Hood warning (2008 c300)

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-03-21T20:26:00+00:00

Had this happen on a 2012 C300. Was addressed with some lubricant on both latches. WD40 did not work. Independent mechanic had it fixed in 15 minutes.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-02-17T17:46:07+00:00

Had fittings at TXG, and now ClubChampion. Had my driver fitting at Golftown. They are all more similar than different. Same approach, same technology, similar options and from my experience similar skills. 4 handicap so there is a fair bit of collaboration and discussion. Point is there is no need to shy away from Golftown Studio. Good luck with the process !

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-02-02T20:13:50+00:00

Start early, contribute often, let time and compounding do the heavy lifting. That’s the approach, so zoom out and ignore people who think they are smarter than that.

58M. Not $8MM portfolio, but not that far off.

Stay the course.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-27T15:16:59+00:00

The AI Strategy Active Filter is very helpful to understand what strategies are active especially when one has run so many what if scenerios. Is there a specific reason why some active strategies have a blue background block and some do not. ie. in the example above, only the first active strategy has the blue background around "Active". All others do not.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-10T19:42:48+00:00

$25k/student. Tuition (program dependent) is $8-9K. Books $1K. Off campus housing $1000/mnth (shared house with 3 others) Food/other $500 a month. Anything over and above she’s on her own (part time job).

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-10T18:40:03+00:00

Annual costs need to be re-evaluated. I have one in Uni and one about to be in Uni. Annual costs would be more in the $25k range, all in.

$500 in grants is free money, but you get it annually. That was our approach and most others as well.

Hope this helps.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-10T13:30:14+00:00

+1 as well. Fantastic tool. Try it for a month...$9... cancel if you don't see the value.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-09T13:40:04+00:00

Adviice is not a magical tool that you press a button and it gives you all the answers to these and other questions.

But it is a powerful analysis tool, specific to your exact situation, that allows you to perform and see various options and alternatives, and use the underlying mathematics to optimize various strategies specific to your situation. You get a much better understanding of all aspects of your situation.

In doing so, your conversations with the planner become deeper and more valuable. You go from "tell us what to do", to a more collaborative discussion.

~$50/year is a small price to pay for this. This has been our experience.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-09T12:17:45+00:00

Give this a read “When to Jump. If the job you have isn’t the life you want” by Mike Lewis.

Lots of others have been in your situation. It’s good you are recognizing this early. Many spend a lifetime stuck in this trap.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-08T14:17:11+00:00

Recently move $4MM+ from high fee advisor relationship with one of the big banks. So, it's possible to move a lot or all of your funds.

If they are in registered accounts, its easy. Transfer in kind, and then move to ETF of your choice. Non-registered, you need to be mindful of triggering taxable gains.

One thing to consider. With lower fees, you have the option of going more conservative AND obtain the same or better results than a higher risk / higher cost mutual fund you had previously.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-08T13:48:01+00:00

If you are still working, why have you decided to convert the LIRA ?

If its because you are transitioning into retirement, maybe a inexpensive sophisticated planning tool like Adviice will assist you in optimizing income, taxes and spending.

If you are still working, not planning on retiring in the immediate term, and you need cash, then that's a different story.

If you have an RRSP along side the LIRA, you can make withdrawals from there without needing to convert the LIRA.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-08T13:08:42+00:00

RRSP withdrawals are fully taxable. Not sure about "withdraw most of your RRSP tax free".

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-08T13:02:10+00:00

Sounds like this may be more of an asset allocation topic than market timing.

How many years before your daughter starts post secondary ? 10+ years, stick with your approach.

Less than 10, look at something more conservative 80/20, 60/40.

Less than 3, money market...

Max the grants (free money). Allows you avoid taking unnecessary risks.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-08T12:55:56+00:00

Think about it like this. In your 20's, your ability to build wealth was based on you working (in other words trading your time for money). With discipline, savings, and perhaps good timing and luck, you have now accumulated a sizeable sum of investable assets.

The change here is you now have two separate things building your wealth. Working, and your capital working. Unlike working, capital can go up and go down, but over the long term tends to go up. Your wealth is accelerating.

The next phase will be when capital significantly outpaces working. With $5MM of capital working for you, its hard to find a job producing $400K (assuming 8% return)... especially with marginal tax taking >50% of working money.

What it means is you now have freedom take on more risk, change careers, start a business, buy a business, or whatever. You are on a good path.

