Ambassadors: Featured Posts

The U.S. issued an Executive Order imposing a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports, except a 10% tariff on Canadian oil, electricity, and natural gas. This is effective on Tuesday, February 4th. The Prime Minister announced on Feb. 1st a 25% tariff on $155 billion of US goods. As of Tuesday, the first tranche will apply to $30 billion of US goods. Canada will be challenged economically, households will be hurt financially, and the landscape will likely change forever. However, while we can’t change what has happened, we can change how we respond.

After reflecting, I would say “yes” without hesitation if you asked me if I thought I was happy. I found happiness in the fleeting moments after presentations, conversing with a colleague, or in the process of simplifying a concept. I have realized happiness has often come from external experiences or achievements. Joy, on the other hand, comes from inner fulfillment, gratitude, or even spiritual depth. It is personal, can be profound, and sometimes offers contentment amidst struggles.

The “golden triangle of happiness” is genuine and, according to a new survey by HomeEquity Bank, achievable. The “Golden Triangle of Happiness” is a concept developed by researchers at Deakin University and Australian Unity. The golden triangle focuses on the factors that make people happy – financial control, relationships and connection, and purpose. The balance and intersection of these three elements can lead to a genuinely fulfilling retirement.
The golden triangle of happiness is, in many ways, the golden opportunity for our golden years—and your golden years are right now, regardless of age.

My history with books and with banks is why I’m so excited about HomeEquity Bank’s new initiative to support Canadian books and authors, the By Canadian Book Club. It couldn’t come at a better time. Today, the majority of best-selling books in Canada are written by U.S. writers and published by foreign-owned presses. To help us through these difficult, and might I add scary times, I’m delighted to announce that “Home EquityBank is throwing its CHIPS in: free books to customers written by notable Canadian authors.”

With our economy facing ongoing threats by Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods crossing the border into the U.S., it isn’t easy to remain in good spirits or to appreciate that being at home can be comforting. I’m finding that staying home helps me withstand this uncertainty and keeps me grounded.

Today, we believe that ageism is evaporating and that older people can lie active and appealing lives well into their nineties. Yet I’m not entirely convinced that ageism hasn’t stood the test of time as we continue to push ourselves mush harder than we might if we weren’t trying to live up to an unattainable standard. In her new book Still Life at Eighty, octogenarian Abigail Thomas begins by saying: “The word I hate most is seniors. I was a senior once, but it was a long time ago and I graduated. The label sounds

When HomeEquity Bank approached me four years ago to be their spokesperson, I did a lot of research into the company. My reputation and personal integrity are important to me. I didn’t just want to be a face and a name. I wanted to believe in what I was endorsing.

Kurt Browning, a Canadian figure skater and the celebrity spokesperson for HomeEquity Bank, partners with his dog to describe the benefits of a CHIP Reverse Mortgage and how it can help you retire in the home you love.

Kurt Browning, a Canadian figure skater and the celebrity spokesperson for HomeEquity Bank returns to tell you more about the CHIP Reverse Mortgage.

One thing I look forward to during the holidays is watching one of my favorite movies, A Christmas Carol. I love the last lines in the movie “Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. Watching the movie this time got me thinking about making some positive changes in my own life. At age 70 I’ve decided to set a new BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) to be as happy as Scrooge on Christmas day and live the best life possible with the time I have left.

In the beginning, retirement is fun and feels pretty good for everyone. But, at some point, some retirees (not the comfort-oriented ones) will start to rebel against too much relaxation. You can sleep in or travel to all those places you dreamed about, but you know you can’t stay in vacation mode forever. It’s estimated that approximately one in three people will experience retirement shock soon after retiring, which are the same odds of a person getting shingles. The happiest retirees are the most prepared. They know what their strongest needs are and find activities that will satisfy them on a regular basis. They do not suffer from retirement shock, because they are excited by and focused on what they plan to do.

Whenever someone tells me they are thinking of selling their home and moving somewhere like Mexico because of the lower cost of living I get nervous. Before you make a major life change like selling everything and moving to a place like Mexico to benefit from a lower cost of living you need to think things through and test things out. Another important detail that many people forget to consider when planning a move to someplace like Mexico is the importance of their existing relationships with friends and family and the community they live in. When you move somewhere far away you will lose your support network of friends and family. In summary, having close, positive relationships reduces stress in our lives and significantly impacts our overall well-being.