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As the year draws to a close, I’m taking a moment to reflect on the milestones we’ve achieved together. From personal victories to professional breakthroughs, 2024 was a whirlwind of growth and gratitude.

Highlights From 2024

• Budgeting with Unpredictable Income: Many of you resonated with this topic—a reminder that adaptability is key. Catch up here.​
• ETF Education: Being exposed to the opportunities provided by institutions, like BMO, gave me the chance to unpack ETFs and their importance in wealth-building.
• The Power of Saying Yes: Whether it was attending the TMX Market Open or connecting with fellow creators, stepping outside my comfort zone created invaluable opportunities.

Portfolio Insights

This year, my portfolio emphasized long-term growth while adapting to market changes. Diversification proved its worth, balancing high-growth sectors with steady performers (keep reading). For a deeper dive, read my 2024 Portfolio Year in Review.

I typically get a lot of positive feedback about being transparent with my financials. If you've paid an iota of attention to financial markets, you've probably noticed that this year has been booming. We are hitting record highs on nearly all indexes (except for the ones following bonds).

I was up on all aspects of my portfolio except for fine wine and real estate (without knowing for sure as I did not sell, I believe my real estate assets may have been devalued, and at best, remained neutral). Remember the whole diversification (often called di'worse'sification) vs concentration argument? I'm glad my portfolio was not that heavily concentrated. Amongst certain buckets, I'm heavily concentrated, like for crypto, all I hold is bitcoin.

For equities, I hold about 20 stocks.

You get the point.

I subscribe to the buy-and-hold investment philosophy, but that doesn't mean I don't watch that bucket of assets closely.

Goal analysis is quite regular for me, every month.

My motto is, if it's worthwhile, I'll write it down.

If I write it down I'm going to track it.

If I can track it, then I can also measure it.

If I can measure it, then I can improve it.

Nevertheless, losing money has taught me countless lessons over the last 13 years. Mainly it has kept my hubris in check. It is soooooo easy to get ahead of yourself and believe that when you are making money, YOU are the reason for it when more often, it is due to chance/luck.

Please note that a common benchmark used in investing is the performance of the Standard and Poor (S&P) 500 index.

The S&P 500 in 2024 increased 25.18% year to date (YTD).

The NASDAQ Composite Index increased 31.38% YTD.

• RRSP 19.48% (401(k)- equivalent)
• TFSA 20.45% (Traditional and Roth IRA- equivalent)
• Non-Registered Funds 17.5%
• Stock Options 29.23%
• Bitcoin 122.70%
• Fine Art 24.38%
• Fine Wine - 6.12%
• Fine Whiskey 52.18%
• Real Estate 0% ​

As you can see I'm underperforming relative to both indexes in all but Fine Whiskey and Bitcoin. However, it is important to note the position size/allocation size of the portfolio. For example, you can have 90% positive performance on a $100 asset, and in real terms, that pales in comparison to a 20% return on $1000 asset. Perspective and position size matter.

• Cash: 0.75%
• Stocks: 18.23%
• Real Estate: 72.58%
• Alternatives: 7.92%

Your 2025 Kickstart: Beginner (Adulting 101) Course

Let’s get real—if you’ve been meaning to tackle your finances but keep putting it off, you need to attend my Beginner Financial Course on Sunday, January 19, 2025, in collaboration with Foundation Physiotherapy and Wellness.

This isn’t just for therapists; it’s open to everyone ready to stop winging it and start building a sustainable financial plan. From budgeting basics to setting long-term goals, I’ll guide you step by step.

Here’s the kicker: skipping this means staying stuck in the same cycle—unclear budgets, unpredictable savings, and goals that always feel out of reach.

Not attending means missing out on:

• The chance to finally feel in control of your money.
• Practical tools and strategies to build financial confidence.
• A supportive environment to learn without judgment.

You don’t want to start 2025 already behind, right?

Make the effort your future self will thank you for. Secure your spot here.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your feedback, questions, and support fuel everything I do. Here’s to celebrating wins, learning from setbacks, and continuing to grow together.

I'm aiming to make 2025 the year of intentional progress. Whether you’re planning to save, invest, or simply learn, I’ll be here to guide you every step of the way. And remember: believe in yourself.

You can achieve anything you set your mind to—but not everything all at once.

And if you want to keep up-to-date you can follow my financial journey through my resource page.

Robin Valadares,

​@financiallyfulfilledphysio​

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