Ellen Bessner's Financial Prosperity Podcast

Don't forget to call your advisor! Investors should proactively communicate life changes to their financial service providers.  Scenario : Whether it's losing a job (like Tricia) or receiving a bonus (like Saidy), these events warrant a call to your advisor.  The Gap : Investors often don't call because they don't think of it, assume it's irrelevant, or see no benefit—but these changes can signifi...

Do You Care??? Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Financial Planning In this episode of the Financial Prosperity Podcast, Ellen Bessner and guest Bryan Borzykowski* explore one of the most overlooked drivers of successful financial planning: whether your financial advisor truly cares. They unpack why money is emotional, how poor communication increases financial stress, and why investors — espe...

No Shame Planning! with Shannon Lee Simmons This episode tackles the "shame game" in personal finance, exploring how investors can avoid feeling ashamed about their financial situation and how financial service providers can approach clients without triggering feelings of shame or inadequacy. Key topics: • Empowering clients to move from hopelessness to hopefulness • Managing client expectations t...

Don't Bother Each Other?  Why Advisors and Clients Avoid Talking (and Why this is a BIG Problem) In this episode, Ellen Bessner and Brendan Monahan dig into one of the biggest barriers to effective financial planning: lack of communication between investors and advisors. Both sides often avoid reaching out — investors don't want to "bother" their advisor, and advisors worry about appearing intrusi...

How to Find the Right Advisor (and the Right Clients) This episode of The Financial Prosperity Podcast focuses on one of the most searched financial topics: how to choose a financial advisor. Ellen Bessner and Brendan Monahan walk listeners through how to find a qualified, registered advisor or portfolio manager, and how advisors can ensure they're working with clients who genuinely fit their prac...

Relationship with Money:  Why understanding your money story is essential to financial prosperity In this episode, Ellen Bessner and Brendan Monahan explore one of the most influential — and overlooked — elements of financial literacy: your relationship with money. They break down how childhood experiences, habits, fears, and beliefs shape the way adults save, spend, invest, and plan for the futur...

Big Fat Questions: Why advisors ask personal questions — and how to make the conversation more comfortable. In this episode of The Financial Prosperity Podcast, Ellen Bessner and guest Brendan Monahan explore a common challenge in financial planning: the discomfort investors feel when advisors ask personal questions about income, savings, debt, and goals. These details are essential for building a...

Welcome to The Financial Prosperity Podcast In this first, introductory, episode we kick off by providing real life examples of mistakes made by both investors and investment service providers which create friction and hold investors back from identifying and meeting their  goals.  If you are an investor or prospective investor or if you participate in providing financial services (CIRO registered...