Testimonials

Academics

"In his book entitled Nonsense in Traditional Retirement Planning, Dany Provost provides a set of arguments and a methodology that allow people to start thinking differently about achieving their financial goals over a lifetime while having fun. Indeed, his approach to financial and retirement planning is, in my view, worth considering given that it appears to be more flexible than the traditional model."

Gilles Bernier, Ph.D.
Professor of Finance and Insurance
Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Chair
Faculty of Business Administration
Laval University

"I truly enjoyed reading the book by this man, well-known for being a top financial planning expert as well as a man of exceptional intelligence and a member of many worldwide extremely high IQ societies.

What makes Nonsense in Traditional Retirement Planning a one-of-a-kind book is that it deals with the quality of life as a broader concept, not the way we are used to defining it.

More technical aspects are dealt with in a simple but nonetheless meticulous manner. Humour is peppered throughout. The clarity of examples is remarkable and easily understandable by all. Many readers who "haven't yet thought about it" will find in this book invaluable information they will greatly benefit from.

Dany Provost's unique approach could be summarized as follows: "Make your income fit your needs and not the other way around." He reminds us of simple (and often neglected!) elements. To the most fundamental single question one should ask, his colourful answer provides food for thought.

Most financial advisors calculate how much you need to save annually in order to reach your retirement goal. Dany shows us, with original examples, the nonsense of this method that makes your quality of life a secondary issue!

To summarize, this work is brilliant, for its originality as much as for its real usefulness.

Albert Frank
Mathematician
Former Vice-Dean of Zaire National University
Brussels, Belgium
http://users.skynet.be/albert.frank/
http://www.ludomind.gui.pro.br/
http://www.lulu.com/content/71060

"In Nonsense in Traditional Retirement Planning, Dany Provost explains both how to save and how to live. He wants you to save for the future, because you're going to need it. However, he doesn't want you to save until it hurts, because that hurts! By using his simple yet profound method, you will find an equilibrium that brings peace to your life. We've all heard the traditional retirement planning mantras time and again, and most of us have simply absorbed them without critique.

Taking a step back to assess those and consider alternatives could literally change your life.

I encourage you to take that step today by reading this book!"

Greg McGuire
Graduate Student in Philosophy
Office Assistant in Undergraduate Career Services
Hamilton, OH, U.S.A.

"Dany Provost's book is a real Copernican revolution in retirement planning. Putting back into question the "sacrosanct " 70% rule, he shows that sacrificing everything today in order to reach a certain lifestyle level at retirement is not only an existential aberration but also a financial one. This book is rare proof that quality of life is not a vaporous concept but a reality that one must plan today in order to live a happy, financially sound retirement."

Loïc Jacob, M.A., M.B.A.
IAIFS Chair
Researcher
Laval University

"A new and promising vision of how to plan your retirement. Financially, how can you take full advantage of the present without risking the future? In this field as in many others, the author presents a rigorous and intelligent demonstration that flexibility is better than rigidity." (May, 2005)

Guy Provost, Ph.D.
Executive Vice-President
FQRNT*

*A Canadian non-profit funding agency supporting research

Professionals

"Hi Mr. Provost,

I read your book. On top of being interesting, it made me laugh? I love absurd humour. I usually fall asleep when traveling - by bus - but you kept me awake! (...) It was very easy for me to read because this is a question of philosophy I talk about in my conferences and with my clients. Your book is technically very rigorous and is based on sound financial reasoning. I generally find many technical mistakes in financial books but yours is exempt from them. I recommend this book to anyone willing to delve beneath the surface."

Eric Brassard, F.Pl., Chartered Accountant
Former university Accounting professor
Professional Financial Advisor
Author of five books on personal finances
Brassard-Goulet-Yargeau

"Mr. Provost is for us the par excellence financial planning and actuarial resource. He knows how to bring his knowledge within the reach of everyone. What a privilege to be able to be close to someone who helps us leave the competition way behind."

Yvan Boisvert, F.Pl.
Director
DFS Independant Network
Quebec City, Canada

"To my knowledge, nothing like this has been done in the past. His method is unique! Dany Provost throws away all traditional retirement planning methods. He takes us to a new dimension as far as money is concerned. This actuary pushes our thoughts and analysis to this second level: COMMON SENSE!

You know your retirement goals, plans and dreams? Start planning your fun now!"

