Think Smart with TMFG

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Senior Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of CI Assante Wealth Management, address a key question many Canadians are facing: If you receive a lump sum of money, is it smarter to pay down your mortgage or invest it? The advisors explore the advantages of paying down debt, particularly in a higher interest rat...

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, Mike Connon and John Iaconetti, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of CI Assante Wealth Management, focus on what has been happening in Venezuela and why global political headlines, especially those tied to oil, matter to Canadians and their investments. The conversation examines Venezuela’s massive oil reserves, the impact of long-standi...

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, Mike Connon and John Iaconetti, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management, discuss when it makes sense for Canadian business owners to incorporate and what factors should drive that decision. They explain why there is no single income level that automatically signals incorporation, and why future growth, cash flow n...

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, Mike Connon and John Iaconetti, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management, discuss common estate planning mistakes and practical strategies for Canadians. They explore why having a properly structured will, appointing executors, and setting up powers of attorney are critical for a smooth estate transfer and for prot...

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Senior Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management, explore practical strategies for Canadians approaching retirement. They highlight the challenges many retirees face, including navigating pensions and government benefits, as well as planning for unexpected expenses. Mike and Carlo disc...

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Senior Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management, dive into practical strategies for Canadians who want to invest smarter without getting caught up in market hype. They emphasize that long-term success isn’t about chasing the latest hot stock or sector; it’s about having a clear, goal-...

This Think Smart with TMFG episode, hosted by Mike Connon and John Iaconetti, Financial Advisors of The McClelland Financial Group at Assante Capital Management, explores why retirement feels more challenging today and how inflation is affecting Canadians’ long-term financial plans. Key Takeaways: Inflation is making retirement more expensive, and many retirees are having to adjust their plans bec...

This Think Smart with TMFG episode, hosted by Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management, explores how rising tariffs and trade tensions are reshaping Canada’s economy and global markets. Key Takeaways: Canada sends 75% of its exports to the U.S., making it vulnerable to trade disruptions. Emerging markets, such as China and In...

This Think Smart with TMFG episode, hosted by Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management, dives into what they call “The Advisor for Life Conundrum.” Many clients hope to work with one trusted advisor for their entire financial journey, but how realistic is that when an advisor’s career may last 30 years and a client’s financia...

This Think Smart with TMFG episode, hosted by Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management, shares insights from a recent AI-focused conference. They explore how tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly powerful, but only when used by experts. Just as using a heavy concrete saw without experience can be risky, relying on AI without p...

This Think Smart with TMFG episode, hosted by Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management, explores the chaos of losing a cell phone on vacation and its surprising impact on modern life. From travel apps to reliance on technology, they explore the challenges and offer essential tips for parents and travellers alike.   Key Takeaw...

This Think Smart with TMFG episode, hosted by Mike Connon and John Iaconetti, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management Ltd, explores how the lifespan of home products has changed, from old 40‑year lawnmowers to today’s modern appliances. Key Insights: Modern products often last less but are more efficient. Knowing how long things last helps you plan for re...

Join Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Senior Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management Ltd., as they explore the psychology of retirement. They explore the four common mindsets people have as they approach this major life transition: the countdown-to-retire, those accepting severance packages, the one-more-thing crowd, and those who never plan to stop working...

This Think Smart with TMFG episode, hosted by Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Wealth Management, explores the top concerns Canadians face as they approach retirement. The hosts highlight the challenges of balancing financial security, health needs, and market uncertainty as retirement gets closer. Key Takeaways Healthcare Costs: Many r...

This Think Smart with TMFG episode, hosted by Mike Connon and John Iaconetti, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Wealth Management, explores the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), especially ChatGPT. They discuss how AI has expanded far beyond its initial perception as a student tool into healthcare, business, finance, and everyday life. While AI offers majo...

This episode of Think Smart with TMFG — hosted by Mike Connon with guest Carlo Cansino — explains practical strategies for charitable giving in Canada. They cover giving cash, donating securities to avoid capital gains tax, naming charities as beneficiaries of insurance and RRSP/RRIFs, and using donor-advised funds to create a flexible, tax-efficient legacy. Learn about tax receipts, tax-free grow...

Join Mike Connon and Carlo Cansino, Senior Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management Ltd., as they take a closer look at the essentials of estate planning for Canadians. In this episode, they break down what probate is, how provincial probate fees work, and the common strategies to minimize those costs — from beneficiary designations and joint accounts to t...

Join Mike Connon and John Iaconetti, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management Ltd., as they take a closer look at misleading advertising and how it can shape — and sometimes distort — financial decisions. In this episode, they break down common marketing claims, from active investment fund promises and the old “Freedom 55” dream to product hype like miracl...

Join Mike Connon and John Iaconetti, Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management Ltd., as they unpack one of the biggest financial debates Canadians face: renting versus buying a home. In this episode, they break down the real investment benefits of real estate—covering tax advantages, leverage opportunities, and what typical long-term returns actually look l...

Join Mike Connon and John Iaconetti, Senior Financial Advisors at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management Ltd., as they unpack the complexities of inheritance planning. In this episode, they explore how to prepare your children to responsibly manage the wealth they may inherit—focusing on the importance of building strong financial habits early in life. From using trusts to ho...

In this episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," hosts Mike Connon and Financial Advisor, John Iacanetti at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management Ltd., dive deeper into the world of credit cards—an everyday financial tool that’s often misunderstood. Building on their previous discussion, they explore practical strategies for effective credit card management, offering listeners ac...

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, Mike Connon and Senior Financial Advisor at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management Ltd., John Iaconetti dive into the often-overlooked complexities of credit cards — a modern financial tool that’s both essential and potentially risky. They unpack the benefits, from building credit history to maximizing rewards, while offering a clear-...

Welcome to another episode of Think Smart with TMFG. In this episode, host Mike Connon is joined by John Iaconetti, Senior Financial Advisor at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management Ltd., for an insightful conversation on the evolving role of middlemen across industries. From construction and banking to retail and beyond, they explore how intermediaries impact costs, efficie...

Welcome to another insightful episode of Think Smart with TMFG. In this episode, Mike Connon is joined by Senior Financial Advisor Carlo Cansino of The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management to explore the current state of the real estate market. Together, they unpack how rising interest rates and shifting market dynamics are impacting both homeowners and prospective buyers. From...

In this episode, Michael Connon, Senior Financial Advisor at The McClelland Financial Group of Assante Capital Management, sits down with fellow Senior Financial Advisor Carlo Cansino to explore how global conflicts—from World War I to recent tensions in the Middle East—have historically influenced investor behaviour and market performance. Discover the surprising resilience of financial markets d...