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.

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

On the day of my daughter’s 33rd birthday, I bought her a car. It isn’t a particularly fancy auto; it’s six years old with low mileage and an SUV, so it’s big and high off the ground for safety on the highway. When we closed the deal at the car dealership, she was ecstatic. She needs a car to manage her schedule. Yet, in 2024, I’d saved to pay down my mortgage, so I had the choice of paying down that mortgage or buying my daughter a car. I chose the latter. The reasons are plentiful. Our millennial children and grandchildren need our support more than we need to pay down debt.

According to a recent study, sponsored by HomeEquity Bank, when essential needs are met “Canadians experience increased satisfaction, better financial health and more positive outlooks as we age.” The core aspiration for older Canadians is freedom. Freedom for us means more control over our lives and making choices that foster personal fulfillment. Throughout the HomeEquity study, overall life satisfaction is examined alongside three factors: strong personal relationships, financial control, and a sense of purpose, which have been identified as critical elements necessary to achieve “The Golden Triangle of Happiness.”

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.