ETFs Explained: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

ETFs Explained: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals

ETFs are investment funds that trade on stock exchanges, similar to individual stocks. They hold a collection of assets such as stocks, bonds, or commodities, and aim to track the performance of a specific index or sector. The key feature of ETFs is that they combine the diversification of mutual funds with the tradability of stocks.

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How I plan to retire at age 40
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

How I plan to retire at age 40

Retirement is a word with many meanings but few agreed upon definitions. For some, it means, absolutely doing nothing, sitting back, sipping mojitos on the beach while watching the world pass by. Truly relaxing. For others, it is taking a step back from a full-time career and spending more time with the family, while pursuing a hobby or an interest that was put on pause for several decades. For me, it is having the CHOICE between WANTING to work vs NEEDING to work.

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5 Insurance Must-Haves for Health Professionals
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

5 Insurance Must-Haves for Health Professionals

As healthcare professionals, we understand the importance of thorough planning and assessment in our work. Just as we diagnose and treat our patients, we must also diagnose and protect our financial health. In this article, we'll explore how health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, auto insurance, and homeowners/renters insurance can benefit us, using real-life examples from both Canada and the US to illustrate the importance of each type of coverage.

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Is Your Primary Residence the Best Investment?
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Is Your Primary Residence the Best Investment?

I hope to challenge another conventional norm. That home (primary) ownership is the best investment. Yes, there are a lot of moving parts to consider when making this case (geography, size of the home, opportunity cost, interest rates, housing appreciation, etc)

Regardless, I believe it is a useful exercise to dig down to the numbers and objectively evaluate the true costs of home ownership and the opportunity cost of purchasing a home.

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Thinking about renewing your mortgage? Don’t forget to do this!
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Thinking about renewing your mortgage? Don’t forget to do this!

We dive into a topic that's particularly relevant in today's economic climate: renewing your mortgage in a high-interest rate environment. With interest rates on the rise, it's more critical than ever to make informed decisions when it comes to your mortgage. Let's break down some key considerations to help you navigate this financial milestone successfully.

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Unlock Extra Income: Top Side Hustles for Healthcare Professionals in 2024
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Unlock Extra Income: Top Side Hustles for Healthcare Professionals in 2024

Are you a healthcare professional feeling the pinch from your regular income not stretching as far as it used to? You’re not alone. Many in the healthcare field are finding it increasingly difficult to meet all their financial needs through their primary job alone, especially in today’s economy.

But what if you could amplify your earnings without compromising your passion for healthcare? Imagine having the ability to expand your professional repertoire, enhance your skills, and increase your income—all on your own terms.

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Why Relationships Fail
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Why Relationships Fail

Disagreements about money is one of the primary reasons relationships fail. If you are getting married or moving in with your partner, make sure you review this checklist and have a conversation about money, and how it is treated in your relationship.

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Why I'm Betting on Bitcoin and Leveraged Real Estate to outpace inflation
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Why I'm Betting on Bitcoin and Leveraged Real Estate to outpace inflation

Through a mix of hands-on experiences and insights gathered from my networking hustle, I've seen how these two assets have consistently outperformed. Leveraged real estate lets us play the game of monopoly in real life (with better graphics, of course!), turning a small pile of cash into a significant stream of income and appreciation. And then there's Bitcoin—the rebel of the financial world, dodging the pitfalls of traditional money systems with its sleek, decentralized tech and capped supply.

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Budgeting and Why It’s Crucial for Your Success.
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Budgeting and Why It’s Crucial for Your Success.

So when it came to filing taxes, I'd be done well in advance of April. Although being finished with plenty of time to spare, didn't make the days/weeks and hours leading up to filing less stressful. I literally collected my receipts in envelopes and shoeboxes. I was an utter mess and was determined to make the following year's tax filing not only stress-free but do it in half the time.

That's when I stumbled on the power of budgeting. I'm a big proponent of budgeting. But I know that not everyone is, and there are people a lot more experienced and educated than I am, that doesn't recommend budgeting (at least traditionally).

