I recently came across this article in the globe and mail.

I can't say that I was shocked.

Here you have a couple making $450,000 gross income. He's 41 and a physician and she's 39 and a dentist. Combine their ages and you likely have their financial IQ.

Five members aside from them in their household are either in diapers, somewhat potty trained and almost becoming pre-teen potty mouths.

You think you have problems? 

• They "regret not having bought a house years ago" according to the physician luxury bread winner
  
• All five of their kids are in or about to go to private school
• They have a live-in nanny
• They bought a $1.1 Million lot (with an $800k mortgage)
• Are crying because the bank won't lend them another $1 Million to build a house
• So they went to her parents to borrow money.

Problems of the first world. Bah humbug, we collectively say.

Here's a couple who would be laughed off of Dragons Den for having a completely flawed business, flawed business model and should just stick to their day jobs. Though i don't know how much i trust their judgement now...

If you're reading this and making $60k per year and saving 20% of that, you are far more financially literate than these two. 

No wonder athletes and lottery winners go bankrupt faster than any other segment of the population.

Happy New Year and all the best in health, wealth and happiness for 2015 and on to all that visit and drop a candid line or two.

Things to do to kick off 2015 en route to financial savvy and a kick-ass semi-retirement:

1. Max that $5500 per year TFSA contribution for yourself and your spouse
2. Drop $2500 into your child's RESP and get $500 free from the Government right away. Where else can you make an immediate 20% gain for just filling out some paperwork completely risk-free?
3. Make this year the time your revenues (income) far exceed your expenditures and consider yourself a business. Make a profit (savings) every month. Start thinking this way and you will be a Jedi Master in no time and people will beg you to teach them this incredibly tough thought process (not!).

And for goodness sakes, stop putting your money in GIC's - grow a set already and learn about the markets and a portfolio of assets. Not just real estate and bank deposits.