To my Canadian 🇨🇦 parents, you've survived the first week of school. 🍁

To my American 🇺🇸 ones, you're basically pros at it now, being a few weeks into the new routine.

And Reader can you feel it in the air?

The leaves are starting to turn, the air has a crispness to it, and gone are the days of late sunsets and early sunrises. Patio season is officially winding down.

For me, this change of season marks the "ramp-up." My golf clubs will be going into hibernation soon (which, let's be honest, will free up a solid 12-16 hours a week!). Yes, I know, football 🏈 Sundays are back on the menu, but I'll likely have the sound off with my computer on my lap. I'm diving headfirst into a few exciting initiatives, both in my clinics (in an ownership capacity) and professionally with FFP.

I've been working hard on a new, fresh, and information-packed beginner course, "Adulting 101", that will be launching in the coming weeks. I'm also thrilled to be giving seven talks this fall, including one with a large financial platform and another with a major bank (details to follow soon!).

Needless to say, I love autumn. It feels like the best of both worlds; it reminds me of summer's warmth while also making me grateful for the cozy season ahead before the real cold throws its worst at us. 🥶

Remember the story about Justin Welsh and the "old rules" of career security really resonated with a lot of you. It struck a nerve because the advice our parents gave us, while well-intentioned, was built for a world that no longer exists.

His dad worked at the same company for 42 years and retired with a pension. His path made perfect sense. But in our world, pensions are a rarity, company loyalty isn't rewarded with a gold watch, and your financial security is no longer guaranteed by a "safe" job. It's built by you.

This brings us to a powerful conclusion: if the old rules for career security are dead, what are the new rules for financial security?

I want to share a chart that tells the definitive story of what works and what doesn't over the long term. This chart compares the real returns of different assets from 1802 to 2021. And let me tell you, it's not even a competition.

On one side of the chart, you have stocks, which had a total real return of over $2.3 million (On a $1 investment) on an annualized return of 6.9%. On the other side, you have the US dollar, which had a total real return of… well, it actually lost value, with an annualized return of -1.4%. Look closer at the chart, $1 in 1801 is now worth 4 cents. It's lost 96% of its value

And in the middle, you have everything else: bonds ($2,163 total return, 3.6% annually), bills ($245 total return, 2.5% annually), and gold ($4.06 total return, 0.6% annually). The gap between the best and the rest is not just a little bit of a difference; it’s a grand canyon of wealth.

This chart is the ultimate proof of a fundamental financial truth: inflation is the silent killer of your wealth.

We're all conditioned to believe that holding cash is a safe and prudent thing to do. But over the long term, this chart proves that cash is a guaranteed way to lose purchasing power. Every year, you’re losing a little bit of your money to inflation. It's like having a slow leak in your financial balloon. You might not notice it today, but over 200 years, the balloon has become completely flat.

Now, before you go and put your entire life savings into a stock market index, there are a few important caveats to that chart.

First, the data only goes up to 2021. A lot has happened since then, but the core lesson of the chart isn't about what happened in the last 3-4 years. It's about the long-term, multi-decade trend, and that trend is unlikely to change.

Second, the chart does not include Bitcoin. Bitcoin, a digital asset, has only been around for 16 years. It's a completely new asset class that is also trying to solve the same problem of inflation that this chart so vividly illustrates. I believe that its inclusion in a future chart will tell an interesting story, but for now, it's not a part of this historical data.

And lastly, let's talk about gold. Gold has been doing very well recently, and many people have been flocking to it as a safe-haven asset. The chart, however, tells a different story. Over 220 years, gold had a measly 0.6% annualized return. This is a perfect example of recency bias, where we focus on the last few years of a good performance and forget the long-term track record. The lesson here is not to let recent performance dictate your long-term strategy.

So, what does this chart mean for you, a busy healthcare professional living in 2025?

It's a simple, yet powerful, playbook for financial success.

