Recent content by Viking

Up 4.04% including cash, much lower than most posting here, but have moved the AA to a very conservative 30/65/5 over the last few months from 60/40 last year.

I'm becoming progressively more conservative as time goes on. From 100% equities before retirement to 30/70 just three years later. DW is slightly less conservative with her portfolio, but has a COLA's federal government pension that covers over 60% of our budget. According to FireCalc, we're...

I have transition lenses. There is no difference between clear and fully tinted. The problem is the few minutes it takes to go clear when going into a lower light location.

I've had progressives for about 5 years. Didn't take more than a week or two to get used to them. For reading/office work, I got a "computer progressive" grind that significantly widened the reading field of view at the expense of distance vision. Could only focus a maximum of 6 feet away...

Anyone have advice on where I can invest a few pieces of silver?

Our "income" consists of DW's pension and a withdrawal from my investments. for 2017, this is 34% of our pre-retirement gross salaries. In 10 years, CPP/OAS will boost this to 44%. But since we are now in a much lower income tax bracket, pay no payroll taxes, no longer have employment expenses...

It's been nearly three years for me, but I still see friends from work maybe once or twice a month - some have also retired, while others have another decade or so of work/saving ahead of them. We get together for coffee, lunch, dinner parties, and some of us golf from time to time. If you're...

I never considered backing out once the decision was made public. DW on the other hand got seriously cold feet. To the point that she was making plans with her boss to stick around for another 6 months. I had to figuratively pick her up by the scruff of the neck and shake sense back into her...

We had a few cracked floor tiles at the front entry of the vacation house. Removed all the tile in preparation for installing hardwood. The tile came up really easy, which doesn't say much for the quality of the original installation. Hardly any mortar stuck to the subfloor, which was a blessing.

DW has a nice federal pension of $4,500/mo, with COLA that she started collecting in Nov. When we're 65, we'll have another $2,000/mo in CPP and OAS (2017 dollars, both with COLA). Once we're settled in to our retirement home and son is finished university, DW's pension will more than cover...

My problem is low blood pressure. Last Dr. visit it was 101/69. I'm on 25 mg of metoprolol twice a day and 20 mg of Xarelto (anticoagulant, not a blood thinner) once a day to treat atrial flutter. Weight is normal and walk about 25 miles per week in the winter, closer to 60 miles/week in the...

Laptop battery.

You are correct that RRSP and RRIF withdrawals do not qualify for the pension income deduction until age 65. Lump sum withdrawals from RRSPs have withholding tax of 10% up to $5k, 20% on the next $10k, and 30% on amounts over $15k. There is no withholding tax on withdrawals from an RRIF IF you...

Up .89%, much better than last year at this time. 50/50 portfolio. FX variations hurt a bit - S&P500 was down 1.13% in CAD terms.

No option for gentry?:) All kidding aside, we're definitely not part of the country club set. I'll go with upper-middle class on the basis that we are comfortably within the upper quintile of wealth for Canada, but in no danger of being confused with one percenters.