Bob Lai and Nelson Smith

DIY Wealth Canada Podcast

Business EN ↓ 39 episodes

Join hosts Bob Lai and Nelson Smith as they talk about wealth creation strategies, investing tips, and much, much more, all from a fiercely independent (and Canadian!) perspective.

Author

Bob Lai and Nelson Smith

Category

Business

Podcast website

podcasters.spotify.com

Latest episode

Jun 29, 2026

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Episodes

Ep 14 - Our Top 5 Holdings 15.12.2025

This is the one y'all have been waiting for. One of the most common questions we get are about our top portfolio holdings. Readers and listeners want to know what we own and why we own it. This week we pull back the curtain and discuss our top holdings, including detailed analysis on why we've chosen these names. Don't miss this one and while you're here, hit that subscribe button so you don't mis...

Ep 13 - RESPs 08.12.2025

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson tackle one of the biggest financial mysteries for parents, RESPs. We tackle the ins and outs of the accounts, what you can do if your kids don't end up going to university, some more basic RESP strategies, and a whole lot more. For more on RESPs, check out Bob's massive guide to the account. It'll tell you everything you need to know. Bob was traveli...

Ep 12 - How Young is Too Young to Retire? 01.12.2025

Dream of throwing off the shackles of your crummy job? Want to know how much it'll take to never have to work forever? In this week's episode Bob and Nelson talk about early retirement -- including just how much you'll need (spoiler alert: this question has no simple answer) and the pitfalls of a potential retirement that lasts longer than your working career. A must-listen for any pot...

Ep 11 - Monthly Dividend Stocks 24.11.2025

Looking for monthly dividend income? This this episode is for you. Bob and Nelson discuss the pros and cons of monthly dividend stocks, helping listeners decide whether they belong in their portfolio. We then discuss a few of our favourite monthly dividend payers. If you're interested in a list of monthly dividend paying stocks, Nelson maintains one you can find here: https://www.canadiandivid...

Ep 10 - The Best Dividend Stock in Canada 17.11.2025

This week's episode is for the dividend investors out there! Bob and Nelson discuss a few of their favourite Canadian dividend stocks, but with the important caveat that different investors will have their own favourites based on what they're looking for. Make sure to give DIY Wealth Canada a follow so you never miss another episode, and check out both http://tawcan.com and http://Canadian...

Ep 9 - Overcomplicating Simple ETF Strategies 10.11.2025

This week Bob and Nelson tackle a big mistake we see investors do all the time -- when they take simple ETF portfolios and feel the need to tinker with them, and how the financial industry enables this by creating so many similar products. The result? Portfolios with overlap, extra fees, and just plain underperformance. A must-listen for any ETF investor. Make sure to give DIY Wealth Canada a foll...

Ep 8: Our Biggest Investing Mistakes 03.11.2025

This week's episode looks at some of the biggest mistakes both Bob and Nelson have made in their investing journeys. Nelson talks about his past as a (terrible) deep value investor, while Bob's biggest mistake was putting his hard-earned cash into high MER mutual funds. We go over those mistakes, plus many more.

Ep 7: Hedging Your Consumption 27.10.2025

This week on the pod Nelson and Bob talk about the powerful concept of hedging your consumption -- the practice of investing in the things you consume. Examples might be buying shares in your telecom provider, local utility, or bank. But more importantly, such a strategy really helps mentally. Tune in to hear what we mean about that.

Ep 6: Income Investing vs. Dividend Investing 20.10.2025

This week Bob and Nelson tackle one of Nelson's biggest pet peeves: income investing. We discuss the differences between income investing and dividend investing, two very different things that many think are quite similar. We dive deep into how income investing works, and how many of the enticing yields offered come with some pretty big red flags.

Ep 5: Mark Seed on FIWOOT, Withdrawal Strategies, and More 13.10.2025

This week Bob and Nelson are joined by Mark Seed, who is closing in on early retirement. We ask Mark about the FIWOOT concept, how he plans to withdraw from his retirement funds, cash cushions for the early retiree, and a ton more. You can find more of Mark at http://myownadvisor.ca.

Ep 4: Dividends vs. Total Return 06.10.2025

In this episode, Bob and Nelson tackle the question that will always elicit an opinion -- should you invest with dividends in mind, or should you always aim for the best total returns? Bob explains how he invests in indexes to go for total returns and dividend stocks for income, while Nelson raises some eyebrows with his dividend-only style. If it doesn't pay a dividend, he won't invest. Y...

Ep 3 - REITs 29.09.2025

This week on the show Bob and Nelson discuss Canadian REITs. Topics covered include how they fit into our overall strategies, how Nelson looks at which REITs to own, and discussion of a few of our favourites in the sector.

Ep 2: How We Build Wealth 22.09.2025

This week on the show Bob and Nelson discuss the various strategies they've used to build wealth over the years. We talk about budgeting, maximizing your savings rate, and how we both embraced frugality. Bob points out how important it is to maximize your earnings at work, while Nelson explains why your savings rate is so important -- especially when you start.

Ep 1: Intro 12.09.2025

In the inaugural edition of the DIY Wealth Canada Podcast, Bob and Nelson talk about their financial journeys. We touch on how we got interested in finance, why we invest the way we do, the importance of financial plans , and much more. For more on Bob's journey, check out http://tawcan.com, where he writes about all things finance, with an emphasis on investing and his personal journey. And f...

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