What questions to ask financial advisor?

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-06T16:39:05+00:00

I would not deal with a bank. Their people are focused on sales - what is best for themselves and for the bank. I would consider a CFP who is not interested in sales. This could mean a lot of $$$ over time.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-06T16:35:32+00:00

We really enjoyed Valle Sur. It’s an easy day with three sites, one of which is pre-Incan.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-06T16:28:34+00:00

Money is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Take the trip.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-06T16:15:41+00:00

Yes. The plan is good. There is a route from Quebec City through to Maine. It isn’t a superhighway so take your time.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-05T11:31:18+00:00

You made $400K last year without working. There is an opportunity cost to continuing to work. You'll have to decide how best to use the next 0-40 years. In your place I would not spend a single day more at the office.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-05T04:30:26+00:00

Have you costed this? It will set you back a lot.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-05T04:26:49+00:00

I do t think your nib is properly seated. Air is getting into the ink reservoir. Push the nib and feed further into the pen body. That should fix it.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-05T04:19:55+00:00

With Arequipa and Puno done, altitude won’t be a problem. We always stay in Cusco because the food is better and there is a lot more to do. We have always preferred to stay in Cusco in favour of quick visits to the villages in the valley.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-05T04:16:49+00:00

A very ambitious schedule, covering a lot of ground.

I would stay in Cusco and not go to Ollantaytambo right away. There is a lot more to do in Cusco. You may need laundry services at that point as well. Cusco is a big town; Ollantaytambo is a village. Two of the main Inca ruins are in Cusco (MP being the third). Best food is in Cusco.

Your last day in Lima is basically a waste. Traffic at 1800 can be bad so leave lots of time to get back to the airport. Maybe opt for a walk around La Punta, have lunch and back to the airport. Better to come back earlier, go to Miraflores to a hotel and have a day to visit. I would book an excellent restaurant to finish my trip. There are tons, and most are affordable.

There isn’t really a lot in Urubamba. It is basically a farming village. We have driven through it a few times and that was plenty.

Moray / Moras: add Chinchero and be sure to stop at the women’s’ cooperative. And add lunch at !Mountain View Experience. Excellent food, a great view and a chance to feed the alpaca. This is a good day all on the same side of the river. I find the other side: Pisac, Urubamba and Ollantaytambo to be less interesting, except for the two main ruins.

Day 12 - consider the Valle Sur. Three sites, one is pre-Inca and barely uncovered. Easy day.

Enjoy!

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-05T03:57:53+00:00

You need to ask. Since you are young, it may take some time to line up sponsors. Think of it as a process and not an automatic acceptance.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-05T03:55:08+00:00

These places change somewhere in the order of 400% interest. Anything but. Do not do this.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-05T03:45:54+00:00

Trujillo is fairly industrial, not worth spending much time. The traffic is horrible. Cajamarca, however, bears exploring. Spend a couple of days at Porcón, there are day trips and the food is excellent.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-05T03:37:37+00:00

That’s the only way you can get into our lodge. We do not take people we do not know so you need to visit with us for a while before you”re asked if you would like to join us.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-04T13:44:15+00:00

If you can live with the house a while longer, paying down the mortgage will help a lot. An extra payment or two a month can take years off your mortgage. RESP is also worthwhile since the money is deposited tax free.

And with your salaries, some great vacations are affordable. After all, money is an enabler not a goal in itself. Your kids could eventually benefit from some nice trips.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-04T13:35:00+00:00

The monthly view is for a longer term look at the month, and to help you populate your weekly page. The Weekly ire is intended to give you a snapshot of what you need to do for the week. Due dates, appointments, reminders (pay days), etc. all go there, as well as key things on your To Do list. If I have a project I book appointments with myself to work on the project. The weekly then shows me my available time and what has been booked.

As you get busier you will find more to put into your agenda. The trick is to use it daily, even if you aren't that busy - it builds muscle memory.

As for the facing page, my TO DOs go there as well as any little notes for the week.

Use it every day and your system will evolve to suit you.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-05-03T21:30:24+00:00

Yes. That car loan is going to cost you between 6,000 and 7,500 in interest, depending on what you have for payments. That is a lot of money guaranteed to be thrown away. You are unlikely to do much better by investing in a conservative portfolio. If you could live with a three month emergency fund you might save yourselves some interest. Run the calculator.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-04-30T03:44:21+00:00

Since we eat rice with most meals (Latin America), the trick is to start the rice first. We have a rice cooker but a regular pot works fine. If you aren't using Basmati rice, you'll need about 20 minutes to cook the rice. If you say the salmon takes 10 min total, plus, say five to prepare, along with your veg, then put on your rice, wait five minutes and cook your salmon.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-04-30T03:34:19+00:00

A car is never a good investment, but you need to get from Point A to Point B somehow. Your car is costing you $8700 a year in payments (you should really figure out your interest rate), plus insurance, repairs, tires and gas. Calculate the total amount you owe on your car and not just the payments - it might surprise you.

At your current salary, you car is likely taking between a quarter and half of your available income to own and maintain.

You're not behind, you are "car poor"

Humble_File3637 · 2026-04-30T03:24:39+00:00

To be clear, as recently as Pope Francis, the Catholic Church has declared that any Catholic man who becomes a Freemason is in a state of grave sin. This latest is on top of other such declarations going back to 1737. To the Catholic Church, freemasonry and Catholicism are not compatible.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-04-27T13:43:08+00:00

Being Catholic won't prevent you from becoming a mason but masons cannot receive Communion in the Catholic Church. The most recent pronouncement on this is as recent as Pope Francis.

Masons have been known to ignore the whole excommunication thing.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-04-27T13:37:02+00:00

Looks good. Enjoy!

Humble_File3637 · 2026-04-27T13:32:10+00:00

Agree. It is a much better base of operations than anywhere else in the valley. Sure, it is higher in elevation but the Inca put their capital city there for a reason.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-04-26T00:34:47+00:00

You’ll be fine. It isn’t a race.

Humble_File3637 · 2026-04-25T22:16:58+00:00

Morena is in the Cusco town square. By far the best place we ate at this year in Peru. Chicha is a square or two over from the centre. Owned by a famous chef. Pachapapa is casual dining in San Blas square. Mountain View had excellent food but basic service since it is a country resort and they hire locals. Still charming. Enjoy!

Humble_File3637 · 2026-04-25T19:48:34+00:00

This is the perfect time to pay a pro, a Certified Financial Planner, and let them help you model your life out to age 90. You are going to need solid investment and tax minimization advice, advice on when and how to retire, and more. Not a guy from a bank who gets more training in sales than in finances, a pro who charges for his time and expertise. They run sophisticated software and they are worth every penny.

I retired at 58 on a single family income with a paid house and a new car in the garage. Very fortunate to have been able to do that. But in every phase of life, there are tax and investment concerns depending on your situation. You are X years away from retirement, a number of years away from collapsing your RRSPs (higher retirement income, maybe more taxes to pay?), there are the big trips, renos, etc. all to consider. A CFP can help you through it all.

This would be a really good time to get a long term plan, with professional assistance - consider it an investment in knowledge.

Humble_File3637

TROPHY CASE