The guides and roadmap pages are the foundation of Sovereign Canadian. This page is where I publish new articles, research, commentary, and updates as they’re released. If you’re looking for the latest additions to the site, you’ll find them here.
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Bigger House or Finish the Basement? How I’m Actually Thinking About It
I’ve noticed something over the last few years as I’ve written more for Sovereign Canadian. Almost every major financial decision eventually disguises itself as something much smaller. Buying a cottage isn’t really about buying a cottage. Buying offshore real estate isn’t really about buying another property. Even deciding whether to acquire a business or continue investing in…
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FIRE, FIRE Light, and Coast FIRE: Three Doors Out of the 40-Year Grind
Most people hear “FIRE” and picture a 34-year-old in a hammock who will never touch a spreadsheet again. That version exists. But it’s one door out of three, and for a lot of higher-earning Canadians it’s the wrong one to walk through first. Financial independence isn’t a single finish line — it’s a spectrum of…
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The Smith Maneuver: A Deep Dive for Canadians Who’ve Already Read the Hype
The Smith Maneuver might be the most over-marketed strategy in Canadian personal finance. Search for it and you’ll find an ecosystem of certified specialists, courses, and books all selling the same dream: turn your mortgage into a tax deduction and retire rich on the spread. The pitch is seductive because the mechanics are real —…
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Canada Pension Plan: The 2026 Owner’s Manual
Most Canadians treat the Canada Pension Plan the way they treat the furnace in the basement — they assume it works, they resent the bill, and they never once read the manual. That’s a mistake. The CPP is one of the few pieces of your retirement that is inflation-indexed for life, backed by an $800-billion…
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Second Real Estate Investment: What Comes After the Cottage?
The cottage decision is behind me. If you followed along, you know how that analysis went — cottage vs. upsizing the primary residence, two mortgages vs. one, lifestyle purchase vs. an asset with optionality. The cottage won. And after one month of Airbnb hosting on Lake Huron, the numbers are pointing in the right direction — not cash-flow…
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Cottage vs. Upsizing Your Home: Which Mortgage Decision Actually Builds Wealth?
Many people with a growing family and some equity hits the same fork in the road. Do you upgrade and buy a bigger, better house? Or do you buy a cottage? Both moves can cost roughly the same. Both put you ~$500k deeper in debt. But they are definitely not the same decision.
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Jack Spirko Quote On The Rat Race
I don’t recall which episode of The Survival Podcast I heard this on, but it hit home with me so much that I had to write it down (hopefully verbatim). It is about the rat race that many of us are involved in on a daily basis. Takes these words to heart and they can…
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Computer Privacy
The programs & web applets I use for computer privacy Between hackers, competitors, nosy kids, and nosier NSA agents, computer privacy is a very hot topic. Well in Canada we have to also watch out for the nosiness of the CSIS, CSEC, and I’m sure that the CRTC wants to make sure we’re not using…
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Podcast Episodes Oct 19
Some Podcast Episodes Oct 19 for this weekend. If you missed it, here’s last weekend’s picks. Fat Burning Man Episode Rich Roll – Vegans vs Paleo Lat Cozad’s – Freedom Redoubt Ripple Outdoors Episode 1318 – How to Field Dress a Deer The Outdoor Podcast Episode 31 – Basics of Deer Hunting Podcasts are a…
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Music: Pretty Boy Floyd – Woody Guthrie
Some will rob you with a six gun- Some with a fountain pen “As through this life you ramble You’ll meet some funny men Some will rob you with a six gun Some with a fountain pen As through this life you ramble As through this life you roam You’ll never see an outlaw Take a…
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Questions Answered: For protection, is it better to carry a gun or pepper spray?
