Wealth with Bev Kennedy-Steeves

08/17/2026

I get it.

You probably don’t have the time or the desire to understand all the abbreviations, terminology and investment lingo in my world.

I don’t think you should have to.

My job isn’t to turn you into an investment advisor.

My job is to explain why we’re doing something in terms that actually make sense to you.

Why add a different asset class?

Why multi-strategy?

Why private equity?

Why own two investments that, on the surface, look similar?

Sometimes that means I explain it with Coke and Pepsi.

Sometimes it’s buckets, lanes or a garden.

Whatever makes it click.

Because education isn’t about teaching you my language.

It’s making sure you understand your money in yours.

08/16/2026

No fun fancy posts today friends....BUT an INTRODUCTION to the NEW & IMPROVED:

FORESTELL STEEVES WEALTH MANAGEMENT WEBSITE.

At Forestell Steeves Wealth Management our team of experts is dedicated to helping you take advantage of opportunities, overcome challenges, and reach your goals.

08/14/2026

Last week, a client and I both completely lost a word mid-conversation.

We laughed and blamed perimenopause. 😂

It got me thinking about this stage of life for women.

We’re raising or launching kids.
Still neck-deep in sports and family schedules.
Helping aging parents.
Building businesses and careers.
And somewhere in there, starting to think about retirement, even if it feels years away.

The interesting part I’ve noticed, as life gets more complex, my conversations with women get deeper.

Not just about investments.

About independence, retirement, health, family, making sure they understand and are involved in the wealth they’ve worked hard to build.

Because whether through longevity, divorce or loss, many women will manage their finances independently at some point!!

You don’t need to know everything, but you should be part of the conversation.

And who you choose to guide you through it matters.

08/12/2026

It’s 8 p.m., and I just finished a virtual call with clients in Vancouver.

They’re retired, in their mid 70s, and have worked hard to build a significant estate they intend to leave to their children.

In our last meeting, I asked them a question:
“You’ve told me several times how important it is to leave money to your children, why wait?”

Their answer was simple.
“We thought that’s just what you do.”

So we talked about another option.

What if Some of that inheritance came now, or over a few years?
-Help with a mortgage.
-Take the family trip.
-Create experiences with their grandchildren.
-and most importantly watch them enjoy it.

Next week, they’re flying to visit their children and grandchildren.
Before they left, they wanted one question answered:

“If we give each of our children $### now, what does that mean for our retirement?”
That’s why we met tonight.

And earlier today, I spoke with their accountant because funding those gifts will require selling investments and realizing capital gains. We wanted to make sure the tax and investment decisions worked together.

The answer?
They can make the gifts without compromising their own retirement.
You could see the relief and the confidence in their decision.

Sometimes financial planning isn’t about accumulating more.
It’s about understanding when you already have enough.

Wealth should have a purpose.
Sometimes, the greatest value of an inheritance is being there to watch it make a difference.

08/07/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is:

“I’ll save more once I make more.”

In reality, I’ve seen the opposite happen.

A promotion leads to a nicer vehicle.
A bigger home.
More subscriptions.
More travel.

Before long, the raise has disappeared.

Some call it the “lifestyle gap.”

Instead of letting every raise increase your spending, try this:

✔️ Increase your investments first.
✔️ Pay down debt with a portion.
✔️ Then enjoy what’s left guilt-free.

Even directing half of every future raise toward your financial goals can dramatically change where you are 10 or 20 years from now.

Building wealth isn’t usually about earning dramatically more. It’s about being intentional with every new dollar before it quietly gets absorbed into everyday life.

When was the last time you adjusted your financial plan after a raise?

08/06/2026

This past weekend reminded me that some of the greatest leadership lessons aren’t learned in a boardroom or classroom.

They’re learned by watching someone quietly serve others.

I had the chance to experience an event that my mom has poured her heart into for years. I’d usually only see the end, the teardown on Monday. This year, I experienced the entire weekend.

And I finally understood.

I saw the countless hours, the behind-the-scenes work, the people it takes, and the endless details that most never notice.

But what stood out most wasn’t the event.

It was my mom.

I watched her give her time, her energy, and her heart to everyone around her. She has an incredible ability to make people feel welcome, valued, and like they belong. She leads without needing recognition and serves without expecting anything in return.

As someone who spends my career helping families navigate important life decisions, I often think about the qualities that build lasting trust. Generosity. Consistency. Humility. Showing up, even when no one is watching.

Those qualities weren’t something I learned from a textbook.

I learned them by watching my mom, the one on the far right of the picture.

This weekend, I found myself proudly telling people, “That’s my mom.”

Not because of what she accomplished over the weekend, but because of the kind of person she has been my entire life.

The older I get, the more I realize that success isn’t just measured by what you build.

It’s measured by the lives you impact.

Thanks, Mom, for showing me what that looks like.
❤️

08/04/2026

One conversation changed everything for a client recently.

They started with an apology.

“I almost didn’t call… I don’t have enough money to make it worth your time.”

The truth?

The size of your portfolio tells me nothing about the size of your potential.

The best financial plans aren’t built when someone has “made it.” They’re built while they’re getting there.

Whether you’re investing your first $100, paying off debt, or trying to figure out where your next raise should go, those decisions matter more than waiting until you think you’re “wealthy enough.”

Please don’t let embarrassment delay your future.

Everyone starts somewhere.

I’d much rather meet you early and help you build wealth than meet you years later wishing we’d started sooner.

07/31/2026

“I don’t think we’ve changed anything in years.”

It’s something I hear more often than you’d think.

This client had done everything right. Every month, money went into their RRSP and TFSA without fail.

But life had quietly changed.

Promotions at work.
A higher household income.
Almost no debt left.

When we mapped out their cash flow, one question changed the conversation:

“If your income has grown, shouldn’t your plan grow too?”

Annual cash flow planning isn’t about finding mistakes.

It’s about making sure your financial decisions reflect where you are today, not where you were five years ago.

Sometimes the biggest difference in reaching your goals isn’t earning more.

It’s being intentional with the raises you’ve already earned.

07/29/2026

I grew up in a small town with three brothers.

Our backyard was our playground. We had a gravel basketball court, we had the town pool where we met our friends daily for afternoon swim and evening swim. Our neighbours felt like family. We learned that a handshake meant something, hard work wasn’t optional, and showing up for each other was just what you did.

Looking back, I realize those lessons shaped far more than my childhood. They shaped how I raise my family, how I build relationships, and how I serve my clients.

Success isn’t measured by where you come from.

It’s measured by the values you carry with you when you leave.

I’m grateful for my small-town roots. They still guide me every day.