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Hey Reader, it is officially December!
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The tree is (probably) up, the clinic is getting chaotic with the "use-it-or-lose-it" benefit crowd, and we are sprinting toward the finish line of 2025.

If you’ve been feeling like the economy is "bad" even though the data says it’s "fine," you aren't alone. Economists call this the Vibecession, where our feelings about money are worse than the reality.

But according to the massive Wealthsimple "Big Ideas 2025" Report that just dropped, the bad vibes are officially checking out.

I read through their annual forecast this morning so you don't have to (adding to your Return on Time!). While there was a lot of noise, there were three massive signals that directly impact us.

1. Shoppers Are Getting Harder to Swindle (Thanks to AI)

The days of the "know-nothing consumer" are over. Wealthsimple argues that AI has become the ultimate shield against being ripped off.

People are now using tools like ChatGPT to fact-check mechanic quotes, contractor estimates, and vet bills in real-time. ("Hey AI, is $400 for a brake caliper normal in Toronto?")

The "Information Asymmetry" that businesses used to profit from is collapsing. If you run a clinic, transparency is no longer optional; it's your only survival strategy.

2. Smartphones Are Making Us Dumber (The "Crowdsourced Lobotomy")

The report highlights that IQ scores are slipping and adults are increasingly struggling with reasoning. It’s not just "screen time", it’s the "widespread platforming of morons." Social media feeds are no longer curated; they are an infinite scroll of the lowest common denominator. Wealthsimple calls it a "crowdsourced lobotomy." Guard your attention like you guard your wallet. (This is why I stick to high-signal newsletters... like this one! 😉)

3. First-Time Home Buyers Have Rarely Had It Worse

This is the most sobering chart. The gap between wages and home prices is at a historic chasm. Because ownership feels impossible, an entire generation is shifting priorities. They are becoming "Forever Renters" and channeling their money into "YOLO" experiences and luxury goods instead of down payments.

Trend #3 (The Housing Crisis) is the exact reason I made a shocking decision on my own property this week.

My tenant gave notice. I have a $200,000 equity check sitting in a "lazy" asset. I asked you to vote on what I should do:

• Option 1: Renovate & Re-Rent (Leverage)
• Option 2: Sell & Invest in the Market (Growth)
• Option 3: Sell & Pay Off Personal Mortgage (Peace of Mind)

The Audience Vote:

• 0% voted Option 1 (Reno): The die-hard real estate bulls.
• 57% voted Option 2 (Market): The math-heads pointed to the 20-year compound interest chart.
• 43% voted Option 3 (Debt Paydown): The majority of you valued Sleep at Night over maximum ROI.

My Decision: I am doing the one thing almost no one voted for.

I am choosing Option 1.

I am going to keep the property, invest ~$20,000 (likely from a HELOC- interest on the loan is tax deductible) into a strategic renovation, and re-rent it.

Why?

The "Everything Rally" Changed My Mind. The Wealthsimple report confirms that we are entering a cycle of global easing (falling rates). The Federal Reserve just announced the end of Quantitative Tightening. To explain this (as I can imagine it's a foreign term for many of us), let's use the board game Monopoly.

Quantitative Easing (QE) = The Money Printer

• The Banker gives every player $5,000 extra cash for free.
• Suddenly, everyone feels rich.
• Since everyone has tons of cash, they all rush to buy Boardwalk and Park Place. Because there is so much money chasing the same properties, the price of those properties shoots up.

Simple Rule: More Money = Higher Prices.

Quantitative Tightening (QT) = The Money Vacuum

• The Banker says, "Party's over," and takes $2,000 back from every player.
• Everyone feels poor and scared to spend.
• Nobody has extra cash to buy Boardwalk. To sell it, the owner must lower the price.

Simple Rule: Less Money = Lower (or stable) Prices.

Selling a tangible asset right before a rate-cut cycle kicks in is often a mistake. I’d be selling at the bottom.

If an entire generation is being priced out of ownership, they shouldn't be forced to live in subpar, run-down units. They deserve high-quality, stable, beautiful homes where they can build a life, even if they don't own the deed.

My Strategy:

1. Invest in Quality: I’m not doing a "slumlord special." I’m investing $20,000 into new floors, a modern kitchen, and fresh paint. I want this to be a place I would be happy to live in.
2. Partner with the Tenant: By providing a premium product, I attract a tenant who wants stability. It becomes a partnership: I provide the home, they provide the care.
3. The Win-Win: This renovation boosts my cash flow by $600/month (a 36% ROI on the reno cash), but more importantly, it adds a great unit back to the housing supply.
4. The "Katie Factor" (Pray for Me): This will also be Katie's first-ever renovation project. She has watched a lot of HGTV, so I think she expects "Demo Day" to take 20 minutes and end with us high-fiving in a pristine kitchen without a speck of dust on our outfits. I haven't had the heart to tell her yet that the "Demo Day" reality is usually 12 hours of sweating through a mask, finding mold we didn't know existed, and eating pizza on a floor covered in drywall dust. If you see us in Prescott next weekend and she looks traumatized... you know why. This renovation might be the ultimate test of our new marriage! Wish us luck. 😂

In a world where landlords get a bad rap, I believe providing excellent housing is a service, not just an extraction.

By holding, I capture the cash flow now and the appreciation later when the housing market catches up to the stock market rally.

The Year-End Sprint: 3 Moves Before Dec 31st

Since today is December 6th, you have exactly 25 days to make moves that impact your 2025 tax bill.

🇨🇦 For My Canadian Pros

1. The FHSA "Clock Starter": Open a First Home Savings Account (FHSA) TODAY if you don't have one. Just opening it locks in your $8,000 room.
2. The "Tax-Loss" Sweep: You can sell your "loser" stocks in non-registered accounts before Dec 30th to offset gains.
3. The "Dues" Check: Pay your College registration dues before Dec 31st to claim the deduction for the 2025 tax year.

🇺🇸 For My U.S. Pros

1. "Bonus Depreciation" Loophole: Practice owners, buy and install equipment before Dec 31st to write off 100% of the cost this year.
2. FSA Alert: Check your Flexible Spending Account balance. Use it (contacts, dental) or lose it before Dec 31st.
3. 401(k) Max Out: Employee contributions must be made by Dec 31st. You have 3 weeks to hit that $23,500 limit.

🧰 The 2026 Toolkit: Get a Head Start

If you want to enter the new year organized and optimized, here are the tools I personally use.

• For Investing: Wealthsimple If you're still paying high fees at a big bank, stop. Wealthsimple is the easiest way to automate your TFSA/RRSP. Plus, they currently have a massive 1% Match Offer for transferring accounts over.
• For Budgeting: Lunch Money, I’ve tried every budgeting app, and this is the one that stuck. It handles multi-currency (great for travel) and crypto seamlessly. Use my link to get a 1-month free trial.​
• For Social Investing: Blossom Social Want to see what other North American investors are actually buying during this rally? Blossom is like Instagram for your portfolio. It’s great for dividend tracking and community insights.

Yours Truly,
Robin Valadares

​@financiallyfulfilledpro and Certified Financial Counselor CFC™

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