Oh, hi again. We’re digging into how The Globe picked its two locales to focus on as longevity hot spots. Plus, Vanguard just announced a major fee cut on ETFs and mutual funds. Read on!

This week, a story I’ve been working on for months finally ran, and it all started with one big question: Where in Canada are people living longer, healthier lives?

To find out, I went looking for two Canadian towns that could help answer that question. That search led me to Lunenburg, N.S., and Parksville, B.C. – two communities on opposite coasts that kept popping up in longevity research.

I spoke with demographers, dug through census data, read a mountain of papers, and even reached out to Dan Buettner of “Blue Zones” fame. But one conversation really shaped the story, and it was with Thomas Perls, founder of the New England Centenarian Study. His take-away was longevity hot spots don’t have a single cause. Some are genetic. Some are environmental. Most are a mix.

So, I went looking for Canadian examples of each.

Lunenburg fit the genetics side. Many locals descend from the German settlers who arrived in the mid-1700s, and many families have lived to their 90s and 100s for generations. Lunenbergers tend to stay for life. They look after one another. They spend time outside, cook from scratch, and stay deeply rooted in community. One professor from Virginia I spoke with has even brought students to Lunenburg twice to study why residents live so long.

Parksville, on the other hand, has mostly drawn older folks in. It caught my eye because it’s one of the oldest communities in Canada – nearly half of residents are 65-plus – and unlike Lunenburg, many people move there in retirement because they want to age well. There are endless fitness classes, a mild climate, ocean air, and all the makings of a very active retirement. My colleague Salmaan Farooqui visited the local seniors’ centre and found no shortage of people exercising, socializing and thriving.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can read the full story.

It’s the first instalment of Aging Well, The Globe and Mail’s new series on longevity, healthy aging, and what it means to support older Canadians.

How many fee cuts on ETF and mutual fund products Vanguard announced this week, making it its biggest reduction ever, it said. The move includes 5-basis-point cuts on its most popular offerings: asset allocation ETFs, which have soared in popularity since their 2018 launch and now hold more than $50-billion in assets.

What they’re saying: Asset allocation ETFS – which automatically balance a mix of stocks and bonds – are “sophisticatedly constructed portfolios… that basically take all the work out of portfolio construction for an investor and adviser and offered at an extremely low cost,” said Sal D’Angelo, head of product at Vanguard Canada.

Beaten-down stocks turned this couple’s TFSAs into a $4-million windfall

The situation: Pierre, 72, retired in Montreal after a career in a financial institution’s loans department. Over the years, he and his wife maxed out their TFSAs, using a strategy of buying deeply discounted turnaround stocks, including Air Canada and Bombardier.

The numbers: Their TFSAs are now worth more than $4-million. Combined with pensions, RRIFs and a paid-off home, the couple enjoys financial security and comfortable holidays without touching the principal.

His advice: Focus on research, be patient, and recognize when concentration makes sense – but don’t chase risky bets endlessly. “There is no need for me to chase big returns any more,” he says, keeping the bulk of future savings in diversified portfolios while still enjoying life and travel.

⏳ Almost half of Canadian retirees left work earlier than planned, but not because they were ready. Health issues, caregiving, or layoffs forced many out, while only 15 per cent retired early by choice, a new Manulife survey shows. Experts warn that unplanned early retirement can strain savings and urge Canadians to factor unexpected exits into their financial planning.