Normand Dubé
Professional Financial Advisor
DFS Independant Network
Quebec City, Canada

"Having used Mr. Provost's professional services for many of my clients, I can tell you that they are much impressed about their report's analysis and thoroughness. There has never been another tool able to deliver such concrete and accurate results about the lifestyle they can enjoy throughout their lives.

The beauty of this tool - the professional version having the same fundamental characteristics as the one supporting Nonsense in Traditional Retirement Planning - is that it's easy to update our client's financial situation and, on top of that, they have a down-to-earth plan of action.

I recommend it to everyone!!!"

Steeve Queenton, ASA, F.Pl.
President
REGAR Financial Management
Quebec City, Canada

"Early in my career and for many years, I was responsible for estate and will planning at my company. During those years, we were managing economic growth. However, in the future, the challenge may be quite different.

In reading Nonsense in traditional retirement planning, I was impressed by this factual and common sense revolutionary approach about one of the most important areas in personal finances: retirement planning.

This read is really worth it if you want to see the big picture of your financial situation."

Jean-Luc Dutil, F.T.I.
Regional Vice-President (retired)
Montreal Trust Co.
Montreal, Canada

"Your book is the BEST on the subject. Congratulations!"

Emile Cayouette
Professional Financial Advisor
DFS Independant Network
Grand-Mère, Canada

"Dear Mr. Provost,

I would have so much to say? but I'll get straight to the point.

Your philosophy is better adapted to reality than the traditional model. It works and people can understand and project their situation within the desired time frame.

At last - an actuary that understands the meaning of fun and retirement.

Good luck!"

Stéphane Boily, B.Adm., F.Pl.
Professional Financial Advisor
REGAR Financial Management
Quebec City, Canada

"Hello Mr. Provost,

I read your book last weekend and liked it a lot. I notice that your approach is rational but also a human one. It's about time that our industry can count on quality information. I encourage you to keep on writing."

Louis Hudon, M.Sc., F.Pl.
Professional Financial Advisor
Sunlife Financial
CSF Representative
Gatineau, Canada

"Dany Provost has developed the very best method to optimize financial retirement cash flows."

Larry Bathurst, F.Pl., AVA
Professional Financial Advisor
President
RICIFQ
Montreal, Canada

"Hi Dany,

This weekend I read your book and I can tell you I just LOVED it. Some parts really make you think, the "fun" budget, among others. On top of that, I really enjoyed your writing style!"

Jeannot Plamondon, B.Adm., F.Pl.
Professional Financial Advisor
Finex Financial Partners
Trois-Rivières, Canada

"Mr. Provost,

Being myself a financial advisor, I realize there are many deficiencies among retirement planning reports proposed by insurance companies. I find your approach very interesting and I would like to learn more in order to fulfill my clients' needs."

Nicolas Côté
Professional Financial Advisor
SFTA Inc.
St-Lambert-de-Lauzon, Canada

"With the burnout rate we are facing nowadays, maybe some people give too much importance to their retirement account. Planning for fun, as Dany Provost suggests, is just common sense."

Réjean April, B.Sc., F.Pl.
General Manager
REGAR Financial Management
Quebec City, Canada

"His method makes financial planning much more appealing to clients by focussing on how much fun they can have instead of focussing on sacrifices they have to make. Unfortunately, Mr. Provost is an actuary and all financial advisors on the market don't have his degree of competence."

Benoît Gagnon, B.Adm.
Professional Financial Advisor
DFS Independant Network
Quebec City, Canada

"I know Dany Provost because I worked with him in the past for a few years and carefully watched his path thereafter. When I think about him, the words that pop into my mind are: atypical, funny, smart and rigorous.

Dany is a passionate man who knows his field better than anyone else and is not afraid to go off the beaten track. For me, he is the "alchemist of numbers". His book brings a new light to retirement planning and unveils many hidden aspects that many would rather keep secret.

There is no doubt that his book is a must for anyone who cares about understanding this wonderful world of retirement as well as having the right information about "sacrosanct" planning. I recommend it to everybody!"

Michele Frenette, B. Adm.
Foundering President
GRMF Inc.
Specialized pension plan firm

Dany Provost is not the traditional advisor with the usual solutions.
Dany is smart, creative, thinks outside the box and can adapt to all types of situations.
He will listen to you and what you will hear from him should sound like music to your ears - with humour.
With him, things are never boring and his findings will always surprise you.
With him, you are not just a number, even though he knows them all!!!

