Make Better Wealth Decisions: How Financial Advisor's Blind Spots Can Hurt Your Investments in a Rapidly Changing World

Have you ever wondered how economic strategy became a tool of political dominance? In this episode, we explore the rise of geoeconomics —the use of economic power to enforce political will—and how it’s playing out in real time under President Trump’s administration and the growing No Kings movement. As protests grow and constitutional norms are tested, investors and citizens alike face a world whe...

What if the smartest investment strategy isn’t found on a spreadsheet—but in the past? When portfolio manager Ryan Floyd (CFA, Barca Capital) joins the show, he reveals why understanding the world’s economic history may be the most overlooked skill in investing and decision making today. From global debt cycles to the real drivers behind gold and cryptocurrency trends, Ryan shows how historical aw...

Weekly Wealth Update: A Make Better Wealth Decisions podcast dedicated to explaining how current events impact your portfolio and the wealth decisions you make. Tune in every Monday for commentary on how the news of the week affects your portfolio and your thinking. Are we witnessing a financial turning point—or a warning sign? With gold surpassing $4,000 an ounce, the highest price in modern time...

What happens when your wealth decisions collide with the reality of a loved one’s mental illness? Can compassion and financial responsibility coexist when relationships are tested by crisis? In this episode of Make Better Wealth Decisions , host John explores the intersection of mental health, money, and relationships with award-winning journalist and Beyond Well Media founder Sheila Hamilton . To...

Weekly Wealth Update: A Make Better Wealth Decisions podcast dedicated to explaining how current events impact your portfolio and the wealth decisions you make. Tune in every Monday for commentary on how the news of the week affects your portfolio and your thinking. What happens when political chaos and market calm collide? The latest government shutdown may look like business as usual, but could...

Are your financial decisions built on assumptions that no longer hold true? Most investors still rely on growth models tied to population expansion — but what happens when 25% of Americans are child-free and birth rates keep falling? In this episode, we dive into the controversial but urgent conversation around Child-Free Wealth, Demographics, and Investing with Jay Zigmont, PhD, CFP®, founder of...

Weekly Wealth Update: A Make Better Wealth Decisions podcast dedicated to explaining how current events impact your portfolio and the wealth decisions you make. Tune in every Monday for commentary on how the news of the week affects your portfolio and your thinking. Are you underestimating the impact of a US government shutdown on your financial future? Too often, market commentary focuses on GDP...

 Are you weighing risk and reward the wrong way when making big decisions? In this episode, Canadian Olympic legend Ken Read —one of the fearless “Crazy Canucks”—shares how the principles of risk and reward shaped his career in downhill skiing, philanthropy, and leadership. From racing down the world’s toughest courses to helping Canada “Own the Podium,” Ken reveals what true decision making look...

Weekly Wealth Update: A Make Better Wealth Decisions podcast dedicated to explaining how current events impact your portfolio and the wealth decisions you make. Tune in every Monday for commentary on how the news of the week affects your portfolio and your thinking. Markets cheered when the Bank of Canada and the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates —but should you? What looks like a boost for g...

Have you ever considered what living to 95—or even 100—means for your money? Longevity risk is one of the least discussed yet most impactful challenges in retirement planning. Many people still base their financial planning on outdated assumptions, risking a shortfall in their later years. In this episode with Fraser Stark, President of the Longevity Retirement Platform at Purpose Investments, you...

Are financial influencers reshaping how people make money decisions—and leaving financial advisors behind? In this episode of Make Better Wealth Decisions , host John De Goey sits down with Mike Schwartze, co-founder of Basis Point Media, to unpack the growing role of financial influencers in shaping public opinion and trust. They dive into how everyday investors decide who to believe, what adviso...

Think you need to buy a house to get into real estate? What if you could start making private real estate wealth decisions today—without becoming a landlord? In a past conversation with Josh Will of Virtus, we break down how private real estate works and why securitized real estate investments let you own pieces of properties in small, affordable chunks. For those priced out of the housing market,...