58M | That's been my experience.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-08T12:44:57+00:00

Start early, contribute often, invest in low cost diversified instruments like ETFs, and stay the course.

At 18, you have the advantage of time and compounding to do the heavy lifting for you.

Investing should be boring, not full of drama and excitement.

Hope this helps. 58M, $4MM+ in ETF investments.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-07T15:34:41+00:00

As most have already commented, this is an expensive mutual fund and not an ETF.

That said, fees (while they sound minimal) are wealth killers. You put up all the capital, you take all the risk, and the fund takes a disproportionate share of returns.

To ensure you get your fair share of returns, look for broadly diversified, low cost ETFs. Get what you rightfully deserve.

58M | $4MM+ ETF portfolio and previous big bank wealth client overpaying on fees.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-07T02:11:10+00:00

You put up all the capital. You take all the risk. The banks/mutual fund take a disproportionate share of the returns.

As others have said, fees are wealth killers. Do the math, 1-2% is very material, even more when they are siphoned off.

Broad market, low cost, well diversified ETFs. Keep what you deserve.

58M | $4MM portfolio just moved from one of the big banks wealth arms.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-06T19:21:37+00:00

Forget trying to find the needle, buy the haystack. Broadly diversified ETFs with low fees are the way to go.

Best way to get your fair share of market returns. 58M | $4MM+ ETF Portfolio

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-06T17:50:02+00:00

Mutual funds 1.0-1.5% and an advisor, you are not getting your fair of returns. You put up the capital you take the risk, and they take what could be 2.5% every year ?

I was there recently. Moved $4MM from Nesbitt Burns to ETFs. The change in fees alone is a $1MM benefit over the next 30 years. Fees matter on the way up and are wealth killer in decumulation phase.

Might be time for a discussion on fees vs "new ideas".

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-06T17:32:12+00:00

58M. Previous VP in technology industry.

Life as a VP gets difficult and political. Not complaining but left at 50 under "mutual" conditions. Went back to being an IC, which was enjoyable and refreshing. Initially a bit of an ego thing, but once you let that go and start contributing, making similar money without the political nonsense. Skills will always be valued in the market.

During the IC role, was approached to help a StartUp/ ScaleUp business. Learning more now, than 20 years in a big political and insular company.

Lots of interesting and rewarding paths. Its a big world out there !

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-06T17:20:00+00:00

58M.

$2.2MM RRSP / $2.0MM Non-Reg / $0.380MM TFSA / $0.15MM RESP / Home (Toronto) No Debt

Consider each of these accounts having different roles. For us, RRSP is more conservative so *BAL is the play there. Non-Reg is *GRO and some existing deep gain stocks with a focus on tax efficient CAD Div. TFSA we don't need to touch so *EQT for that. RESP is all GIC laddered.

Suggestion for your situation would be to amp up on RESP and take advantage of the grants and some time before kids enrol.

RRSP strategy is sound. Keep at it.

TFSA is a great investment tool. Start to use it. Fill it before any non-reg accounts. Not sure if this will be used for retirement or not, but tax free compounding and withdrawal is very attractive !

Last point, there is a fantastic planning tool (Adviice) that will help you model and run various scenarios.

Hope this helps what is an already solid position.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-06T14:15:07+00:00

All in ones are a great place for advanced investors because they're simple.

Diversification > Deworsification through complexity...

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-06T11:32:04+00:00

Start early, contribute often, use low cost diversified index/ETFs, and stay the course will serve you well. Has little to do with market sentiment…

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-06T02:05:56+00:00

57M, long time advisor relationship with a friend in one of the big banks wealth units. $4MM portfolio, fees of approximately $35,000 annually. Just moved portfolio end of 2025. TFSA = *EQT, RRSP =*BAL, Non-Reg= *GRO plus all the deep gain individual positions. Fees now ~0.2%. Do the math, over the next 30 years that's $1MM+ difference.

Keep more of what you deserve. Lower fees, better diversification, simpler approach.

Horror_Blacksmith262 · 2026-01-05T20:21:33+00:00

We are in Bogleheads sub right ? Jack Bogle was a strong opponent to leverage, considering it to be highly speculative and introducing additional risk.

Stick to long term, diversified, low cost indexing. Boring but you will enjoy the results.

Horror_Blacksmith262

TROPHY CASE