Jay Brecknell - Certified Financial Planner - Cedar Rock Financial Group

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Jay Brecknell - Certified Financial Planner - Cedar Rock Financial Group

Comprehensive financial planning focused on safe guarding your future. Certified Financial Planner at Cedar Rock Financial Group

This is done through strategic consulting with a team of professionals that help our clients reach their financial goals while minimizing risk and controlling costs.

05/12/2026

Market volatility can feel unsettling, especially when headlines are filled with uncertainty. But market fluctuations are a normal part of investing, not a reason to abandon your plan.

Some of the strongest and weakest market days often happen close together. Missing just a few of those strong days can have a significant impact on long-term returns.

That is why a well-structured plan matters.

A diversified portfolio can help provide balance when markets shift. Equally important is understanding your own comfort level with risk and ensuring you have cash available to meet your needs. At Cedar Rock, we generally recommend keeping one year of expenses accessible, along with funds for any planned purchases.

Most importantly, resist the urge to react to every headline. Stay focused on your long-term goals, trust the plan you have built, and stay the course.

Read the full article: https://zurl.co/wj6Lr

05/05/2026

If your retirement planning only focuses on finances, you may find yourself financially fit, but too unhealthy to enjoy all the things you dreamed of doing.

To make the most of retirement, you need both financial security and the health to enjoy it. Small habits today can have a lasting impact later.

- Walk more.
- Drink enough water.
- Prioritize sleep.

Like investing, consistency matters. Over time, these simple choices can lead to more energy, better focus, lower medical costs, and a healthier, more active retirement.

04/28/2026

Many people think financial planning and wealth management are separate conversations.

We don’t.

At Cedar Rock, we combine financial planning and portfolio management under one roof. When your planning and investments work together, decisions become clearer, strategies become more cohesive, and your financial life becomes easier to manage.

Having one coordinated team saves time, reduces complexity, and helps ensure every part of your financial strategy is working toward the same goals.

04/21/2026

Financial planning is not something you do once and never revisit.

Your finances need to be monitored, adjusted, and refined as your life changes. New goals emerge. Priorities shift. Retirement plans evolve. A strategy that worked five years ago may not be the right fit today.

That is why Cedar Rock focuses on long-term relationships with our clients. We work alongside you over time, helping ensure your financial plan continues to support your life and retirement goals as your needs change.

We also believe strong relationships are built on mutual fit. Because we invest significant time and attention in every client relationship, we are thoughtful about who we work with.

The strongest financial plans are built on more than numbers. They are built on trust, alignment, and a shared commitment to the future.

04/13/2026

Canada offers a wide range of travel experiences, from luxury getaways and cultural holidays to road trips and adventure tourism.

Travellers can explore rugged coastlines, prairie skies, northern wilderness, and mountain hot springs.

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy activities like hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing, while culture seekers can visit museums, historic sites, and vibrant city centres across the country.

Read more about travelling within Canada in 2026: https://zurl.co/DeFHj

07/13/2025

"If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting." - Benjamin Franklin

07/12/2025

How Working with a Financial Advisor Can Help You Avoid FOMO
Whether you’re looking to support your own children or just open the door to better conversations, a financial advisor can be a valuable partner. From educating younger family members to offering generational wealth planning, they can help bridge the gap between today’s flashy trends or a spending dopamine rush & tomorrow’s financial freedom.
• Personalized financial planning can help people stay grounded
• Advisors can create a spending/saving framework that allows for joy & security
• Helps people resist trends & focus on long-term wealth-building

Conclusion: Trade Pressure for Purpose
Most “finfluencers” aren’t sharing their credit card statements online or talking about buyer’s remorse. We are only getting the highlight reel, the edited cut of what they want us to see. It’s important to think critically about these accounts & what these “finfluencers” gain by promoting certain affiliate links, providing certain financial advice & showcasing a glamorous lifestyle to their followers. To end on a positive note, younger Canadians are showing greater financial savvy, regularly evaluating their financial plans & goals, with 54% of Millennials & 62% of Gen Z reviewing their finances quarterly. What this shows us is that young Canadians are eager to improve their financial literacy & set themselves up for success; they simply need a little guidance beyond social media for how to do that best. https://zurl.co/X06nD