Are you making the right wealth decisions in today’s private real estate market? With rising interest rates, shifting cashflows, and competing investor strategies, it’s harder than ever to know if you’re making the smartest move with your portfolio. This week, industry veteran Josh Will —President of Virtus Capital Corporation—shares 20+ years of lessons on private real estate investing, from deci...

Are you sitting on a valuable home but worried about how to fund your retirement? In this episode, we explore the reverse mortgage option with insights from longtime Canadian personal finance expert Patricia Lovett-Reid. For those who are “house rich but cash poor,” this strategy could unlock hundreds of thousands — even millions — in home equity without forcing you to sell or move. You’ll discove...

Are your money habits keeping you from a true millionaire mindset? So many people believe building wealth is about saving harder or working longer — but as financial journalist Patricia Lovett-Reid shares, it’s really about clarity, literacy, and intentional decision-making. In this episode, we explore what the millionaire mindset looks like in practice, how better wealth decisions can transform y...

Are your financial decisions as intentional as they should be? This episode explores how principles of military decision making—focus, discipline, and process—can dramatically improve the way you handle money and investments. Good decision making isn’t about instinct or copying what friends are doing—it’s about having a framework. Drawing from insights shared by a U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Comma...

Are you making strong decisions—or just fast ones? In this episode, Lieutenant Commander Lili Simon of the U.S. Coast Guard joins us to explore how the principles of military decision making can directly apply to your personal and financial life. We dive into the often-overlooked concept of decision hygiene —the frameworks and habits that help you think clearly, reduce bias, and make better calls...

Do you know exactly what you’re paying for financial products and advice? For years, investors have had only partial visibility into their true costs. That’s about to change with the arrival of total cost reporting in 2027 . This episode explores why the shift is happening, what it means for your investments, and how you can use this new transparency to your advantage. Here’s what you’ll gain: A c...

What does 30 years of watching Canada’s financial advice industry teach us about where investing is headed next? In this candid conversation with Rob Carrick, recently retired Globe and Mail personal finance columnist, we unpack the evolution of financial advice, the rise of low-cost investing, and the under-served mass market that AI in finance could finally reach. By the end of this episode, you...

Think you make rational money decisions? You might want to think again — your behavioral biases are probably calling the shots. In this episode, we revisit the roots of behavioral finance and explore four essential books that reveal why smart people still make predictably irrational money choices. From Nobel Prize-winning research to laugh-out-loud examples, these reads unpack the psychology behin...

Are your investing habits hurting your future more than you realize? If you've ever wondered why it's so hard to start investing—or why losses feel like a gut punch even when you're playing the long game—you’re not alone. Most of it comes down to your brain, not your bank account. This week’s guest, Merle van den Akker , a PhD in behavioral science and Senior Product Manager at a major Australian...

Do you know who’s really influencing your investment decisions? Most investors assume their financial advisor has full discretion over portfolio recommendations. But behind the scenes, compliance departments are shaping your options in ways you might never have considered—especially when it comes to offering memorandum products. If you’ve ever been told “this investment isn’t suitable” or wondered...

Are you still treating compliance as a roadblock instead of a strategic advantage? If you're an advisor or in compliance, this conversation with Fardan Ali will challenge everything you’ve assumed about regulation, advisor relationships, and what true compliance partnership looks like. Fardan, a compliance manager who’s worked with hundreds of advisors, breaks down why the compliance department sh...

Are you underestimating the real impact of Donald Trump’s looming tariffs on your portfolio? With the August 1st deadline approaching fast, the uncertainty around whether tariffs will actually be imposed—and how markets will react—is growing by the day. In this episode, journalist Diane Francis joins the conversation to unpack what might happen if Trump follows through, and what that could mean fo...

Are you prepared for what global politics and economics are about to throw at you? In this episode, journalist and geopolitical analyst Diane Francis unpacks the ripple effects of U.S. tariffs, Canada’s recession risk, and the future of Ukraine—offering a sharp, economics-first lens on international power struggles. With 50 years of reporting experience across world capitals, Diane shares blunt, d...