Guns and Firearms: For protection, is it better to carry a gun or pepper spray? If it’s legal in your area, then both. Some situations would be solved by the threat of pepper spray, some by its deployment. Some situations may require the threat of a firearm, and – as much as we hate to…
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Fitness Plan for Canadians
What is the best fitness plan for Canadians? Step away from the celebrity trainers, machines, and fad workouts. In reality, all you need is in the following three videos. Try some things until you’re tired, rest, try some more; rinse and repeat. After watching these videos you should never, ever complain that you don’t know…
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Vacation Reading: George Orwell’s 1984
Tomorrow I am heading out on Vacation for a little over a week. Surviving the rainy Vancouver winter typically means getting a week or two of sunshine in each year. I am not a fan of laying on the beach for hours, just soaking up the sun. But I sure can snorkel and crash waves…
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Canadian Thanksgiving
My Thoughts on Canadian Thanksgiving As we get deeper into the fall season every year, we come across the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s such a great tradition; one that we must keep gong for future generations too. Some think that it is a celebration of food – and that’s not exactly wrong. But I feel there’s…
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How to Slaughter a Turkey
Question Answered: How to Slaughter a Turkey It’s Thanksgiving weekend and Turkey is on the menu. Sure you could buy a frozen, or even a fresh turkey. But maybe you raised a few birds over the summer, or somehow got your hands on a live one. Now you’re wondering to yourself, how to slaughter a…
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Podcast Episodes Oct 12
Here are some podcast episodes I recommend for this weekend. If you missed it, here are last weekend’s The Survival Podcast Episode 269 – The Issues Test (Where do you stand and why?) Important questions to ask yourself when an issue comes up. Whether it is political, news, or in your everyday life. The Survival Podcast…
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Music: Warriors of the World
Man’o’war – Warriors of the World Whether you are at home and need some energizing music or at the gym pounding out the last couple reps of deadlifts or bench press at the gym – this is a song you need. You’re Welcome. Just try to not be energized after this fantastic metal ballad. …
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In The News: Tornado in Seattle
Rare September Tornado in Seattle At the end of September, residents of Seattle were surprised to hear of a tornado in their area. Tornados are rare in mountainous regions; and are even more rare on the west coast. But let this be a friendly reminder that things can happen anywhere.
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Apple Crisp Recipe
Apples are a blessing in Canada. We can make apple pies, apple sauce, apple cider, dried apples, and add apple as a flavouring to many of our baked goods. But the most common thing I make with them is Apple Crisp. My Apple Crisp Recipe: I hesitate to give exact measurements for this recipe, because…
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Can we have Personal Liberty in Canada?
Is it even possible to have personal liberty in Canada? Mr.Nobody was kind enough to leave the following comment on my post about a day at the shooting range: “A firearm (or many) is pretty much a prerequisite to self-reliance and personal liberty. Which is why you can’t and don’t really have either in Canada.”…
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Ted Nugent – The Motor City Madman
I grew up listening to Ted Nugent, Metallica, AC/DC, Guns’n’Roses, and Aerosmith. Being a teenager in the 1990s, I think I was the last of the generation to do so too. However, I had an extra special bonus growing up in southwestern Ontario: I was in radio reception to Detroit and listened to ZRock 102.7,…
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Weekend Podcast Episodes Oct 5
Last weekend I recommended some podcast episodes for you to listen to. I want to do that again this weekend. I listen to so many good ones that I want to share. These are a few of the best episodes I listened to this past week: Rdella Training Episode 37 – How to Build Serious…
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Consumer Nutrition Responsibility
I recently answered some questions on a survey for the Canadian Government about Consumer Nutrition, Food Labelling, and what they can do to help. The survey was poorly laid out for most consumers to actually answer; Questions were unclear and the survey was too long. It likely cost us a lot of money to put…
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Question Answered: What do you carry in your pockets on a Daily Basis?
In my Pockets: Money clip with $100-$200, Amex & drivers licence. SOG Flash pocket knife, iPhone w/ earbuds, watch, Fenix 32PD-UE flashlight, car keys w/ Gerber Shard tool. In my Backpack (always in office, car, or home): MacBook laptop, Petzl headlamp, boxcutter knife w/ replaceable blades, first aid kit, fire kit w/ magnesium starter, Kindle…
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Music: A Country Boy Can Survive
Hank Williams Jr. – A Country Boy Can Survive The Interest is up and the stock market’s down – and you’ll only get mugged if you go downtown. I’ve got a shotgun, rifle, and a four wheel drive – and a country boy can survive. I can plough a field all day long, I can…
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Quote: When The Government Fears The People
“When the people fear the government there is tyranny. When the government fears the people there is liberty” -Thomas Jefferson