Barenaked Money

Why Retail Investors Should Avoid IPOs (SpaceX, OpenAI, and Index Inclusion Games) Josh Sheluk and Colin White of Verecan Capital’s Barenaked Money explain what an IPO is, why companies go public, and the trade-offs versus staying private, including disclosure requirements and transparency. They argue retail investors should generally avoid IPOs because offerings are structured to favor insiders a...

How Much Do You Need to Retire? Why the Question Is Wrong—and What to Ask Instead Hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White of Barenaked Money discuss why common retirement questions—like how much money you need, when you can retire, average retirement spending or savings by age, and the “safe” 4% withdrawal rule—are often useless without personal context. They emphasize retirement planning is goals-based...

Canada Strong Fund vs. Sovereign Wealth Funds: Why Borrowing to Invest at Home Could Backfire Hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White discuss the proposed Canada Wealth/Canada Strong Fund and argue it differs materially from traditional sovereign wealth funds. They explain sovereign wealth funds originated as a response to “Dutch disease,” using commodity windfalls to build large funds (e.g., Norway’s)...

Prediction Markets: Why They’re Gambling, Not Investing Hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White of Verecan Capital Management discuss the rise of prediction markets (e.g., Polymarket, Kalshi, and a planned Wealthsimple product in Canada) following regulatory approvals, and argue people should avoid them. They frame the episode as a “draft of bad ideas,” led by the claim that participants will likely los...

AI-Powered Misinformation and Financial Scams: Fake Opportunity, Authority, and Urgency Hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White of Barenaked Money welcome back misinformation researcher and author Matthew Facciani (Misguided) to discuss current misinformation trends, especially how AI scales personalized scams across social media, email, and increasingly convincing audio deepfake phone calls. Facciani o...

War, Markets, and Why You Still Can’t Invest on Headlines Hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White discuss how wars and geopolitical conflict have historically affected markets, emphasizing the human tragedy while focusing on financial implications. They review major Middle East conflicts since 2000: Afghanistan (Oct 7, 2001), Iraq (Mar 20, 2003), the Syrian Civil War (Mar 15, 2011), the Yemeni Civil War...

Gen Z, Retirement at 59, and the Math Behind the Despair Hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White discuss a retirement survey comparing generations and claiming Gen Z expects to retire around 59, earlier than millennials, Gen X, and boomers, despite low confidence and limited progress toward goals. They link younger cohorts’ despair to factors including housing affordability, career disruptions from COVI...

2026 "Predictions": AI Spend, Prediction Markets, Speculation, ETF Flood, Gold, Analysts, and the USD Josh Sheluk and Colin White (Verecan Capital Management) deliver a tongue-in-cheek style 2026 predictions episode, repeatedly stressing the forecasts are not investable. They expect more clarity on whether the hundreds of billions spent building AI infrastructure will pay off, with Colin suggestin...

Predicting the Unpredictable: 2025 Financial Forecast Recap and 2026 Outlook on Barenaked Money In this special edition of Barenaked Money, hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White of Verecan Capital Management, Inc. recap their 2025 financial predictions and assess their accuracy. Yes, it's a little late for a 2025 recap and that's ok. The episode features a mix of amusing self-reflection and serious an...

Challenging Economic Norms and Investment Strategies with Paul Musson In this episode of Barenaked Money, hosts welcome guest Paul Musson, an old friend and former financial industry colleague. Paul discusses his new book 'Capital Offense: Why Some Benefit at Your Expense,' which explores economic and monetary theories behind current financial systems and their flaws. They delve into the importanc...

Challenging Financial Norms: A Conversation with Rob Carrick on the Future of Financial Advice In this episode of Barenaked Money, hosts engage with Rob Carrick, a seasoned finance columnist and personal finance expert, to discuss transformative changes in the financial advice industry. They explore Carrick's views on controversial topics such as housing markets, Canada’s household debt, and the n...

Investing in AI: Separating Hype from Reality In this episode of Barenaked Money, the hosts dive deep into the investment landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). The discussion begins by highlighting Nvidia's unprecedented $5 trillion market cap, as well as the overall impact of AI on the stock market. Guests Matt and Maria from the Verecan team provide insights on how to separate AI technology...

