, and why trying to pick the next big winner is a losing game for most.

In this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap Podcast, Evan records from his mobile studio (aka his truck) and reflects on the parallels between the Toronto Blue Jays' unexpected playoff run and the world of investing. He discusses how both sports and markets can defy expectations, the importance of managing your emotions during winning streaks, and why it's crucial to remember that “this too shall pass”—whether times are good or bad. Evan also touches on the value of risk management, the role of cash in your portfolio, and why speculative assets like Bitcoin and gold differ from stocks and bonds. Tune in for practical advice on keeping your investment expectations realistic and building a system you can stick with through market ups and downs.

In this episode of the Canadian Money Roadmap Podcast, Evan Neufeld shares practical strategies for making smarter spending decisions during Amazon Prime Day and other major sales events. Learn how to spot real deals, avoid marketing tricks, and use tools like CamelCamelCamel to check price histories. Evan also discusses the value of spending money on meaningful experiences rather than just accumulating more stuff, and introduces a simple rule of thumb for deciding when to make a purchase. Tune in for actionable tips to help you get the most value from your money—on Prime Day and beyond.

In this episode, Evan discusses a recent news story about a family facing a $660,000 tax bill after both parents passed away in the same year. He explains the tax rules around RRSPs, capital gains, and estate planning in Canada, and clarifies common misconceptions presented in the media. The episode covers the importance of understanding tax implications, planning ahead, and communicating with family about estate matters. Evan also shares practical advice on strategies like life insurance and early RRSP withdrawals.