I’m back at it with my 2024 Update and Year in Review—where I divulge my numbers, obsess over savings rates, and try to make financial reflection sound fun (because it is, right?).
Another year of spreadsheets, strategy, and seeing the needle move. Let’s dive into the highlights, wins, and lessons from the year that flew by! TL;DR: Net worth up. Condo gone. Savings solid.
Looking back, 2024 felt like a whirlwind. It doesn’t seem that long since I published my 2023 Year in Review—probably because I just did that in November 2024…whoops. This past year was a busy one, filled with a mix of responsibilities, adventures, and memorable moments.
What have I been up to?
The first half of the year was dedicated to my role as president of a volunteer club, keeping me fully engaged in leadership and community efforts. As summer rolled in, I made the most of lake time with family, enjoying those much-needed moments of relaxation. My wife and I also embarked on a big trip—one of the highlights of the year. Meanwhile, May and June were packed with kids’ activities, making it exciting to watch them play, grow, and improve.
By October, I finally had some breathing room to reflect and make edits, and in November, I wrapped up my 2023 recap. Now, it’s time to do it all over again for 2024.
2024 Year in Review: Highlights
Family, Friends & Travel
- Charlottetown, PEI – My wife and I did our first trip out east! We absolutely loved it—easy to get around, full of charm, and that cozy small-town feel made it unforgettable.
- Toronto – While out East, we went to my wife’s first Blue Jays game, plus touring downtown with stops at the CN Tower, Aquarium, and of course, the beer district.
- Kids’ Sports – I coached flag football and enjoyed watching baseball, karate, and gymnastics.
- Family Wedding – Celebrated the marriage of my sister-in-law and welcomed a new brother-in-law to the family.
- Lake Time – One of my sisters, her daughters and my parents joined us at the lake for a week. Great fun on the beach and out on the water.
- Family Movie Nights – Made even better by our new TV, speakers, and couch—definitely one of our best “fun purchases” of the year.
- Christmas – Celebrated in both Saskatoon and Calgary, making for a festive season filled with travel, family, and a lot of good food.
- Guys Fishing Trip Up North – Slims Camp on the Churchill River. A secluded cabin only reachable by boat… which made for a good story after we hit four rocks and wrecked two props!
Volunteering, Fundraisers and Features
- Final Months as President – I wrapped up my term and had a chance to enjoy some key community partner events.
- Sports Celebrity Dinner – This time, I got to simply enjoy it—and better yet, share it with my wife.
- Work/Kinsmen Feature – A cool moment being featured on my company’s internal site alongside a friend, spotlighting our community volunteer work.
Blog Update from the Year
I managed to publish three posts this past year—each with a different focus but all tied to my ongoing goal of building financial clarity and documenting my journey:
- Updated Post: The Investment Funds I Use (Nov. 2024)
I gave this post a refresh to reflect changes in my portfolio, including a simplified ETF mix and some new commentary on asset allocation and why I’ve stuck with a passive, long-term approach. Still all about keeping things low-cost, diversified, and easy to manage. - New Post & Calculator: Should I Invest or Pay Down My Mortgage?
This one was a passion project. I built a calculator and dove into the classic dilemma many of us face. The post breaks down key considerations, math, and mindset. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—but hopefully, it helps readers frame the decision in their own context. - Review: 2023 Update and Year in Review
Published a bit late (November!), but better late than never. This post captured the wins, challenges, and reflections from 2023—including personal milestones, financial progress, and why I skipped the mental health section that year (which, spoiler: made its comeback in 2024).
2024 Net Worth Update: +$348,945
2024 was a strong year for the markets and our household returns reflected that. My broad market ETFs performed exceptionally well—VGRO (20.15%), XAW (26.6%), VTI (23.81%), XDIV (23.03%), and VXUS (5.08%). My work pension returned 12.5%, while my wife’s more conservative portfolio saw 7.82% growth. I haven’t crunched the final numbers, but our overall return is well above my long-term 7% yearly target.
Having multiple +20% Index ETF performers played a big role in our $348,945 net worth growth. Large retirement contributions provided a solid boost, and selling my rental property locked in gains that I had been underestimating.
In total, my invested assets increased by 24%, while my wife’s grew by 48%. With the condo sale, I shifted funds into cash and investments, focusing on my wife’s Spousal RRSP, and our TFSAs, setting us up for continued financial growth.
Selling My Rental Property
Selling my rental property turned out to be a key financial move in 2024. I had been undervaluing its worth, relying on previous years’ numbers, and initially planned to sell a year earlier. However, weaker market conditions made it less worthwhile at the time. Fortunately, 2024 provided a strong market window, and when my tenants moved out in July, I took the opportunity—renovated in August and finalized the sale by mid-September. This quick turnaround and improved market conditions led to a larger-than-expected gain.
Beyond the property sale, I also made a few financial adjustments in January, updating our home value (still conservatively) and factoring in my wife’s work contributions, which I update once a year.
Overall, 2024 was a strong market year, with Q1 and Q4 seeing significant growth, while the middle of the year slowed—creating opportunities to buy at lower prices.
| 2024 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Worth | +$184,025 | +$20,801 | +$74,955 | +$69,164 | +$348,945 |
Check out my 2023 Q4 and Year in Review.
