Reader.

Whether you are cheering for the Seahawks or the Patriots tonight 🏈 (or just waiting for the halftime show), I hope you have some great snacks lined up.

I’m coming to you live from Playa del Carmen, Mexico 🇲🇽.

I’m down here for the annual Blossom Social Ambassador Retreat. If you haven't heard of Blossom, it's a social investing app where you can see the verified portfolios of other investors. I'm actually the only healthcare professional in the group down here, which has been fascinating.

Spending the week with this powerhouse group of finance creators has been incredible. We are talking about everything from scaling businesses to avoiding burnout.

The Crew: If you want to follow along with the insights (and the shenanigans) from the retreat, here is the squad I'm with:

• The Heavy Hitters:@brandonbeavisinvesting, @lets_talk_money_josephhogue, @canadiantshirt​
• The Strategy Nerds:@tobinwtang, @ericnomics, @bdinvestingg, @coldbrew.finance​
• The Content Pros:@meghanmakesmoney, @moneywithmary1, @joyeeeyangg, @serenityinvestsfr​
• The Growth Team:@zaac_, @profitplugg, @itsmarcosmilla, @ree2mz, @davy.yap, @azia_mery​

📲 Want to see what I'm buying? If you want to track my portfolio in real-time and see what the other ambassadors are holding, you can join the community here. Trust me, it's impressive to see what these have been able to do without the 'traditional' finance/economics degrees.

But even in paradise, the financial news doesn't stop.

While you were buying chips and dip, the markets were having a panic attack about deflation, Bitcoin took a nosedive, and the deadline for your RRSP/IRA is creeping up fast.

Let’s get into the game plan.

The "Spousal Trap"

If you are single, retirement math is often straightforward:

Earn high income → Contribute → Receive potential tax refund.

However, for couples with different income levels, the math changes. Contributions aren't just about the refund generated today; they are also about the estimated tax rate payable tomorrow (in retirement).

The Concept: When two spouses have significantly different incomes, a common planning strategy involves the higher-earning spouse making contributions in a way that balances future retirement income.

Let’s look at a hypothetical example:

Meet Alex ($220k income, high tax bracket) and Sam ($60k income, low tax bracket). They have $20,000 to invest this year.

Option A: The 50/50 Split

• They each contribute $10k to their own accounts.
• They receive a refund, but it may not be fully optimized for the household's total tax bill.

Option B: The "High Earner" Focus

• Alex contributes the full $20k to their own account.
• Maximum refund today (due to Alex's high marginal rate).
• Alex now builds a disproportionately large registered account. In retirement, Alex may be forced to withdraw funds at a high tax bracket, while Sam has little taxable income. This defers tax today but could result in a higher combined tax bill later.

Option C: The "Spousal" Strategy

• Alex contributes $10k to their own account and $10k to a Spousal RRSP (where Sam is the owner).
• Refund Today: Alex (the contributor) still claims the deduction at their high tax rate.
• Tax Tomorrow: The funds belong to Sam. In retirement, withdrawals are taxed at Sam’s (likely lower) tax rate.
• The Goal: To balance retirement assets so both partners withdraw at lower marginal rates in the future.

Effective retirement planning often involves looking at the household's "Combined Tax Bill" rather than just individual accounts.

Note: Spousal RRSPs have specific rules, including a "3-Year Attribution Rule" (if funds are withdrawn within 3 years of contribution, they may be taxed back to the contributor). Always consult a tax professional to see if this strategy applies to your situation.

The Rules (Canada vs. US)

I don't want my American readers feeling left out. This strategy works on both sides of the border, but the labels are different.

🇨🇦 For My Canadians (Spousal RRSP)

• The Limit: Contributions you make to a Spousal RRSP reduce your contribution room, not your spouse's.
• The "3-Year Rule": Be careful! If you contribute to a Spousal RRSP and your spouse withdraws it within 3 years, it bounces back and is taxed in your hands (at your high rate). This is a long-term play.
• Deadline: March 2, 2026.

🇺🇸 For My Americans (Spousal IRA)

• Spousal IRA (Traditional or Roth).
• The Benefit: Even if your spouse has $0 income (e.g., stay-at-home parent), you can still contribute to an IRA in their name based on your income.
• The Limit (2025 Tax Year): You can contribute up to $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+) for yourself AND another $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+) for your non-working spouse. That is $14k+ of tax-advantaged space!
• Deadline: April 15, 2026

Market Check: Deflation & Bitcoin?

While you watch the game tonight, here is what the "Money Nerds" are worried about.

The Data Mismatch:

• Official CPI:2.7% (Inflation looks sticky).
• ​Truflation (Real-Time Data):0.93% (Inflation looks dead).​

The market is starting to freak out about deflation (falling prices), which is usually bad for the economy.

Bitcoin, the supposed "hedge against inflation," actually dumped this week. It seems to be uncoupling from its "Digital Gold" narrative and acting more like a tech stock. When the market gets scared, cash becomes king.

Confused by Crypto? If you are holding Bitcoin (or thinking about it) but don't understand why it moves like this, you need to understand the fundamentals before you invest another dollar. 👉 Grab my Bitcoin 101 Course Here​

🔨 The "Money Pit" Update: Still waiting...

I wish I had a final budget number for you on the rental renovation, but the receipts are still being tallied (and to be honest, I'm scared to look at the final total until I get back from Mexico).

✅ Good News: The unit is now professionally listed, and we have a video tour up! 🎥 ​

❌ Bad News: Still no signed lease. But with the Super Bowl on, I doubt anyone is house hunting today anyway.

🤝 The "Who" Not "How" (A Recommendation)

One of the biggest takeaways from the retreat this week was the concept of "Who, Not How." Instead of asking "How do I get more patients?" ask "Who can help me get them?"

I met Laura Whitelaw recently, and if you run a private practice (Physio, Chiro, Psychotherapy, etc.), you need to know her.

She runs a digital agency specifically for service-based businesses, and her superpower is SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Most healthcare pros rely on expensive Google Ads or burnout-inducing social media posting. Laura’s clients often see search become their #1 traffic source in as little as 90 days, organically.

She shared a story with me about a client from 10 years ago who still ranks on Page 1 of Google today, despite not paying for active work in years. That is the definition of a long-term asset.

If you are tired of chasing patients and want them to find you, check her out.

• Website:digitalsolutionsbylaura.com​
• Book a Chat:Laura's Calendly​

(Not an ad, just good people doing good work).

Robin Valadares

​@financiallyfulfilledpro and Certified Financial Counsellor CFC™

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