07/06/2025

5 Practical Tips to Avoid Financial FOMO
• Track your triggers: Notice when & why you feel compelled to spend. Are there certain types of content or influencers who give you that FOMO feeling more than others?
• Set boundaries with social media: Unfollow accounts that trigger financial anxiety or who entice you to spend (or invest) money in ways that do not align with your budget or values. Instead, follow content creators who promote financial literacy or minimalism. It can also be helpful to set app time limits or create “no-scroll” hours to minimize your exposure & reduce FOMO.
• Reconnect with your financial values: What do you really want long-term? Financial freedom? Travel? A home? Early retirement? Use a values-based budgeting approach, spending only on things that align with your long-term goals & minimizing expenses that are not.
• Practice conscious spending: Typically, it is impulsive spending & investing that leads to trouble. Get in the habit of waiting at least 48 hours before making non-essential purchases & ask yourself if spending the money is truly aligned with your financial goals, if it is something that will bring you lasting joy, or if it is merely temporary fulfillment.
• Budget for indulgences: Similar to dieting, where being too restrictive can lead to overeating, being too restrictive with our spending habits can lead to bouts of overspending. Include a small sum in your monthly budget for indulgences. https://zurl.co/X06nD

06/30/2025

Are “Finfluencers” a Trusted Source of Financial Information?
Young Canadians aren’t just being influenced online to spend their money, it’s also where they are going for their financial information. Let’s look at some statistics:
• 82% of Canadians aged 18-24 took investment advice from social media
• 40% of young investors say they believe the “finfluencers” they follow are trustworthy
• 48% of Gen Z use social media as their primary source for financial education
• 33% of Gen Z & 22% of millennials use social media or refer to “finfulencers” for their financial information

The trouble is, the majority of this information (approximately 71% according to one report) is misleading, & the same report found only 13% of influencers to have accreditation. Despite this, 40% of young investors say they believe the “finfluencers” they follow are trustworthy.
This isn’t to say all financial influencers are uneducated about finances and investing, or that all of their advice & information is false or misleading, but that young Canadians need to think critically about the advice they are receiving. Financial advisors should earn your trust based on education, notable experience with advising clients successfully & accreditation, not the number of followers they have, how viral their posts are, or how enviable their lifestyle is. https://zurl.co/X06nD

06/24/2025

Financial 'Fear of Missing Out' (FOMO) is when people spend or invest due to fear of missing out on opportunities that their peers are enjoying. People have long been comparing themselves to their neighbours, only the 'neighbours' of today’s youth are millions online posting curated content.

Social media impacts the way younger generations spend their money (16% of Millennials & 85% of Gen Zs admit to making significant purchases influenced by social media), but this can have serious consequences, such as:
• High-interest credit card debt
• Undermined long-term savings (retirement/emergencies)
• Poor investment habits (chasing trends over long-term plans)
• Financial shame & anxiety
• Delayed financial milestones (increased debt/decreased savings)

To get a greater sense of the financial climate, here are some notable statistics:
• The median debt for Canadian millennials is $35,400
• 87% of Millennials carry some form of debt (mortgages, auto/student loans, credit cards, etc.)
• In 2023, Canadians under 35 spent 9.7% of their disposable income on interest payments alone
• In 2022, Millennials (only 27% of the adult population) accounted for 49% of all consumer insolvency filings
Young Canadians are up against systemic issues (housing affordability & education costs), plus social media & 24/7, one-click shopping designed to get them spending money. Financial literacy is crucial, as well as critical thinking & values-based spending & investing habits. https://zurl.co/X06nD

06/18/2025

We’ve never stopped trying to “keep up with the Jones’s.” Arguably, social media has only made it worse, as now we have the ability to see the “Jones’s” beyond our own neighbourhood. Whether we like it or not, social media has become a significant part of our daily lives, contributing to, influencing & reinforcing our mindset, including our financial habits.

For younger generations, social media is not only influencing their spending habits, it’s affecting the pressure they feel to keep up with their peers & spend money they don’t have to live a life beyond their means. In today’s digital age, our feeds are full of influencers with designer bags, going on exotic vacations & providing investment “hacks” so we can all enjoy the good life too. According to a 2023 study, nearly 40% of millennials say social media influences them to spend money.

Social media is also becoming the place many young people turn to for financial advice. A 2023 BMO survey found that 33% of Gen Z & 22% of millennials in Canada refer to financial influencers & social media for investment decisions. If you’re a parent or grandparent with adult children navigating these pressures, this article is for you. We’re breaking down how platforms like TikTok & Instagram influence younger Canadians’ financial behaviours & offering tips you can share with your family to help them build real, lasting wealth instead of chasing trends. https://zurl.co/X06nD

Address

#A510/20020/84 Avenue
Langley, BC
V2Y5K8

Website

https://cedarrockfinancial.com/

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