Two Pillars of Financial Safety You Can Count On: Precious Metals and Passive Income
David LeBlanc- May 19
- 5 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
Hi again real money tribe,
If there’s one thing the last few years have taught us, it’s this: having a financial safety net is no longer optional—it’s essential. Between inflation, market volatility, and global uncertainty, it just makes sense to start thinking differently about how we build and protect our wealth.
I’m a big believer in two powerful, time-tested tools: precious metals and passive income. Together, I like to think of them as my two pillars of financial safety, security and wealth preservation and growth.
Before I dive in, just a quick heads-up: I’m sharing my personal views and opinions here—this isn’t financial advice. Everyone’s situation is different, and I always encourage folks to do their own research.
Why Relying on a Single Income Source Is Risky
One of the biggest shifts I’ve made in my own thinking is letting go of the idea that one income source—like a salary—is enough. We’re living in a time when life is just getting too expensive. From groceries to gas to housing, everything costs more, and it takes more income just to survive, never mind thrive.
On top of that, relying on one stream of income is risky. If something happens to that job, or that business slows down, you could find yourself in a really tough spot. Having an additional source of income not only helps reduce that risk, but it also gives you more flexibility. You can cover bills more easily, save faster, or even have some extra for the things that make life enjoyable.
I’ve personally seen too many people with what looked like iron-clad public sector jobs—careers once considered untouchable—suddenly lose their positions due to cutbacks, restructuring, or politics. Others have experienced temporary layoffs, found themselves out of work while a spouse is on disability, or hit retirement only to realize they need a part-time job to make ends meet. It’s a tough reality, but it’s becoming more common. That kind of financial disruption can be devastating if you don’t have something else to fall back on.
More income for me means more freedom, choice and independence—and who doesn’t want that?
Building Financial Independence: Why Relying on Government Benefits Isn’t Enough
Financial independence and freedom mean being more self-sufficient and less reliant on government programs like CPP, OAS, or other financial benefits. Statistics show that Canada’s aging population and government fiscal challenges put these programs at risk of future cuts or reductions. For example, recent reports suggest that without reform, CPP and OAS may not provide the same level of support in 20–30 years. Building your own income streams today helps protect you from uncertainties in government support, giving you more control over your financial destiny, and if done well you will have created your own pension and that just feels way better than relying on anyone or anything else.
Pillar One: Precious Metals — Timeless Protection + Financial Safety
Phyiscal gold and silver have been stores of value for thousands of years. They aren’t dependent on any central bank, government, or corporation. When fiat currencies weaken as they have been, or when confidence in the financial system gets shaky, physical gold and silver tend to shine.
What I love about precious metals is that they offer a form of wealth that isn’t digital, doesn’t rely on third parties so there is zero counterparty risk, and can’t be printed out of thin air thus inflated away like fiat dollars. Sure they don’t pay a dividend, but they don’t come with the same risks as stocks either. They’re more about preserving what you already have - think of them as your savings and long-term wealth/legacy account.
Pillar Two: Passive Income — Generating Consistent Cash Flow + Peace of Mind
While gold and silver help you protect wealth, passive income can help you grow and diversify your income and build wealth steadily over time. But what exactly is passive income?
Passive income is money that continues to flow in with little active effort once it's set up. It’s not about trading your time for money—it’s about making your money work for you. When done right and in a manner that works for your needs, it creates consistent cash flow that can support your everyday expenses, grow your savings, or simply give you more flexibility in life.
One of the easiest and most accessible ways to generate passive income is through dividend-paying investments, like high-yield ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), or blue-chip dividend-paying stocks.
For example, there are covered call ETFs and income-focused ETFs that pay out generous monthly dividends. Some popular options in Canada and the U.S. yield between 8% and 18% annually—and in some cases even higher.
These types of investments can be easily bought and held in a DIY brokerage account like Wealthsimple or Questrade. You don’t need to be a financial expert to get started, and you can begin with small amounts and build over time.
Here’s how it can work:
📥 You invest in a high-yield ETF (I have a long list of those which I use and really like with high yields and consistent dividends)
💸 That ETF pays you a regular dividend (usually monthly)
🔁 You can use that income to cover expenses or reinvest the dividends into more shares/units to snowball your income stream - you have options!
💰 Do this inside your TFSA and it's tax-free, while inside a RRSP is tax-deferred.
The idea is to build an income-oriented portfolio that pays you while you sleep. It might take time to grow, but once it’s in motion, it can quickly start to snowball and give you incredible peace of mind. Even during rough market patches, that income can help cushion the blow or allow you to stay invested long-term. This can be a very good alternaitve way to invest compared to growth investing whereby you only make money if the investment goes up and you sell. With passive dividend income investing, you earn money through regular distributions plus if the investment appreciates in value. Many people often find this style simpler to start and reduces anxiety and makes investing fun again.
How to Get Started: Building Your Two-Pillar Financial Safety System
If you’re ready to take control of your financial future and start building your own safety net, I invite you to book a free 15-minute Discovery Call. Let's talk about whether you're looking for your own two-pillar system for financial security and independence.
These two pillars have certainly helped me and my family to feel more secure about the financial future, and they have helped others as well - not as a get-rich-quick scheme, but as a strategy for stability and long-term resilience and just knowing that you have a plan and building something real and tangible for you for the future. Can you say that now about your financial security and income?
To your financial health 🥂
David
Precious Metals Coach
"Real money for We The People"
🌟 BEFORE YOU GO, WHY NOT GRAB MY LATEST, FREE GUIDE?
I just released my latest guide, "Why Savvy People Are Moving To Precious Metals". It's a powerful, eye-opening read which drives home the advantages of trading some of your man-made fiat dollars for real money - physical gold and silver. Many shy away or never even consider precious metals in the first place as they think learning about gold and silver is daunting and scary, or is only or the wealthy. In fact, owning precious metals is just for about everyone, as they've been real money for thousands of years, and can help you to pave your own path towards wealth, choice and freedom.
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