Peter Drake

Life, Part Two: Helping clients create a vision for life in retirement

Saving and planning for retirement is difficult. We see this difficulty every day in our interactions with clients, friends and family. From saving for a house, to starting a family, to paying off school debts, there are multiple (and very real) reasons that Canadians are not saving enough or planning for their future.

By Peter Drake |July 3, 2013

4 min read

Is retirement planning a waste of time?

A year ago, I outlined in my piece why the retirement planning process should begin immediately after the rush of RRSP season. This column should be considered as a companion piece.

By Peter Drake |April 1, 2013

4 min read

Learn from 3 policymaker mistakes

Market volatility isn’t making it easy for anybody to plan for retirement. Why not consider what the national economic policymakers are doing and learn from their mistakes?

By Peter Drake |August 7, 2012

3 min read

Fiscal sustainability key to retirement

Fiscal sustainability is a hot topic these days. Lately it has entered discussions about Canada’s upcoming federal budget, as well as the Report of the Commission to Reform Ontario’s Public Services headed by Don Drummond.

By Peter Drake |March 21, 2012

5 min read

Three resolutions to lower volatility in 2012

Making resolutions to improve one’s personal and professional life is a common occurrence at New Year’s, but what about for financial markets? Although I have tried, I have yet to be able to find a personal resolution that will reduce global market volatility.

By Peter Drake |January 13, 2012

6 min read

Taking stock of change

While I paused a live hockey game the other night to grab a snack I got to thinking how the way I experience the NHL in my home has changed. It makes me smile when I recall listening to the radio, the action coming alive in my mind as Foster Hewitt called the game. Things have definitely changed. The same is true in the investment world.

By Peter Drake |January 3, 2012

7 min read

Events come and go, process endures

As summer starts turning into fall and I contemplate the recent volatility in financial markets, the same thought keeps going through my mind: events may come and go, but solid processes endure. At first glance, that may seem trivial but think about what a process is: a series of steps or events that lead to a result.

By Peter Drake |September 28, 2011

5 min read

Key risks to retirement income – Part 2

I think we can all agree that when it comes to retirement income planning it is better to be safe than sorry and it’s important to plan for the unknown as much as possible. It is the same reasoning most of us use when we get into our cars and do up our seat belts.

By Peter Drake |August 24, 2011

6 min read

Key risks to retirement income – Part 1

The debt crisis in Europe, slowing growth around the world, uncertainty surrounding the U.S. deficit – I think we can all agree that there are plenty of client questions out there to keep us busy. In all parts of life, there are things that we can control and there are things that we can not, and financial planning is no different. Showing your clients how to differentiate between the two helps move the conversation from questions to solutions.

By Peter Drake |July 22, 2011

6 min read