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Return on Time: The Most Crucial Financial Metric.
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Return on Time: The Most Crucial Financial Metric.

In the world of finance and investment, metrics like return on investment (ROI), net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return (IRR) have long been the gold standards for evaluating the profitability of investments. These may be beyond the scope of the average investor let alone a beginner. While these metrics undoubtedly provide valuable insights, there's a game-changer that often gets overlooked: return on time.

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Tips for Saving on a Tight Budget
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Tips for Saving on a Tight Budget

Embarking on your professional journey comes with excitement and challenges, especially when your budget resembles more of a tightrope than a boulevard. As someone who has navigated the early stages of a career, I understand the importance of making every dollar count. So, let's dive into the world of fiscal responsibility with concrete numbers, tangible examples, and actionable metrics. Here's your guide to Tips for Saving on a Tight Budget.

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Negotiating 101: How to Ask for a Raise
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Negotiating 101: How to Ask for a Raise

Embarking on the journey of negotiating a raise can be both empowering and financially transformative.

Whether you're a healthcare professional employed in a hospital or managing your practice, advocating for your worth is a skill that can significantly impact your financial well-being. As both a healthcare professional and a financial educator, I understand the unique challenges many of you face when it comes to navigating the delicate art of negotiation.

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How to build an emergency fund
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

How to build an emergency fund

In the symphony of personal finance, there's one instrument that plays a crucial solo: the emergency fund. Whether you're a healthcare professional navigating the complexities of a hospital setting or steering your own ship as a self-employed practitioner, having a robust emergency fund is the financial life jacket that can keep you afloat during unexpected storms. As both a healthcare professional and a financial educator, I recognize the unique challenges many of you face, which makes understanding the importance of an emergency fund even more critical.

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The Difference Between the Stock and Bond Market, Mutual Funds and ETFs
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

The Difference Between the Stock and Bond Market, Mutual Funds and ETFs

The stock market refers to the collection of exchanges and platforms where buyers and sellers trade shares of ownership in publicly listed companies. It's a marketplace where individuals and institutional investors can buy and sell stocks, which represent ownership interests in businesses. This blog helps differentiate between a stock, bond, mutual fund and exchange traded fund.

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Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Financial Advisor
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Financial Advisor

Hiring a financial advisor can be a stressful and intimidating process but it doesn’t have to be. Remember to take your time in the hiring process, ask for clarification when needed, and trust your instincts when making the final decision. A strong client-advisor relationship can significantly impact your financial success.

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Robin, You’re Just a Physiotherapist
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Robin, You’re Just a Physiotherapist

I had little idea of the number of transferable skill sets I learned throughout my physiotherapy career. These same skillsets, I am confident will serve me well when I do my transition out of physiotherapy and into the next stage of my life.

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 Inflation and the Erosion of Wealth
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Inflation and the Erosion of Wealth

Inflation has a direct impact on the purchasing power of your wealth. As the general price level of goods and services rises, the value of each unit of currency decreases. This means that the money you have today will buy fewer goods and services in the future.

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Fiat Money, what it is, and how to make it work for you.
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Fiat Money, what it is, and how to make it work for you.

In this blog , I will talk about money and how it works because based on my conversations with clients, the concept of money is not well understood. It seems like we take it at face value, without understanding the principles of it. In my opinion, if you don't understand the principles of money, then how the heck are you going to make it work for you?

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Passive Income Streams?
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

Passive Income Streams?

I'm sure you've heard the term 'passive income' being tossed around the water cooler, social media, and the like. I was hooked by the concept when I read 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' in my early twenties. Although sounding extremely attractive, I quickly realized that nothing is TRULY passive. Income streams reside more on a continuum from active to less active. Some streams require a little more EFFORT than the next. Nevertheless, I am a huge proponent of having MULTIPLE revenue streams.

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The People Who’ve Shaped Me
Robin Valadares Robin Valadares

The People Who’ve Shaped Me

I'm clearly not a 'self made' person. All my success can be attributed to the people that have surrounded me in my life. That tossed in with some tremendous luck have shaped who I have become today.

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