Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung
Parent Like a Millionaire​

Kids are expensive, but not always in the obvious ways parents expect. The baby stage gets most of the attention, with daycare, diapers, strollers, and all the early gear. But as children get older, the costs don’t exactly disappear. They often change shape, showing up through housing choices, activities, food, travel, technology, birthday parties, and the quiet pressure to keep up with what every other family seems to be doing.

In this session, Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung, authors of Parent Like a Millionaire (as well as Quit Like a Millionaire), explain how families can use FIRE-style thinking to reduce financial stress without making parenting feel cheap or joyless. We’ll talk about lifestyle creep through kids, the difference between genuine necessities and social expectations, and how parents can build better systems around spending, values, and long-term freedom. If raising kids sometimes feels financially heavier than you expected, this session will help you step back, see the patterns more clearly, and make more intentional choices for your family.

Robb Engen
What Taxes and Spending REALLY Look Like in Retirement

The first few years of retirement can be surprisingly hard to budget for. The old rule of thumb says you’ll spend about 70% of your final working income, but real-life retirement rarely fits that neatly into a spreadsheet. In this session, Robb Engen walks us through what he has seen while helping Canadians make the transition from saving paycheques to creating retirement income.

We’ll talk about what spending often looks like in the first year of retirement, how retirees can practically withdraw the money they need, and why withholding tax at the source is so often misunderstood. Robb also explains whether Canadians tend to overestimate or underestimate their retirement tax bill and what steps can help optimize taxes in the first few years of freedom from work.

Mark Seed
A Detailed Look At My Early Retirement and Financial Independence

Mark Seed, founder of My Own Advisor, has accomplished something many Canadians dream about: Early Retirement! Mark walks us through the saving habits, investing decisions, and planning tradeoffs that helped him and his wife get to the point where work became optional.

We’ll look at how Mark thought about his “magic number,” why he built his portfolio around a mix of dividend income, ETF distributions, and long-term growth, and what his income stream looks like now that he’s entering early retirement. Mark also shares how he thinks about RRSPs, TFSAs, non-registered accounts, mortgage payoff decisions, and the role of a defined benefit pension. Most importantly, he explains his Retirement Income Map and how he plans to draw down his portfolio in a tax-smart way while still giving himself the freedom to enjoy the next stage of life.

Thuy Lam

What People Are Missing About the RRSP

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Kanwal Sarai

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Preet Banerjee
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Shannon Lee Simmons and Rob Carrick

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Ed Rempel

Retirement Tax Shock: Why Many Canadians Pay More Tax Than Expected

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Dan Kent

Investing Terms Primer

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Danica

Career Break - Liberty Leave

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Anshul

Travel Hacking for Beginners

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Sash

Credit Cards in Canada: An Overview

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Dale Roberts

Where Life Meets the Retirement Cashflow Plan

A good retirement plan isn’t just about reaching “the number.” It’s about turning your savings, pensions, government benefits, and investment accounts into a cash flow strategy that works in real life. In this session, Dale Roberts - creator of Retirement Club and founder of Cut The Crap Investing - walks us through what a retirement cash flow plan is, why it matters, and how Canadians can use one to make better decisions before and during retirement.

We’ll cover RRSP/RRIF withdrawals, tax brackets, CPP and OAS timing, the 4% rule, and whether an RRSP meltdown strategy makes sense for your situation. Dale also shares common mistakes Canadians make with their cash flow plans.

Stephanie and Gillian - Our Freedom Years

The Best European Winter Escapes for Canadian Snowbirds

For decades, Canadian snowbirds have looked to Florida and Arizona as the default winter escape. But with rising costs, crowded destinations, currency headaches, and more Canadians looking beyond the United States, it might be time to rethink what a great winter base can look like.

In this session, Stephanie and Gillian from Our Freedom Years share what they’ve learned from years of full-time travel, with a special focus on their recent time in the Canary Islands, including Gran Canaria, La Gomera, and Tenerife. We’ll talk about how to compare European winter destinations for cost, weather, walkability, healthcare, transportation, safety, food, community, and quality of life. Learn how to keep costs down, and get the most value for your personal tastes and preferences. PLUS: Best Airbnb tips from two people who have stayed at over 90 Airbnb locations!

Jon Chevreau

From Retirement Columnist to Retiree: What I Got Right, Wrong, and Didn’t Expect

After decades of writing about financial independence, semi-retirement, RRSPs, RRIFs, pensions, annuities, and the whole retirement transition, Jon Chevreau recently crossed the line from retirement financial columnist - to retiree himself. In this session, Jon reflects on what it feels like when the theory becomes real life!

We’ll talk about what surprised him most, what he feels he got right, and what he might look at differently now that he’s living through the transition personally. Jon also shares his thoughts on moving from a paycheque to portfolio withdrawals, the challenge many successful savers face when it comes time to actually spend, and what Canadians still misunderstand most about retirement after years of planning for it.

Maria Smith
Stress-Test Your Life: How to Build an Unshakeable Household
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