Joy to the world! I have been very blessed this year.

By my family, my friends, and my clients. Also by the ski hills of Mont Tremblant, the family camper we took through Northern Ontario, across the Prairies and through the Rockies this summer, and the Maple Leafs – but we don’t have to talk about the latter, I know it’s a controversial subject…

INTRODUCING: ARDILL ADVENTURES

Here begins a new section of our newsletter that features the latest news of the Ardill clan. But before I get into it, I should preface by saying that not ALL family adventures are as fun as we hope for them to be… and that’s okay.

As Sarah, the kids and I made our way East for a family ski trip this past March, one by one, we started dropping like flies, catching ill. We did our best to enjoy the slopes, but after just two nights we packed it in, beginning the long and uncomfortable trip home. I think it’s safe to say we were all relieved to be headed on our way.

So while I would classify this trip as not exactly a big win, the most important thing is the intentional approach we took (and always take) when it comes to populating the calendar. If I can humbly share anything about how to structure one’s schedule, it’s with these three rules of thumb:

• Be intentional
• Be purposeful
• Prioritize investing in your family and the relationships closest to you

It’s what makes our home run about as smoothly as we could hope – with Mackenzie in specialty arts school for vocals, singing her heart out in three different choirs and church; Madison adopting a horse into our family, making 3-4 trips to the barn every week to ride; and Malakye playing hockey at the rink three times a week.

MAKING HISTORY

On the business side of things, I found myself more grateful than ever for my intentional and purposeful practices, because I got to watch them take root and grow in every client interaction and financial transaction. They formed the foundation for some of our proudest moments this year. Here’s a snapshot of the highlights:

• We have continued to strengthen important relationships. Weekly, I’ve been active in leading a group of five advisors, engaging in idea sharing and discussing best practices. It’s been a wonderful complement to our overall business practice.
• Adding Alejandra Zambrano to the team! Or as you may know her, Alex. She has been an amazing addition, bringing a tremendous amount of strength to our process. As of right now, she is actively working on getting her insurance license, so she can add even more value for our clients.
• Our very own Darlene Abballe was promoted to Director of Internal Underwriting. With almost 25 years of expert insurance and investment knowledge and client service skills, we are excited to celebrate Darlene’s 15 YEARS working with Ardill Group coming up in February 2023.

Now I thought I’d save the best – and possibly most impressive – for last.

This year, we had a record 114 private equity transactions in addition to insurance and referrals to our public portfolio managers. This was the largest number of financial transactions in the HISTORY of Ardill Group. We could not have done this without every helping hand from our incredible team, or our clients, of course.

We want you to know this: we’re vital, we’re active, and we’re one of the leading advisory practices in the country.

READY, SET, GROW!

The public markets have been challenging this year, which is why we continue to actively work with our excellent private equity asset managers, monitoring them closely. And let me tell you, taking a balanced approach has paid off. I’m thrilled to share that despite this year’s market volatility, every single one of our private equity funds have made positive gains!

It’s important to remember that everybody’s asset mix is different – and success will vary whether you’re invested in the public markets or the private ones. Either way, our focus is always on finding Just the right match for your money.

THANK YOU

I’ve got a whole section just on thanking you in this newsletter, but I thought I’d find a way to sneak it in again. Because all things considered, braving the markets these days is no walk in the park. But if there’s one thing you can do when walking through them, it’s decide who you’re walking with. And I – and our whole team – are so grateful and privileged that you would choose us, out of everyone else, to accompany you.

From our family to yours, and from all of us here at Ardill Group, we wish you the very best this holiday season, and always.  

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 Merry Christmas! And a Happy Year (in Review) first appeared on Ardill Group.

What more can I say in response to such an honour than a huge, sincere: THANK YOU.

I don’t take your trust lightly – in fact, none of us here at Ardill Group do. Every week, we talk about how our most important job is to be that trusted place for our clients. It’s part of what allows us to operate from a place of gratitude and thanksgiving, because while our promise is to find Just the right match for your money, the best part of that journey is the walk we take with you every day to get there.

Like I said in June, in our Q2 newsletter, there is a lot of anxiety out there. Feeling powerless has never been so easily accessible. But what I said in the summer is still true today: we know what will ensure you never have to feel that way again and we are always looking for new ways for you to take back your sense of control.

So I’ll just say it a few more times (for now): thank you for trusting us, thank you for believing in us, and thank you for letting us help you see your money differently.

The post It’s not lost on me… first appeared on Ardill Group.

How could we not partner with this incredible initiative?

Fast forward years later, and our family has offered ongoing support to children, their families, and their communities through Compassion. You may remember that last Christmas, we made a $5,000 donation towards a clean drinking water project. This year, well, we decided to do it again!

This year’s gift will help provide clean drinking water to children and families at two Compassion centres in the Sebei region of Uganda. Simply put: it will keep this community healthy and growing.

As for last year, here are a few updates on what our donation did for the Compassion community in Nicaragua:

• One well was drilled at centre #NI0369 that enabled the community to provide safe water to assist the beneficiaries
• One water tank and filters were installed at the same location to improve the lives of 180 local children and their families
• A training module is being developed on good hygienic habits, correct use of water and prevention of common diseases

Before we made our donation last year, the situation was a grim one. Compassion recently shared a study with me that concluded there was no electrical pumping system in the Nicaragua community we support, meaning that the only water sources were coming from artesian wells, which were contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria because the wells were located too close to the latrines… In other words, this same water that was being used for cooking and drinking was not fit for human consumption.

