Reader,

This week was a straight shot back to reality. Katie and I got home from Miami late Tuesday night and went immediately into clinical work mode on Wednesday morning.

As I write this to you today, we are actually back on the road (thankfully not too far) filming a three day project for a TV show! Katie originally brought the casting call to my attention, and we ended up auditioning twice. To her absolute amazement, we got accepted.

The dynamic between us during the application process was hilarious. As a clinic owner and entrepreneur over the last 14 years, I have been rejected so many times that I didn't think twice about putting ourselves out there. Katie, being a few years younger than me and having lived a more traditional career path, hadn't put herself in positions to be rejected as often. She was deadly afraid of it happening. But like most things in life that terrify us in the moment, we are already laughing about it in hindsight. While the show isn't directly about personal finance, money certainly plays an influential role in it. I can't disclose any more details just yet, but stay tuned!

Mid October Financial Housekeeping

Since we are officially in mid October, it is worth a quick reminder that October is National Financial Planning Month. As the Canadian weather turns and the calendar year draws to a close, many people find this an excellent window to review their portfolios and set up tax strategies before the holiday chaos hits.

For healthcare professionals, right now is the perfect time to start your year end planning: review your corporate structure, map out your final RRSP/401(k) and TFSA contributions, and evaluate tax loss harvesting in your non registered accounts.

Speak to your professional about that.

The Hidden ROI of Proximity

Speaking of the weather turning, yesterday I squeezed in what looks to be the absolute last round of the golf season. That brings me to 58 rounds ⛳️ for the year, just short of my magic goal of 60.

As a finance nerd, the end of the season means it's time to run the actual numbers on the membership:

• Total Annual Cost: ~$6,500 (This includes dues, food, drinks, and play. No carts; I only walk)
• Cost Per Round: Rounding up to my goal of 60 rounds, that breaks down to roughly $108 per round.

At face value, joining a country club looks like a pure luxury expense. But here is where it stops being an "expense" and becomes a high yielding investment.

I didn't join the club to network; I joined because I love the game (love and skill down often equate 😅). But naturally, when you put yourself in environments with other business owners, professionals, and high achievers, relationships form. This year, simply through proximity and community, I gained 15 new clinical clients.

Given our clinic's average lifetime value of $791 per client, simply the economic reality of our practice, those 15 new patients generated $11,865 in revenue.

The membership didn't just pay for itself; it turned a profit. There is a massive financial and personal benefit to being close to ambitious people and learning from them. Whether it is a country club, a mastermind, or a professional gathering, these are incredible opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. It is rare to find that kind of leverage or fulfillment by mindlessly scrolling on your phone.

Travel Hacking Our Miami Stay (And Japan 🇯🇵 2027)

Let me share a quick glimpse into how we leveraged our finances for our Miami trip. We actually flew down a day earlier than planned because the flights were significantly cheaper before the long weekend. However, that meant we needed a hotel for one extra night.

Instead of paying full price, I booked the beautiful Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables using the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts portal via my Amex Personal Platinum card.

Even though we arrived too late to take advantage of the 12pm early check in, the built-in perks were incredible:

• A $100 USD property credit (~$145 CAD)
• Daily breakfast for two (valued at $35 USD (~$100 CAD total)
• A room upgrade upon arrival
• A guaranteed 4pm late check-out

The room cost us $512 CAD. I applied my $200 annual travel credit, bringing my real out-of-pocket cost down to just $312 CAD, and that is before factoring in the $240+ in free food, credits, and the suite upgrade!

If you aren't optimizing credit card strategies, you are leaving money on the table.

Right now, there are massive referral bonuses floating around where you can earn up to 150,000 Membership Rewards points.

The Amex Platinum Math: Why a $799 Fee is an Investment

When most clinicians see the $799 annual fee for the Canadian Amex Platinum Card, they immediately flinch. But personal finance is about calculating Return on Investment (ROI), not just avoiding expenses. Let's break down the actual math to see why it is a massive bargain for healthcare professionals who travel:

• The Immediate ROI: You are handed a $200 Annual Travel Credit and a $200 Annual Dining Credit right out of the gate. Use those on a single trip and a nice dinner, and your net fee instantly drops to just $399.
• The Lifestyle Leverage: For that remaining $399, you get access to Priority Pass lounges as well as the ultra premium Amex Centurion Lounges. You also receive instant Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, unlocking free breakfasts and room upgrades without having to earn them through repeated stays.
• The VIP Extras: The card comes with elite rental car booking perks and 24/7 access to the Platinum Concierge, which can help you secure difficult restaurant reservations or event tickets.

If you value your time and comfort outside of the clinic, you are effectively trading a net $399 for hundreds of dollars in free meals, drinks, and a frictionless VIP travel experience. Stop viewing premium credit card fees as dead expenses and start viewing them as investments in your lifestyle leverage.

We use these exact points to fund our major trips. In fact, we are already planning to use our accumulated points to fly one way to Japan in May 2027. We found a route, through Roame Travel, flying Business Class on the Air France A350 for just 92,000 points per person!

If you want to see what that cabin looks like, check out this review here.

It’s the ultimate lifestyle leverage.

A Big Surprise For Next Week...

Next week marks a huge milestone for us, our 1 year wedding anniversary!

As a special surprise, I am handing the keyboard over to Katie. She will be guest writing next week’s entire edition, sharing the unfiltered truth about what our first year of marriage (and managing lives and finances together) has really been like from her perspective.

You won't want to miss it.

​@financiallyfulfilledpro and Certified Financial Counsellor CFC™

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