In this episode of the AskTMFG Podcast, Financial Advisor John Iaconetti breaks down three common investing mistakes that can quietly increase the taxes you pay and reduce your retirement income over time.
They start with market timing: pulling money out during downturns or waiting for the “right” moment to invest. While it may feel safer in the short term, missing just a handful of the market’s best days can significantly reduce long-term growth. Over time, that gap can translate into hundreds of dollars per month less in retirement income.
Next, they tackle chasing hot stocks and headlines, whether it’s tech, AI, cannabis, crypto, or whatever is dominating the news cycle. By the time most investors hear about the “next big thing,” much of the growth has already happened. Overconcentration in trendy investments not only increases risk but can also create unnecessary tax consequences, especially in non-registered accounts.
The third mistake is buying based on past performance. Just because a fund or company was a top performer over the last five years doesn’t mean it will stay there. In fact, data shows that only a small percentage of top-performing funds remain leaders in the following period. Building a portfolio around yesterday’s winners can lead to poor diversification, higher volatility, and avoidable tax triggers.
Through a simple example, taking $20,000 out of an RRSP during a market drop, they show how small emotional decisions can compound into meaningful losses, potentially reducing retirement income by hundreds per month.
The key message: successful investing isn’t about being smarter or predicting markets. It’s about staying disciplined, diversified, tax-aware, and aligned with a long-term plan. Small decisions, done consistently, can have a massive impact on your retirement lifestyle.
👉 Watch the full episode to see how these three mistakes might be affecting your retirement plan, and what to do instead:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbjmIFoqblQ
Question for our listeners:
Have you ever made an investment decision based on fear, headlines, or past performance? How did it impact your long-term results?
If you’d like a second opinion on how your portfolio is positioned, we’re offering a complimentary portfolio analysis to help you identify gaps and opportunities:
https://tmfg.ca/portfolio-analysis/
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