‘Tis the season for many good things. For the gifts of family, friends and clients, for example.  And also for giving.  This holiday season, we have decided to demonstrate our caring for those around us by, instead of holding a corporate event, making a donation to Compassion Canada, an organization that helps raise children out of poverty in developing nations.  Specifically, on behalf of our clients, we have made a $5,000 gift that will help provide clean water to children and families in Cinandega City, Nicaragua. 

And there’s more to the story.  Please consider taking a few minutes to watch this video, in which I explain the incredible impact Compassion Canada is having on the lives of children around the world.  The video includes some wonderful pictures from a visit my wife Sarah and I made to a Compassion centre in Ecuador in 2017 – where we had the thrill of meeting the girl we sponsor. 

But first, allow me to wish a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you and yours. 

Ian Ardill, B.A., M.T.S. 

Private Wealth Advisor
CEO, Ardill Group  

Direct: 1 905 717 5698 

Office: 1 905 907 7000 

ian@ardillgroup.com 

The post A Very Special Gift first appeared on Ardill Group.

Are you concerned about inflation eating away at your portfolio? 

The Bank of Canada has identified inflation as “transitory but not short-lived,” and thus has signalled it could raise interest rates as soon as April 2022. 

Traditionally, people mitigated the risk of higher inflation by buying fixed income instruments including bonds.  But now, with interest rates about to rise, leaving money in fixed income may leave you feeling disenchanted – because as interest rates go up, bond prices go down. 

How are you positioned against the erosion of inflation?  Would you like to have a portfolio review and talk about it early in the New Year?  Just let us know. 

The post New Year, New Review? first appeared on Ardill Group.

But first, a note from Ian Ardill: 

When I grow up, I want to be like my dad.  He has been so strategic about retirement, about not hanging up his cleats, so to speak, and not letting himself go. I am so proud of him and I am proud to introduce this special contribution from him – on how he is not just surviving, but thriving in retirement.  Here is his story: 

When I stopped being active in this business on a daily basis, a vacuum appeared in my life.  I felt lost.  In order to be happy and complete as a human being, I recognized that my focus had to change. 

With more than 40 years of experience helping clients prepare for retirement, I was able to observe many journeys – and so I gained some helpful insight into the subject.  Here is how I would summarize what I saw:  managing retirement has traditionally been all about financial planning.  The psychological dimensions weren’t usually part of the package.  But today, given our longer life spans, assuring financial security is only one element in creating a retirement plan – and in our knowledge economy, it is perverse to let healthy, mentally active leaders feel they no longer have contributions to make. 

My business was my identity and my financial security. I thought of my clients as being in a tribe and it was my responsibility to direct them though various parts of their lives. They showed me how life really was, and they broadened my perspective.  What a privilege it was, servicing you for 40 years plus. 

While I was working, my major concerns were to stay healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually, and to keep my family safe and provide the lifestyle that I wanted for them.  Decades into that process, the subject of succession planning came up.  It can be extremely challenging to pass the torch to someone else – but I got lucky.  Ian wanted to take over my business, and wow, he is doing a great job at that.  Congratulations Ian!  

Because of Ian and Darlene, I had and still do have the peace of mind that they are doing an excellent job. That is important to me: knowing that you are being looked after professionally and with the same type of philosophy.  

Now the rubber has hit the road.  I am retired except for mentoring Ian and anyone else who wants to listen. 

I have been on this Earth for 74 years. Like all of us, I have had my ups and downs in life.  Why is it that we learn more and become better people recovering from the downs rather from the ups? Don’t get me wrong:  I like the ups and want to avoid the downs as much possible. 

The Five Ways 

But I had a dip right after retiring – and what did I do about it?  Joanne and I started by selling our house and taking off for nine months. I think that was one of the best things we could do. It broke the routine and forced me to figure out how I was going to spend my time without driving everyone nuts. I have a few more aches and pains in recent years, and I needed to search for a new purpose in life. I was keeping myself busy with golf, tennis, mountain biking and reading – but for me that was not enough.  Something was missing. I looked for exactly what was missing, and I came up with these five things to address them: 

1. Meditate each day for at least 10 to 15 minutes. 

2. Start a fitness routine that was compatible with my age and ability. 

3. Start focusing on full body harmony. That led to me practicing Qi Gong (“chee-gong”). 

4. Eat well and reduce alcoholic beverages. That has been working some of the time! 

5. Invest in personal relationships. There is no better place to start than home, spending time with friends and family. Close personal relationships, more than money or a wish for celebrity, are what keeps me happy (see this story on a famous Harvard study about happiness).  It is the little things that get me up in the morning. Walking the dog, (we are going to get a dog for this reason), enjoying coffee and the newspaper, having dinner with my Joanne –  that’s what makes me happy, and they cost next to nothing. I believe that adults with strong social support have a reduced risk of many significant health problems, including depression, high blood pressure and an unhealthy body mass index (BMI). Older adults with a rich social life tend to live longer than those who are more isolated, too (see this fascinating TED Talk on the subject). 

These five points ended up being a big commitment.  Because it takes hours each day and I am not perfect. Joanne has been a tremendous help, being on board with this routine. It seems to be working and I am not begrudging the time. 

Up For a Call? 

I am in search of volunteer work and am keeping my eye out for an opportunity. With all those fellow retirees out there, we should start a regular web call to talk about retirement challenges. One of the most interesting things about human beings is that we are all different and have diverse ways to cope with life. If you want to give a web call a try, just let me know.  

Be well and Happy Holidays! 

John Ardill 

Founder and Mentor 

Ardill Group 

Direct: 1 416 400 5882
Office: 1 905 907 7000 

john@ardillgroup.com 

The post The Five Ways I’m Surviving Retirement first appeared on Ardill Group.

We build an exceptional ecosystem of expertise by taking our time to find just the right match, of experts and solutions, for our clients. 

I had a fantastic conversation with Jason Jogia, CIO of Avenue Living, about the great returns being delivered by Core Trust – their flagship fund – which our clients have exposure to.  In a nutshell, Avenue Living buys rental buildings that have been starved from active management and capital, and revitalizes them for the benefit of all – for Avenue, for renters, and for investors.  Check out the video to learn more! 

The post Ecosystem Update: Avenue Living first appeared on Ardill Group.