OTTAWA - Your house is worth a fortune - why not tap into that wealth by retiring to a smaller place?

MoneySense.ca, by Julie Cazzin
September 2011

Five years ago, Bill and Karen Fung started planning for one of the most important days of their lives - the day they would both leave their full-time jobs for good and begin enjoying the long unstructured days of a carefree retirement.

Full text: Is it wise to downsize?

OTTAWA - An expert in personal financial planning says that even though the average Canadian continues to add debt, it's never too late to get out from under it and save for retirement.

Ottawa Sun, by Scott Taylor
August 2011

Marc Lamontagne, a partner of Ottawa-based firm Ryan Lamontagne Inc., said success comes down to common sense, hard work and discipline. "You need a budget and a plan. Most people don't keep a budget and don't have a plan to get out of debt. So there is some work involved to figure out where your money goes every month." He said software packages that can be downloaded can help organize and categorize expenses, making it easy to see where the money is going. "Work with a certified financial planner to design a plan to pay off debts and then start working on other goals, such as retirement, children's post-secondary education and perhaps even a cottage.

Full text: How to lose debt weight

Those who heeded the advice of the wealthy barber can look forward to his return.

Ottawainsight (Carleton University), Jillian English
July 2011

"To expect those rates of return is ludicrous so I think you have to be realistic and expect a six, seven, eight per cent rate of return. That’s sort of the best case scenario today", says Marc Lamontagne, a certified financial planner with Ottawa’s Ryan Lamontagne Inc.

Full text: A Haircut That Makes Sense

Thanks to a winning lottery ticket purchased in Kingston, at least one person's life is about to change forever.

Whig Standard, by Clare Clancy
June 2011

Certified Financial Planner Marc Lamontagne said individuals need to be careful after an unexpected windfall. "People can blow that money very quickly," he said, adding that he would encourage any lottery winner to take some time before spending money. "Yes, you can buy little things and go on a trip … but take a one-year cooling off period."

Full text: $6.2-million lottery ticket sold in city