1. Don't Fear the Market: The stock line on that chart didn't just go up in a straight line. It swung wildly from year to year. But over the long run, it was the most reliable way to beat inflation. Don't let short-term volatility scare you out of the market.
2. ​Invest to Outpace Inflation: Your goal should not be to save money; it should be to invest it. Saving money in a low-interest account is a losing game. You need to put your money to work in assets that have a historical track record of beating inflation.
3. ​Time in the Market is Your Best Friend: The chart is a testament to the power of time. The longer your money is in the market, the more it has to compound. The biggest mistake you can make is not getting started.
4. Embrace a Long-Term Mindset: The old rules of loyalty and pensions are gone. The new rules of financial freedom are built on a long-term mindset of consistent investing. It's a marathon, not a sprint. The earlier you start, the less you have to run.

This chart is more than just a historical record; it's a roadmap for your financial future. It's a powerful reminder that if you want to build lasting wealth and truly achieve financial fulfillment, you need to put your money to work.

Invest Smarter, Together: A Look at My Portfolio

I know what you're thinking: "That's great, Robin, but where do I even begin?"

The good news is, getting started has never been easier. The chart I shared today comes from Wealthsimple, an incredibly user-friendly platform that's making investing accessible for everyone. It's where I have a good portion of my money, and it’s a perfect place for beginners to start their journey.

​Sign up for Wealthsimple to start your investing journey!​

But the best part?

You don't have to go it alone.

I’m a huge believer in learning from a community. That’s why I’m also a big user of Blossom Social. It's a social network for investors where you can connect with like-minded people, ask questions, and even see what others are doing with their money.

Speaking of which, I want to give you a glimpse into my own portfolio. I have about 24 stocks in my portfolio, but a concentrated 26% of it is made up of just two stocks and one ETF. This might sound risky, but it's a reflection of my conviction and long-term strategy. It's not for everyone, but it's a perfect example of how a disciplined investor can use a concentrated approach.

If you're curious about what those two stocks and that one ETF are, you can find me on Blossom Social!

​Join Blossom Social to see my portfolio and connect with a community of investors!​

This is the new way to learn about money: by doing it, and by learning from others.

Webinar with the Alberta Physiotherapy Association & Jane.

I'm thrilled to be giving a webinar with the Alberta Physiotherapy Association in partnership with Jane on September 29th! We'll be diving deep into practical strategies for managing your finances as a healthcare professional, from streamlining your practice to building a sustainable business. If you're a physio in Alberta, this is a must-attend!

​Register for the Webinar Here​

A Free Scholarship for Your Practice? I've Got You Covered!

I'm always on the lookout for resources that can help you build the life you want, and today I have a fantastic opportunity to share. My friend and colleague, Michelle Grasek, is running her Wellness Marketing School Scholarship Competition, and I wanted to make sure you all heard about it.

Michelle's programs are all about giving wellness practitioners the marketing skills they never learned in school. She understands that you want to focus on healing, but you also need to build a sustainable practice. This scholarship is designed to help two deserving individuals get a full ride to her program—a live, interactive version or a self-paced one geared toward acupuncturists.

This is a huge opportunity to invest in yourself and your business without a financial barrier. The application is completely free and easy to fill out.

• Applications Open: Monday, Sept. 8 – Thursday, Sept. 11
• Winners Announced: Sunday, Sept. 14
• How to Apply https://michellegrasek.com/scholarship​

If you're a practitioner who feels overwhelmed by marketing and is ready to get a clear roadmap for growing your practice, this is an opportunity you don't want to miss! Good luck!

Just a quick shout-out to the Wellness Center Creator's Retreat, hosted by my friend, Kendall Hagensen, we talked about a few weeks ago! It's a fantastic opportunity to step away from the daily grind and focus on strategic growth and well-being. These kinds of immersive experiences are a great way to recharge and get clarity on your goals.

​Learn More & Register Here​

​@financiallyfulfilledphysio and Certified Financial Counsellor CFC™

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