2024 Savings Rate Update: +30.7%
This year, my savings rate was 30.7%, with quarterly breakdowns of 51.8%, 29.5%, 22.3%, and 34.2%. While I didn’t hit my 40% target, I’m really happy with the progress.
For tracking purposes, I count savings that go toward paying down debt or invested assets, and this year, that included the cash from my condo sale, which I used to pay off my renovation costs plus some minor lingering debt. I don’t include money set aside in cash savings, keeping my savings rate focused on long-term financial growth.
As you can tell from the variation between quarters, I did most of my saving in the first part of the year when my bonus and income tax refund come in. This front-loaded approach helps maximize contributions early, while the rest of the year balances out with consistent investing of smaller amounts.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savings Rate | 51.8% | 29.5% | 22.3% | 34.2 | 30.7% |
Podcasts That Kept Me Thinking
This year was almost entirely dominated by the Rational Reminder podcast. Episode after episode, it delivered deep dives into evidence-based investing, behavioral finance, and long-term thinking—right up my alley.
I still tuned in to The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe every week, but I’ll be honest: with everything going on—U.S. election drama, rising misinformation, and the ongoing assault on critical thinking—it’s been harder to know where to even start unpacking it all.
Still, these two podcasts grounded me: one in rational financial decision-making, the other in science and skepticism—two things we need now more than ever.
Here’s a Short List – The Rational Reminder Podcast
- Episode 297 – Do Stocks Return 10-12% On Average? & Zero to Millionaire with Nicolas Bérubé
- Episode 298 – Randall Stutman: Admired Leadership for Financial Decision-Making
- Episode 308 – Dan Bortolotti: The Canadian Couch Potato
- Episode 319 – The Ultimate RRSP vs. TFSA Showdown
Reading (OK, Audiobooks) I Actually Finished
I completed two audiobooks this year—and both were about ADHD. I’ve been trying to better understand myself: my quirks, my wiring, my triggers, and the way I respond to stress, chaos, or too many open browser tabs.
The goal wasn’t self-diagnosis but self-awareness—figuring out my patterns, both the ones that help me thrive and the ones that make me spiral when things get overwhelming. I picked up a lot about coping mechanisms, both good and… let’s just say, “less ideal.”
Not a long list, but definitely meaningful reads.
How to ADHD: An Incident’s Guide to Working with Your Brain
– by Jessica McCabe
Business | Investing
This one stood out for me. Jessica McCabe is a science communicator who speaks from experience, crafting a book that’s both informative and deeply personal. She brings a soft touch and caring mindset, paired with a ton of practical, real-life examples that make the content feel approachable and relatable.
Whether you’re diagnosed, self-curious, or just want to understand someone in your life better, this book offers insight without judgment.
Highly recommend—great book.
Scattered Minds: The Origin and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder
– by Gabor Maté
Personal Finance | Happiness
This book had some valuable insights and definitely gave me a better understanding of how ADHD can manifest emotionally and neurologically. Gabor Maté draws heavily from his own clinical experience and paints a compassionate picture of the ADHD mind.
That said, parts of the book felt outdated, and some of his theories—like the idea that maternal neglect causes ADHD—have been disproven and frankly come across as harsh and unfair. While it’s still worth a listen to understand where his research and perspective come from, I’d recommend approaching his “origin story” theories with a skeptical lens.
Mental, Health, and Wellness – Back for 2024
I didn’t include this section in my 2023 year in review. The stress that hit in the fall was too much, and when it came time to reflect, I just didn’t have the energy to write about it.
But I’m bringing it back this year—because those feelings didn’t just vanish. They followed me into 2024.
A lot of the stress came from work, where I found myself out of sync with the people around me. Work I’ve been doing for over a decade—that I’m good at, passionate about—and I was being told, “you should stop doing that.” That was hard. Really hard.
Eventually, I took a step back, listened, and let others lead—even when I could see issues building. And yes, things failed, but I had to watch it unfold from the sidelines.
Cue a few months later, and I was invited back with “an exception” to do the same work I’d been asked to stop doing. Go figure.
So what did I do during this time? I ate. First from stress, and then later, mostly from boredom and a need for stimulation (thanks again, ADHD).
This past year brought a lot of learning—especially around dealing with people who dismissed my concerns, labeled me pessimistic (I call it realistic), and conveniently forgot I ever raised any red flags when things went off the rails. I didn’t handle that period well and it showed in my emotions and frustration.
Let me be clear: I really like my job, I like the people I work with, and I believe in the organization. The things you care about most often come with the most stress. Everyone thought they were doing the right thing. So did I.
So here’s to 2025. As I write this in March, I already know it’s better.
Final Thoughts
2024 was a year of solid growth and deeper self-awareness. On the financial side, my net worth saw a major jump, thanks to strong market returns, retirement contributions, and the sale of my rental property.
But beyond the numbers, it was a year of personal reflection—navigating challenges at work, learning more about myself (hello, ADHD), and gaining clarity on how I manage stress, connection, and purpose. A year of wins, lessons, and laying the groundwork for an even better 2025.
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