Today’s review and giveaway is on the book “New Rules of Retirement” by Warren MacKenzie and Ken Hawkins. There are a couple of very favourable reviews on the internet already from Canadian Capitalist and Four Pillars – please check out what they had to say.
I can’t imagine adding more to the aforementioned reviews other than to say that I really appreciated the main message of the first half of the book in which they challenge a lot of widely held beliefs about retirement – guess the title was a good pick! :)
Instead I’ll comment on the two authors since I’ve met them both. Warren MacKenzie is the founder and president of Second Opinion Investor Services and we met when we were both guests on the TV show “Moneyline” with Linda Leatherdale. We found that we instantly had a lot in common and have stayed in touch ever since. Warren is a former financial advisor who eventually decided that he needed to do his part to address a broken industry – namely that transparency and professionalism were lacking. I couldn’t agree more. Warren and his team are a real boon to Canadian investors.
I’ve spoken to Ken Hawkins on the phone for a bit of an interview. Back when I was an advisor, Warren mentioned that they have an advisor and manager search in which any clients of theirs who are seeking financial advisors to work with are introduced to “approved” persons. They don’t receive fees or kickbacks from the advisors, only a flat service fee from the investors – which means that they are offering a truly unbiased service. Part of the process of getting vetting by Second Opinions was to speak to Ken (who is a CFA). Again we shared many of the same philosophies and I can tell you that there are very few people who shoot straighter then Ken Hawkins.
I feel lucky in that the books being reviewed this week are all “keepers” in MY book. If you don’t win a copy, I’d recommend adding this to your wish-list. This would be especially well-received by Canadians in their fifties I would think – since retirement is top of mind and a very confusing issue right now. Having said that, the book is suitable for all ages since there is no time like the present to start planning! :)
If you can’t wait, feel free to purchase a copy from Amazon.ca now.
The Contest
If you’ve already entered a comment on the other contest posts this week, I have good news for you (if you didn’t already know): you are automatically entered into all four book giveaways this week. Essentially, any comment on any of the four book giveaway posts this week enters you for a chance to win any book. There will be four winners announced on the weekend. For those who haven’t already entered, here are the rules and regulations:
- One copy of the book New Rules of Retirement by Warren MacKenzie and Ken Hawkins will be given away in this contest
- To enter for a chance to win this book (or any of the other books featured this week) all you have to do is leave a comment at the bottom of this or any other post this week with a suggestion of a post topic for me to write about in the near future
- Comments must be made by Friday, January 30th, 2009 at 11:59pm
- You must include a valid email address in the comment form (but don’t worry, your email isn’t shared with anyone)
- Good luck!
How much money do I need to have collectively (RRSP, pension, CPP, OAS, other savings) to retire?
Thanks a lot for the link! (this isn’t a contest entry!)
Mike
Thanks again for the pointer – I skimmed this one a bit (the first few chapters are on the publisher’s site) and will pick it up if I don’t happen to win it. :-)
Suggested topic: budget 2009 highlights and suggested ways to capitalize.
Thanks for the great information.
Perhaps it’s been covered, but a general outline of approaches to investing at different ages – a checklist of issues to consider.
I’d like to see your comments on the pros and cons of collecting CPP early and what are the best options tax wise for offsetting the additional income if one opts to collect it early.
Thanks for another great contest.
Hey Preet, how about compiling a list of tools for people to make estimates/projections for both saving for retirement, and withdrawing the savings once retired?
Excellant article
Provide an example (perhaps of one of your readers) of how you would recommend they invest, save, pay off debt, ect. based on their current financial situation. Perhaps do a monthly or quarterly series.
Nice 4 book giveaways!
Okay here is another topic since we are on the subject of retirement.
What are some of the strategies that a person nearing retirement could take to reduce the risk of losing their nest egg during recessionary times like this? E.g. rules of thumb for reducing portfolio risk given age.
I am going to buy a copy if I don’t win :)
Suggested topic (I hope I don’t get flamed) – Outsourcing your retirement, spending time in a country like India where warm weather, reasonably priced medical service and cheap maid and other services are easily available.
Nice article
thanks for the contest i could really use this
Hi Preet, right now I’m 100% in gics and mip 510. I’m not sure when to start buying some equities again?
I avoided losing any money last year because I was all in cash.
I love this website.
All the best——–Joe
My new financial strategy is to save every dollar I find, by using coupons, returning empties and selling stuff I win. With saved money I’ll buy Lotto 649 tickets once the Jackpot grows > $10,000,000.
I want free stuff, I want it now.
Thanks for having these contests!
How to reocover from financial set backs.
Thanks for the giveaway!
kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com
Preet:
I just recently discovered your website and daily emails. They are interesting and informative. Contest suggestion: is an explanation of various types of bonds e.g. extendible, retractable, call or non-call features and term or perpetual etc. now that more investors are looking at fixed income.
Thanks for all the contests, Preet.
Can never have enough literature.
Corporate bonds if to buy when and which sectors. Examples would be
good.
You should do something on the new savings program for disabled like the stuff Gail Vaz-Oxlade did on her site. I’m sure your readers would be interested.
Thanks for this very informative post. This is a nice blog and will be looking forward to read more from you.