One of the unique things about what we do is that we see both sides of the table.
On one side, we help borrowers arrange the right mortgage for their home or investment.
On the other, we also manage private mortgage investments for clients who want predictable income.
When I first started, I felt proud when a mortgage paid out and I returned an investor’s principal.
In my mind, I thought: “We did it. The deal worked. You earned your interest, and now you’re getting your money back safe and sound.”
But I quickly learned something surprising:
They weren’t excited to get their money back.
In fact, most of them didn’t want it back at all.
They wanted their money to stay invested.
Why?
Because experienced investors already know what most Canadians don’t:
Idle money in a bank account or a GIC isn’t growing. It’s slowly but surely shrinking.
That’s dollar devaluation at work.
And it’s why the idea of “safety” is so misleading.
For many people, “safe” means: cash-heavy, debt-free, waiting for the “perfect time.”
But here’s the truth: in today’s environment, those things often create more risk, not less.
Think about it…
• Cash-heavy: feels safe. But every year, inflation eats away at what those dollars can buy.
• Debt-free at all costs: feels safe. But it can mean missing chances to leverage appreciating assets.
• Waiting on the sidelines: feels safe. But it often means missing years of equity growth or cash flow while you wait for conditions to improve.
The point is: safe isn’t always safe.
The borrowers and investors who win in this environment are the ones who redefine safety.
Real safety today looks more like this:
• Owning assets that produce income and grow in value.
• Using debt strategically — not recklessly, but as a tool.
• Structuring your mortgage for flexibility and protection, not just the lowest rate.
• Keeping buffers that protect you and position you for opportunity.
This mindset shift is what separates those who quietly fall behind from those who build real security for their families.
And it applies whether you’re…
• Buying your first home,
• Restructuring debt that’s weighing you down, or
• Growing a portfolio of investment properties.
If you’ve been wondering whether your mortgage and your money are truly “safe” — or just sitting idle while they shrink — I’d be happy to talk it through.
Talk soon,
— Vince
P.S. Cash might feel safe. But in today’s world, “safe” can quietly become the riskiest move of all.
