Saving for the future can be a nerve-wracking prospect. How much will be enough to comfortably retire? What will happen to your savings if major market shifts occur? These questions are not always cut and dry and can be different for every couple.  While our next client heroes Aubree and Nick have had many proud money moments along the way, questions about retirement and investment risks still arise!

Aubree is a stay-at-home mom, taking care of their two young book-loving children.  She absolutely loves hosting dinner parties and trying out the latest recipes.

Nick is an emergency physician who shares Aubree’s love for cooking and fine food and who has an unfaltering pep in his step.

With the current changes happening around the world, this month’s Client Heroes are concerned about what will happen to their savings and exactly how much is enough for retirement. So, what is our role in all of this? We want to make the future a little less scary and uncertain for these two! Read on to find out a little bit more about them!

What is your occupation?
Aubree: Stay-at-home mom.

Nick: Emergency Physician.

Where do you live?
Both: Saskatoon.

Where are you from originally?
Aubree: Swift Current, Saskatchewan

Nick: Lloydminster, Saskatchewan

What might someone be surprised to know about you?
Aubree: I am very shy, but I love to host dinner parties. (Nick’s comment: Aubree is actually known for finding a brand new recipe for something we have never made before and trying it for the first time when we have 20 people coming over for supper.  It is pretty impressive.)

Nick: I love to cook (if I had to choose another career other than medicine I would probably be a chef) and I love to dance (these days mostly in the kitchen with all the kids).

What is your favourite quote?
Aubree: “So many things are possible as long as you don’t know they’re impossible.” Norton Juster (The Phantom Tollbooth)

Nick: “If you never did, you should.  These things are fun and fun is good”, Dr. Seuss.

My proudest money moment:
Aubree: Making our last student loan payments.

Nick: Being able to make it work to buy our cabin when we found the perfect place and felt like we needed to move on it quickly.

What is your top money frustration?
Aubree: Keeping tax documents organized.

Nick: Attempting to be good planners but feeling like we don’t have all the information. (Not knowing how much we will need to save for retirement, not accurately estimating the real costs of buying a new home, or going to school.)

Financial security to me means . . . 
Aubree: Living a fulfilled lifestyle within your means.

Nick: Being able to live life without having to think about money all the time.  Not having to crunch the numbers before every single decision.

What is your favourite splurge?
Aubree: Children’s books.

Nick: Food and drink.  I will very happily pay more for food that I know I will enjoy more.

If you had a chance for one do-over in life, what would you do differently?
Aubree: I would have done a semester of high school or university abroad.

Nick: I don’t have any major do-overs, just a lot of things left on my bucket list that I will be sad if I don’t get to do some day.

What financial knowledge do you feel is important to teach your children? 
Aubree: Debt management and how to use a credit card.

Nick: The importance of saving and the delayed gratification it will bring.  Already I have seen my four year old have a few dollars of allowance and her instinct is to buy the very first thing she sees whether or not it is truly the thing she wants most.

If you could ask a financial planner any question, what would it be?
Aubree: What’s their magic number for retirement savings?

Nick: How do we know that our savings are diverse enough that if the world changes significantly in the next 10, 20, 30 years we will be okay? For example if Trump starts WWIII and we survive, will we have anything left?

TCM:  Watch for out next blog as we talk about the magic formula where one size does not fit all!