The Unseen Complexities of Powers of Attorney and Estate Planning In this episode of 'Barenaked Money,' returning guest Jonathan Hooper delves into the intricate world of powers of attorney, offering essential advice on appointing the right person for the role. The discussion covers the types of powers of attorney, including immediate and deferred, and their specific functions in managing your fin...

Deanne Gage on Financial Journalism, Death Binders, and Evolving Trends In this episode of Barenaked Money, hosts Colin and Josh welcome Deanne Gage, a seasoned financial journalist from Globe Advisor at the Globe and Mail. Deanne discusses her accidental entry into financial journalism, her investment journey starting in her teenage years, and her unique perspective on the financial industry. The...

Navigating Media and Financial Reporting: Insights from April Fong In this episode of Barenaked Money, hosts are joined by April Fong, Deputy Editor for Personal Finance at the Globe and Mail, to discuss the current media landscape and its impact on business and finance reporting. The conversation explores themes of media consumption, the challenge of navigating misinformation, and the importance...

How Media Business Models Shape Content: A Conversation with Nicholas White In this episode of Barenaked Money, hosts Colin and Josh are joined by Nicholas White, CEO of Fragment Media, to discuss the broken business model behind traditional media and the structural shift toward reader revenue. White discusses how the reliance on advertising has contributed to distraction, highlighting the importa...

Questionable Financial Products and the Importance of Understanding Investment Risks In this episode of Barenaked Money, hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White discuss a range of recently launched investment products that they consider problematic or gimmicky. The conversation covers ETFs like GRFT, which bets on political insider ties, high-yield covered call strategies, zero-day options, and other le...

Understanding Misinformation: Causes, Effects, and Solutions In this episode of Barenaked Money, hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White from Verecan Capital Management Inc. welcome social scientist and author Matthew Facciani. They explore the pervasiveness of misinformation across history, its acceleration in the social media age, and the cognitive and social biases that make people susceptible to fal...

Cybersecurity Insights with Matt Toussain: Defending Against Evolving Threats In this episode of Barenaked Money, hosts Josh Sheluk and Colin White from Verecan Capital Management are joined by cybersecurity expert Matthew Toussain, the founder of Open Security. Matthew shares his extensive experience in cybersecurity, shedding light on the vulnerabilities individuals and businesses face, particul...

The Intricacies of Management Buyouts and Succession Planning In this episode of 'Barenaked Money,' host Colin White from Verecan Capital Management dive into the complex world of management and employee buyouts as a form of succession planning. Featuring guest Rakesh Jain, a CPA with over 40 years of corporate finance experience, the discussion covers the critical aspects of transitioning busines...

Barenaked Money Welcomes Prisma Music Festival: Maestro Arthur Arnold and Andy Rice from Prisma Music Festival Discuss Music, Professional Parallels, and Community Connection In this special bonus episode of Barenaked Money, host Colin White of Verecan Capital Management Inc. is joined by Maestro Arthur Arnold, Musical Director and Andy Rice, Development & Marketing Director, from the Prisma M...

Reflections on Market Bottoms: Lessons from the Pandemic In this episode of Barenaked Money, hosts Josh Sheluk and guest Matt Kempton, discuss the significant five-year anniversary of the market bottom during the pandemic on March 23, 2020. They reflect on the challenges and uncertainties of that period, the importance of not timing the market, and the relevance of diversification. They draw paral...

Understanding Behavioral Finance with Lisa Kramer: From Seasonal Affective Disorder to Overconfidence In this episode of Barenaked Money, host Colin White from Verecan Capital Management interview Lisa Kramer, the inaugural Verecan Chair in Behavioural Finance at the University of Toronto. They discuss the importance of behavioural finance, which integrates psychology into economic and financial c...

Post-Liberation Day Market Reactions: Navigating Volatility and Uncertainty In this episode, Colin & Josh discuss the day-after effects of 'Liberation Day' on global markets. They observe significant drops in stock values and express concern over the heightened volatility. With global markets down roughly 3%, the discussion touches on how different sectors are affected, the human toll on affec...