I just read the whole Smith Maneuver text, and many of the comments that have been made in this regard online, because I was totally skeptical about the prospect. I will continue to do research, but the above comments represent my opinion at this point. I think the strategy is right for those people that have the discipline, and risk aversion necessary to deal with a strategy like this. For those of you that do not, stick to your GIC’s and Money Market instruments that earn you 0.5-3% interest. They may be safe, but I’d prefer to have more money available for my retirement.

I won’t use leveraging simply because it opens us to more risk and I think in the end the Tortise won the race. I can continue to have my money trickle into my retirement accounts a bit at a time just to make it all work.

Tks for this article…I do have friends that have contracted those type of investment debts, so far not many have much to brag about.

HOWEVER, what if we do it for real estate investment. Compared to the stock market its easier to understand and you have more control on real estate investment. Do you think its a good idea if we were to leverage on our home equity to buy another house or apartment building?

Our investment is now worth over $44,000, we have $3,000 owing on it, and we have paid appx $900 in interest. So we’re way ahead – but how often are you right about stuff like that? I don’t think I’d risk it again – too scary.

I just hope slow and steady wins the race for us!!!

The thing that irked me the most about the whole thing was that the investment adviser who suggested the leveraging scheme still got paid. She collected her $5000 fee even when losing us tens of thousands of dollars, and she didn’t even apologize. I get it, I went in with eyes wide open and I paid the price. But the whole thing reminded me that I can’t trust someone else to have my best interests at heart. She doesn’t lose out on her fee if her advice proves faulty, or the market tanks, or the loan I took out for the investment gets recalled.