2023 Update and Year in Review

After a long hiatus, I’m finally bringing this post to light. It’s been sitting in drafts for months (and months) and I’ve finally had the desire and time to finish it. Life for the past year has been a whirlwind and I’m excited to get back into writing and updating the blog. If you’re still here, thank you for your patience!

What have I been up to?

Since July 2023, I’ve been deeply involved in volunteering as I took on role of President for a community service organization. It’s been a rewarding experience, and I’m grateful to have done it. Balancing this role with my work schedule and busy family commitments has been challenging and incredibly fulfilling. While I’ve enjoyed this journey, I also looked forward to becoming “Past President” this past July and having more time for other pursuits, including getting back to some blogging.

Being immersed in volunteering meant that I was planning weekly meetings, attending social events, and tending to regular business to ensure the Club was running as smoothly as possible and handling any issue. Highlights include the many opportunities to practice public speaking, whether at Club meetings or attending fundraising galas with my wife (all dressed up!), . These experiences have been incredibly fulfilling, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community.

Also, my job has been busier and more complex than ever. Balancing work and family life has been a challenge, especially with all the activities my kids are involved in. I’ve made a conscious effort to be home more away from the family too much, ensuring I’m present for all the important moments. This whirlwind of responsibilities has kept me on my toes, but I’m looking forward to getting back to a more reasonable schedule.

Personal Highlights

I like looking back and seeing all the things we did as a family. The list from 2023 is long and (mostly) wonderful list.

We’ve celebrated birthdays, attended sporting events and school concerts. We’ve spent lots of time at the lake with family and friends. There was a surprise wedding anniversary supper for my in-laws. Have some scotch on a boat tour and many more. It’s hard to convey the joy these moments bring; I’m glad I wrote them all down. Moments come and go, but the memories remain. Reflecting on this list fills me with gratitude and reminds me of the richness of our shared experiences.

• Sledding with cousins
• Winter fire and weiner roast
• Ski Trip to Kicking Horse
• A friends wedding
• Going to a Rush game with the kids
• Kids Concert at School
• Fishing Lake boys weekend
• Trip home to see my sister and nieces
• Science Centre with the Grandparents
• Backyard BBQ & pool party
• A day at the rides at Kinsmen Park
• Fundraising Golf Tourney
• Golf trip to White Bear
• Regina trip with the guys
• Fall Corn Maze and potato gun
• Thanksgiving gender reveal for my nephew
• Hosted Christmas

Personal Lowlights

Along with the great times, there are always ups and downs in life. This past winter, I was extremely stressed with work which triggered a lot of stress eating for me – my maladaptive coping mechanism. As a result, I gained a lot of weight that I am still yo-yoing through to get back to something more reasonable. The journey has been challenging, as I need to continually refocus to maintain healthier choices.

Blog Update

In 2023, I managed to publish two posts. One highlighted a video interview I did with my organization’s pension plan, and the other served as a personal resource, detailing which investment funds I use – which account types they’re in, where they’re allocated, and their proportions. Despite the limited output, these posts were meaningful and practical, reflecting both my professional and personal interests.

2023 Net Worth: +149,876

It was a great year for the markets. Q1 and Q4 were really strong with the middle of the year slowing down. Which is great, that means things were on sale.

2023	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Total
Net Worth	+$62,461	+$6,926-	-$2,105	+$82,594	+$149,876

Check out my 2022 Q4 and Year in Review.

2023 Savings Rate: +26.1%

Fare from my goal of a 40% savings rate, I’m still happy with 26%. That’s a big step forward towards our savings and retirement goals.

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	2023
Savings Rate	29.1%	29.3%	24.5%	21.2%	26.1%

Podcasts

I like to highlight some of my favorite podcasts that I’ve listened to. There are WAY too many to remember so this section will be kept short.

The Rational Reminder Podcast

• Episode 257: Life Design, In Progress
• Episode 258: Prof. Meir Statman: Financial Decisions for Normal People
• Episode 259 – Comprehensive Overview: Estimating Expected Returns
  • Peak-End Scenario
• Episode 260: Prof. James Choi: Practical Finance
  • Popular personal finance advice on optimal savings and consumption
  • Increased awareness of the benefits of index funds
• Episode 266 – Cass Sunstein – Practical Reason in Ordinary Life
  • Incredible list of sub-topics Cass recaps and simplifies for us listeners.
    • Second-Order Decisions
    • Guidelines to help you choose which decisions to delegate
    • How people decide what information to believe and when to update their beliefs
    • Asymmetries in how we update our beliefs
    • Joint evaluation vs. separate evaluation
• Episode 269 – Preet Banerjee – A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of the Value of Financial Advice

Reading/Audiobooks