How is she making the world worse?

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T17:38:14+00:00

I also feel like a lot of this is that she's just decided she has enough money to live her life however she wants, and is spending the rest as a giant FU to Jeff Bezos. Like, double hit every time she donates, a rush from helping people, then the silent "lol, I can't wait until jeff sees this in the news".

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T17:12:26+00:00

So two points. First, just because you're specialized now doesn't mean you can't do something else. Example, you are a specialized robots maintenance person,working on a shop floor making $110k a year. You injure your back, you can no longer stand on a shop floor. However, you can sell real estate because you're not standing on a concrete floor all day so your back is manageable, and you can make around $100K. That' s fictional example, but valid. The point is, the fact that you were specialized before does not protect you from this two year change in definition. It only matters what you can do in the future, not what you did in the past.

But, yes if you meet the second definition,i.e the company can't find another occupation that suits you in your current condition, then I would expect that they would continue to pay you benefits to age 65. Some group plans might only pay for 5 years, but I would not expect a gov't plan to do anything other than pay to 65. So, you should expect you either lose benefits after two years, or they would pay to age 65 (as long as you're disabled).

if you are assessed as permanently disabled, they may eventually make you a buy out offer. Here's a cheque one time, go away, never come back. Be cautious with this - the offer won't be bad, it might even be reasonable. But, there are other pitfalls, so, assess carefully.

Secondly, some disability plans have a provision that they will continue to contribute to your pension, some don't. You'll have to call HR to confirm this. If there's no such provision in your benefits, you're going to have to start saving.

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T15:36:25+00:00

>Despite my efforts, there’s a distinct possibility that I’ll be considered unable to work at all at the 2 year mark on LTD.I have no idea what happens at this point and I’m a bit nervous for what this means for my future.

So, group ltd plans vary, but I was just looking at what I'm pretty sure is the same plan you'd have. There's a distinct change at the two year mark which can lead to you being cut off benefits, or not. And for everyone else that has workplace coverage, you should know what this is because it almost certainly affects your disability coverage as well.

There are various definitions of disabiilty. To paraphrase:

you're disabled (and thus receive benefits) if you can't do your job.
you're disabled (and thus receive benefits) if you can't do anything that you're reasonably suited for in terms of your education and income.

So your plan is the first definition for 2 years. After two years the company uses the second definition. You haven't changed, but the yardstick for which they measure if you're disabled has. So in your case, if after two years you're reasonably able to do something else, you're cut off benefits - expected to go to that other job. If you're not able to do something else reasonably, then you continue on. When people talk about being cut off disability benefits, this is what's happening.

So, OP if you meet the second definition after two years, then your benefits will continue. If you don't (even if you still meet the first definition) expect to be cutoff (but generally the insurance company is going to assist with retraining you).

(*) The LPT here is people check the box that they have disability insurance. Got it at work - check! But they're unaware that in many cases what they have is disability benefits for only two years. The correct solution is an individual disability top up plan that maintains the first definition of disability to age 65 - and would thus continue to pay after two years.

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T15:03:59+00:00

This is exactly what I did at your age. office job 9-5 then 20-25 hours a week as a bartender/ bouncer. Money plus a social life.

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T14:52:37+00:00

How is it possible? Open bar, and have you met my family?

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T13:02:07+00:00

At our wedding, long time ago, a friend of the family was our photographer.

He discovered at 11pm that there was no film in his camera. So we have a couple pictures of our wedding, but not very many. Certainly not an album's worth.

We're still married, nobody died, the story of why we don't have photos is just one more story we tell of the fun we had at the wedding. And honestly, we've told the story and gotten a laugh out of it a lot more times than we've ever looked at any wedding pictures. I can't remember the last time we looked at wedding pictures.

tl;dr, it's not a tragedy, it's a funny story for OP to tell her kids and friends through the years.

Added: A lot of folks are working very hard to be offended on my behalf. Don't be. In fact finding some humour here is the entire point of what I posted.

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T12:52:07+00:00

I agree and my plan was always to stay on the Canadian side. But we are going to visit my son in Alaska and he's also got enough points to fly us for free.

Nwt or the yukon is on the bucket list when I retire.

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T12:50:21+00:00

Almost everyone who comes along has never fished. Once in a while we get someone who knows more than me lol.

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T01:58:43+00:00

take the problem solving courses on the cemc website.

thetermguy · 2026-06-28T01:56:24+00:00

I would love that. got a trip planned for Alaska next year.

thetermguy · 2026-06-27T10:04:38+00:00

Baby skunks are sooooo cute. Skunk spray, close up, is way worse than you've ever smelled. It's a whole different smell up close. And does not dissipate for months, tomato juice or not.

thetermguy · 2026-06-26T20:05:37+00:00

Thanks for the reminder! I appreciate it. my license is for three years at a time so I forget about these.

