If you landed here expecting a fresh take on how much you really need to retire, or another gentle reminder to stay the course – this isn’t that kind of post.

This one’s a little more personal.

After 18 years and over 700 posts, Scott Ronalds – our long-time writer, communicator-in-chief, and internal jargon cop – has stepped away from Steadyhand. If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, chances are he’s made you think, laugh, or see investing through the lens of salmon spawning or something equally Scott-like.

With Scott’s departure and Steadyhand’s recent acquisition by Purpose Unlimited, you might be wondering, what’s next?

Allow me to introduce myself.

👋 Hi, I’m Vanessa. I’m the head of communications at Purpose.

Yes, Purpose is a firm that does crypto.

Yes, we have more than three people in our marketing department.

And yes, we occasionally use financial slang. We also have a surprising number of water polo enthusiasts, and our staff fridge often runs out of Diet Coke.

Here’s what is also true: Purpose and Steadyhand are more alike than you might think.

I started at Purpose about five years ago, fresh off the plane from London, England, and interviewing from my parents’ basement in LaSalle, Ontario.

Even though I was coming from the industry, I remember my skepticism: what would these Toronto asset management types be like? And more importantly, will I have to hide my pug tattoo?

Turns out my preconceptions were entirely off-base.

Purpose was built to challenge the traditional investment and wealth landscapes – because too often, Canadians are left with solutions that are too generic, too complex, or just plain impersonal.

Here, we wear a few hats.

There’s Purpose Investments, where we build products for Canadians who want investment solutions tailored to their real-life needs. And there’s Purpose Unlimited, our broader platform for innovation in finance, fintech, and beyond.

We also have a wealth management arm and a small business financing branch, all built with the aim of setting a higher bar in the financial services sector.

On paper, it can sound big. Ambitious. Maybe even a little… corporate.

But here’s the truth: we’re not a faceless machine. We’re people.

People who care deeply about fixing what’s broken in finance, about putting the investor first (really). And about challenging the old way of doing things – not just for the sake of disruption, but because Canadians deserve better.

You’ll hear us talk a lot about helping Canadians win. We’re in it with you. For you.

Like Steadyhand, we know the industry still has work to do, and that trust is earned one decision at a time.

We’re not here to imitate what came before, but to build on it. To take the clarity and the candour that defined this blog and carry it forward in new ways, with new voices and new energy.

Now, I guess this is the part where I tie this all into an investing allegory, right?

How about this: diversification is a good thing.

No? Is this starting to read too Carrie Bradshaw?

My apologies. Scott’s wit and storytelling will be hard to replicate, but this space will continue to be what it’s always been: thoughtful, plainspoken, and occasionally a little weird.

If we start sounding like a glossy brochure or slip into too much lingo, you have my full permission to call me out.

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to earn your trust. We’re excited to build something great together.

– Vanessa