6 minute read
Below is a recap of the valueble insights Rob shared during our session, from navigating today’s volatile financial landscape to building better habits around saving, spending, and investing.
Rob has covered nearly three decades of economic cycles, bubbles, crashes, recessions, and more. Yet he believes today’s conditions may be one of the most challenging period Canadians have faced during his career. Inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, disrupted global markets, and high living costs are creating a persistent feeling of financial instability.
His message: Stay alert, stay grounded, and stay proactive.
If you don’t know where to start, Rob’s advice is simple: start saving something.
You don’t need 10% of your income from day one. Even $50 per paycheque builds the momentum and confidence needed to take control of your finances.
If you have high-interest debt, especially credit cards, prioritize paying that down first.
Many young Canadians fear they’ll never reach major milestones homeownership, financial stability, retirement. Rob urges them not to despair.
Your 20s and early 30s are for career-building. Most people can still reach their goals maybe just later than previous generations. Patience and consistent habits matter more than timing.
Rob introduced one of the session’s most memorable concepts: use your “no” muscle.
With social pressure and frictionless digital spending pushing Canadians to spend more than ever, balance comes from learning to decline things like trips, luxuries, or experiences that don’t fit your financial reality.
Rob expressed strong optimism about open banking and its potential to unlock innovation for everyday Canadians. With secure, permission-based access to financial data, he expects a surge of apps and services that make financial planning easier and more accessible.
This is exactly the future Neontra is building toward.
Rob cautioned against trying to predict the perfect moment to buy or sell.
His biggest investing regret? Not buying more when markets were down.
For someone with a maxed-out TFSA, Rob’s view was clear: use an RRSP next.
The decades of tax-deferred growth outweigh the eventual tax bill, especially if your retirement income is lower than your peak working income.
Instead of asking “What age should I retire?”, Rob suggests asking:
“Do I have enough income to support the lifestyle I want?”
Your savings, CPP, OAS, pensions, and investments should combine to form a sustainable income not just a lump sum.
For those without a pension, Rob suggested consider 2–3 years of living expenses in cash to avoid selling investments during market downturns.
Digital payments have made overspending too easy. Rob’s practical fix:
Seeing money leave your hand or your bank account in real time creates natural boundaries.
Rob believes in the philosophy: Pay yourself first.
Rather than tracking every spending category, focus on setting aside savings or investment contributions first, paying your debts, and then spending from what’s left. For many Canadians, this approach works far better than a strict budget..
This session confirmed what we at Neontra believe: clarity leads to confidence. Whether you're saving for the first time, preparing for retirement, or simply trying to reduce financial stress, tools and education matter and we’re committed to providing both.
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Stay tuned for more events in the Neontra Expert Series.
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