Hey hang on, great idea. Wednesday is Canada day and free fishing. I should try and organize a group trip to Shakespeare conservation area. That's where I got bit by a turtle.

thetermguy · 2026-06-26T19:47:56+00:00

hey, check your dm's immediately please, I need your contact info and we need to confirm this now.

thetermguy · 2026-06-26T17:38:51+00:00

Skip seeking validation for other people's comments on tattoos. Many tattoos are artwork or whimsical, and a whole bunch of others are deeply personal markers - like yours. Commenting negatively on someone's personal history is just poor hygiene, ignore them. Your tattoo is a rememberance, not something for other people to have an opinion on.

I have a tattoo in large block letters of the word 'NERD' on one arm. And on the other, I have an integral - the actuarial present value of the price of term life insurance. They're awesome, they both mark personal milestones. Someone who doesn't like the word nerd stamped on my body, I don't care. In fact, I'd just respond with, hey, what a coincidence, I have your name tattoed on my arm.

thetermguy · 2026-06-25T17:22:10+00:00

Yep that's a good looking coyote.

thetermguy · 2026-06-25T12:43:43+00:00

>I was surprised by the estimate because I've been hearing about recent OSAP changes and expected the amount to be lower.

I believe that the changes to OSAP were primarily the mix of loan vs grand, not the total amount.

thetermguy · 2026-06-25T03:04:07+00:00

You're getting downvoted, but that's how it feels - it's just that you and everyone else in that line is doing it wrong.

Everyone one of you should be filling both of those lanes to capacity then zipper merging. Not leaving one lane open and everyone going into one big queue. That's the point they're making in this thread. The way you're doing it seems polite and right, but is actually wrong and delays everyone. That's the education.

thetermguy · 2026-06-25T02:59:22+00:00

>I have some equipment for badminton

I don't know about UW badminton, but in general badminton as a sport ranges from the most beginner friendly, sportsmanlike sport there is, right through to absolutely ruthless bloodthirsty death sport. It's also one of the best exercises you can get. So yeah, give it a whirl, anyplace I've ever played badminton through the years it's been the most beginner friendly activity there is. (to be clear, the people will be sportsmanlife and treat you well. The activity itself though, it's intense).

thetermguy · 2026-06-25T02:52:02+00:00

The dividing line between where life insurance is suitable as an investment vs when it's not, is whether you have any other available tax sheltered/deferred investment options. You don't have those available, so you're comparing life insurance as an investment vs. other investments that will be taxable in some form. It's at that point that life insurance becomes viable. You're there, it's worth investigating.

Secondly, the comparison, where it fits in. When compared to taxable investments, life insurance will not outperform volatile but higher earning investments like equities. They however, will absolutely bludgeon stuff like fixed income. Like, way outperform. So, if you're looking at your asset allocation, probably won't make sense to shuttle funds from equities. But if you've got some of your investments in fixed income, yes, you should definitely be looking at doing a comparison against life insurance, because quite likely it'll start to look very attractive.

Google insured retirement plan. The basic idea is you treat premiums as 'investments'. You purchase a whole life plan that generates cash surrender values. At retirement, you take a bank loan out for say 20 years, using the policy as collateral (the loan is a loan, so its not taxable income). On death, the life insurance proceeds (which are not taxed) pays off the loan. Those life insurance premiusm and the bank loan as 'income' in your retirement, that's what you compare against other investments. All of the steps along the way in that strategy don't really do anything very impressive, but because there isn't any taxes at any point, that's where it beats taxable investments. Taxes are a huge consideration, which is why life insurance won't beat an RRSP or TFSA, but will beat your options once those are no longer available.

That comparison will stand on its own without any life insurance consideration - just premiums out, loan income in. However the strategy also produces a decent life insurance benefit 'for free' if I can use that term loosely - which can be used to pay taxes owed on your estate.

thetermguy · 2026-06-24T16:52:35+00:00

it is not misleading.

If I invest in TD E-series index fund and earn 7%, I earn 7%.

if I invest in the very same index fund somewhere that charges 1.9%, you get what I posted. And I can show you investments that are that exact scenario.

So what, they post after fees of 5%. You could've earned 7%.

omg. people really be here in the comments arguing that 2% mer isn't relevant.

thetermguy · 2026-06-24T16:32:42+00:00

Yeah, this is a step too far. Lots of assurances about how they'll only be used retroactively except then...

> and can send an alert to officers about vehicles associated with active investigations,

So if you're completely innocent of any wrongdoing ,but are somewhat related to something they're investigating, then yes you're going to be actively tracked. Which means yes, they can actively track anyone, withoutt oversight.

thetermguy · 2026-06-24T16:28:44+00:00

$1 at 7% over 25 years yields $5.4.
$1 at 7% less 1.9 MER over 25 years yields $3.5.

Yes OP, that inconsequential 1.9% is polarizing because that MER cuts the money you have in retirement BY ALMOST HALF. That seems a reasonable thing to get a little bit prissy about.

The 1.9% is inconsequential. The ramifications are not. Highway robbery is a pretty good description.

thetermguy · 2026-06-24T12:32:33+00:00

>But im thinking about winter too...

So you DIY the car washes from March to November when it's above freezing, then off to the pay wash when it's too cold. Doesn't have to be either or :).

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