Leaving a legacy to give good gifts is as much of a good business practice as it is a good family value.  I hope you feel blessed this season, because we could not do what we do without you.

Thank you!

P.S. Take a look at this short video, where I talk about our time spent with Compassion last Christmas.

The post How could we not? first appeared on Ardill Group.

Before we go any further, I have to ask: How happy and healthy are you? And what do you do each day to maintain a healthy, cheerful outlook on life?

For you to begin answering that question, I first want you to watch this 13-minute TED Talk from psychiatrist Robert Waldinger – who, through the 75-year-old-and-counting Harvard study, reveals the timeless results to a lifetime of overall satisfied wellbeing.

Click here to watch

Now that you’re back from the talk and we’re on the same page – what a fabulous study! We are lucky to have this knowledge to give us the confidence to take action in our own lives.

So I’ll let you in on a little secret: for me, happiness is eating chocolate cake.

I guess you could also count skiing, reading the morning paper, and walking the dog with my wife. But hold on a second, these things only make me happy for a moment. What about what I need to do to create and maintain long-term happiness and health?

That’s where Waldinger comes in.

Good quality relationships with your spouse, your family, and your friends are undoubtedly the key ingredients to living a happier, healthier life. It seems simple enough, but then why are there so many lonely and unhappy people out there? Put your phone down, I say! Turn off your computer and TV, now let us play!

GOING THE DISTANCE

If good quality relationships are an area you want to improve in – as I do – then I suggest experimenting with the following positive activities. Maybe you’re already using some of these ideas, in which case: great!

1. Eat really healthy and use natural remedies as often as you can (I’m not a doctor, so if you need your meds, take them!). My favourite resource is the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, complete with 550 herbs and remedies for common ailments. It’s my go-to book.
2. Meditation. I love taking the time to do it each morning.
3. This may seem crazy, but my son Colin put me onto Wim Hof and I am totally hooked. I use the breathing technique the most. Check him out on YouTube.

STEP UP: 7 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL ATTITUDE

Refined from a list I have of twenty tactics, I suggest you read parts of this shortlist every day. For the days you are feeling down or low, spend even more time on it. Believe me when I say: it will pay off.

1. Stay away from the small incidents of controversy whenever possible. Learn to adjust yourself to other people’s state of mind so getting along peacefully is possible.
2. Learn to transmute all unpleasant circumstances into immediate action. For example, when you are angry, switch your mindset by engaging in an action connected with your hobby or your major purpose in life; keep busy with that subject for at least five minutes.
3. Use all criticism to find the areas of life you can still improve upon.
4. Express gratitude twice daily for your recognition of the fact that you have been given complete control over your own mind.
5. On a daily basis, go out of your way to comment enthusiastically on the good qualities of those you love, and work with, but do not mention their negative qualities.
6. Keep your mind eternally engaged in thinking about that which you desire the most.
7. Cultivate your tone of voice so that your words have a pleasing musical sound.

TO SUM IT UP

I hope you can see the value in this approach to living. I know it’s a lot of information, so please don’t get overwhelmed! I have been developing my repertoire over many years and could spend a whole article going over the advantages of each topic.

These are strategies I have appreciated in retirement because they’ve maximized my ability to enjoy the fruits of my labour. That said, it helps that I am retired because I have more time to plug into these resources every day. But they are relevant for all ages – so if you can find (or are willing to make) time to engage with this list, you may just find that the sooner you adopt each strategy, the earlier your life becomes more fruitful.

I’m interested in you and what you’re doing. If you’re using a wellness technique that’s working for you, or you’re willing to share what you do each day to maintain a spirited outlook on life, please contact me, I would love to hear from you. One more thing: if you’re interested in the full list of tips to improve your mental attitude, I would be happy to share it with you – just send me an email. 

Thanks for reading,

John Ardill

Founder and Mentor

Ardill Group

Direct: 1 416 400 5882

Office: 1 905 907 7000

john@ardillgroup.com

The post 75 years and counting first appeared on Ardill Group.

This year we are extremely proud to have hosted four remarkable individuals on my show, Money Match:

• Legacy client, Dr. Scott Windsor
• President and Co-Founder of Invico Capital Corporation, Jason Brooks
• President and Portfolio Manager of Acclient Capital Management, Dan Pembleton
• Managing Director of Lynx Investment Corp, Michael Denny

These esteemed interviewees gave us a broad diversity of perspectives. Scott, for example, sees us as a lifetime partner – and we feel exactly the same way about him. Then there’s Jason, who runs an investing fund company with 60% female staff. We can’t forget Dan, who runs a fund with an average rate of return of 161% after tax (no kidding). And finally there’s Michael, who, in the span of just 13 years, has seen Lynx go from startup status to being one of the largest companies in Canada.

But I don’t want to spill all the secret sauce myself! Catch up on this year’s episodes by clicking HERE.

The post The best of Money Match! first appeared on Ardill Group.