Jean Roy, FSA (Fellow, Society of Actuaries)
Actuary
Montreal, Canada

"Dany Provost is an amazing person, a visionary! He is always in search of new information and new concepts. With his highly sophisticated technical tools, he facilitates my professional financial advising. With his support, I feel very sharp in front of my clients. His financial philosophy calls into question many facile theories that are more "reflex based" than logical. He brings depth and preciseness to truly integrated financial planning.

He is not only a financial analysis "machine" but also an artist to the core. It appears that music and numbers are closely linked... I've heard him play the piano and I can testify to that...

In fact, Dany Provost is a very nice kind of person that I appreciate a lot not only for his technical support but also for his interpersonal skills."

Maxime Boucher
Professional Financial Advisor
DFS Independant Network
Trois-Rivières, Canada

"Having been a Professional Financial Advisor for more than 35 years, I sometimes have to deal with more complex or delicate situations. In order to do the very best job, I require Mr. Provost's professional advice. Believe me, this man is a sheer "financial maniac". He does what no other financial professional does and this has led him to develop this awesome philosophy. On top of that, we share what to me are the most important values: integrity, competence and a real sense of engagement. He has added a human factor to financial and tax planning and that's what makes this philosophy so unique and sublime. So if you want to get the most out of your financial situation, whatever it is, Dany Provost is the real deal!"

Raoul Garneau
Professional Financial Advisor
DFS Independant Network
Quebec City, Canada

"Mr. Provost's book Nonsense in Traditional Retirement Planning deals with the importance of having fun throughout our lifetime. What he suggests is focussing on the "fun" budget instead of the whole budget, which is a unique way of doing things.

Furthermore, this method allows people to be aware of their TRUE lifestyle level and live accordingly from any moment on based on their appropriate retirement date.

It's important for me to tell you how much I appreciated having Mr. Provost as my personal financial advisor. Now I know where I'm going because I can see the big picture of my financial situation. I was so satisfied with Mr. Provost's advice that I now work part time for his firm! Serious financial publications have endorsed his philosophy, so this confirms my choice.

Have a good read because it's really worth it!"

Aline Michaud
Senior Group Benefits Advisor (retired)
FIIQ
Quebec City, Canada

"Nonsense in Traditional Retirement Planning contains original and well presented ideas."

Louis Martin, FSA (Fellow, Society of Actuaries)
Actuary

"In more than 15 years, as a colleague, a partner, or a friend, Dany has always shown a high level of intellectual rigour, fed by creativity and integrity, accompanied by a great level of competence and engagement. Moreover, he does all of this by always taking good care of the human factor. That's something I will always respect to the highest degree."

François Desrochers, B.B.A.
Vice-President
Optimum Consultants & Actuaries Inc.
Montreal, Canada

Media

"Provost has formulated a fresh perspective on financial planning that should benefit everyone from neophyte to expert."

John C. Hallenborg
Writer/Consultant
Los Angeles, Calif.

"He was a musician and an actuary before becoming a financial planner. He tells me that I might have saved too much for my latter days. He reminds me that fun must prevail in my life. No doubt about it, Dany Provost is a real character. In this so-many-people-have-the-same-speech environment, his approach will appease many investors' fears."

Jean Pare
Publisher
Transcontinental Group

"This book is really worth the read: for the ideas, for the different way to imagine one's future (...) and - this is the crux - the hope of becoming less anxious about retirement."

Michel Marcoux
Le Devoir
Major Daily newspaper

"This topic is interesting because his philosophy comes outside the current scope of the large financial institutions."

Lise Millette
Freelance journalist
Richelieu, Canada

"Dany Provost shakes up some well accepted ideas, putting quality of life at the centre of our financial planning."

Jacques Belanger
Le Journal Économique
Newspaper

"Dany Provost is the cat among the pigeons in traditional financial planning."

Daniel Germain
Affaires-Plus
Business magazine

"Mr. Provost's method is so sensible that one wonders why no one has thought about it before."

Dominique Froment
Les Affaires
Major Business weekly newspaper

"It's not about throwing away financial planning and living the present moment to the fullest without worrying about the future. The approach is based on annual planning but adding intelligence to it. Each person is unique and every situation must be planned accordingly. Very interesting and refreshing."

Louise Froment
Québécor Media

"With an ironic and funny style, Dany Provost shows us a non-conventional method... He gives us plenty of examples, sometimes convincing, sometimes funny but always food for thought. One thing is for sure, it is quite a change from the classic method."

Richard Johnson
Journal de Montréal
Major Daily newspaper
Montreal, Canada

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