Think Smart with TMFG

Welcome to another episode of Think Smart with TMFG, where hosts Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management dive into the dynamics of private wealth management. This week, we dissect the transformation of private wealth offices into publicly traded company divisions and explore the implications of this shift. We draw parallels between private wealth management and the evolution o...

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, hosts Rob McClelland and Mike Connon discuss the exciting news that their team is relocating after 20 years at 7787 Yonge Street. They delve into the reasons behind their decision, from increased rent to space constraints for their growing team, currently consisting of 19 members. Rob and Mike share insights into their new location at 675 Cochrane Drive, h...

Join Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management on this episode of Think Smart with TMFG as they delve into the often underestimated journey of home renovations. Drawing from personal experiences, Rob and Mike explore the unforeseen challenges and expenses that come with upgrading your home, whether it's a simple bathroom update or a full-scale renovation. Expect the unexpected a...

Welcome to another episode of Think Smart with TMFG, where hosts Rob McClelland and Mike Connon delve into the unique dynamics of family-owned businesses. Discover how these enterprises make up 63% of private sector firms in Canada, driving nearly 50% of the nation's private sector GDP and offering employment to 7 million Canadians. Explore the passionate commitment, long-term planning, and entrep...

Join Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management on this week's episode of "Think Smart with TMFG" as they delve into the pressing question: Is the U.S. market overvalued? Drawing insights from Ben Carlson's blog, "Wealth of Common Sense," they explore the intricacies of market valuations and the factors driving current stock prices. The discussion examine...

In this episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," hosts Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management delve into the enduring vitality of capitalism worldwide. Despite global challenges, capitalism is thriving, as demonstrated by Rob's recent travels to Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. He shares his firsthand observations of bustling economies, low crime rates, and the flourishing touris...

Join hosts Rob McClelland and Mike Connon on "Think Smart with TMFG" as they delve into the world of investment premiums and how they can enhance your returns. Discover what equity, size, value, and profitability premiums are, and learn how these factors can work together to maximize your investment strategy. In this episode, Rob and Mike break down the equity premium, explaining how investing in...

In this episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," hosts Rob McClelland and Mike Connon delve into the notion that despite global challenges, there's a silver lining in the world today. Drawing inspiration from an insightful article by Ben Carlson, they explore the concept of happiness and wealth, highlighting the significant decline in extreme poverty worldwide. Rob and Mike discuss how the media's port...

In this episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," hosts Rob McClelland and Mike Connon tackle the pervasive issue of financial fraud. With scams becoming increasingly sophisticated, they explore eight crucial strategies to help you safeguard your finances. The discussion is inspired by an insightful article by Mark McGrath, published in the Globe and Mail. Rob and Mike delve into the importance of verif...

In this episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," hosts Rob McClelland and Mike Connon delve into the new mortgage rules introduced for first-time homebuyers in Canada. With the Liberal Party trailing in the polls, the hosts compare these changes to a strategic move in a hockey game, questioning whether they are beneficial or detrimental to new entrants in the Canadian housing market. The discussion hig...

In this episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," hosts Rob McClelland and Mike Connon delve into the elusive concept of the "magic bullet" in investing. While many seek quick solutions in areas like weight loss or finding a partner, investing requires a more nuanced approach. Rob and Mike explore the key principles that successful investors share, highlighting the importance of starting early, diversif...

Welcome to another episode of Think Smart with TMFG, your go-to podcast for news and insights relevant to everyday Canadians. Join Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management as they delve into the 20 crucial questions you need to consider if you're thinking about retirement. In this episode, Rob and Mike guide you through a self-assessment to determine yo...

Welcome to "Think Smart with TMFG," your go-to weekly podcast for what's newsworthy and relevant to everyday Canadians. Join Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management as they delve into the significant transformation in the world of finance. In this episode, Rob and Mike discuss the collapse of the four traditional pillars of finance: banking, trust comp...

Welcome to another insightful episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," hosted by Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management. This week, Rob and Mike dive into their new portfolio asset mixes and market expectations, debunking the myths around passive investment strategies. Discover how they utilize a detailed risk questionnaire to tailor portfolios to individu...

Welcome to another episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," your go-to podcast for newsworthy and relevant topics for everyday Canadians. Hosted by Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management, this week's episode dives into the vital topic of trip and cancellation insurance. As we enter the fall travel season, Rob and Mike discuss the importance of having the r...

Welcome to Think Smart with TMFG, your go-to podcast for newsworthy and relevant insights for everyday Canadians. Hosted by Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management, this episode dives deep into a topic many avoid—visiting a financial advisor. Rob and Mike draw parallels between avoiding the dentist and the hesitancy to seek financial advice. They explo...

Welcome to another episode of Think Smart with TMFG, your go-to podcast for newsworthy and relevant financial insights for Canadians. Join your hosts, Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon from Assante Capital Management, as they delve into the pressing question: "Does Value Matter Anymore?" This week, Rob and Mike explore an insightful article by Richard Bernstein discussing the...

Welcome to another episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," your go-to podcast for newsworthy insights relevant to everyday Canadians. In this episode, Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management dive into a hot topic: Does the stock market really care about the upcoming election? Rob and Mike address common concerns such as market volatility, inflation, and in...

Welcome to Think Smart with TMFG, your weekly podcast on what's newsworthy and relevant to everyday Canadians. Join Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management as they delve into the looming bear market. In this episode, Rob and Mike draw intriguing parallels between real-life bear encounters and market downturns. Mike shares his experiences with black bea...

Welcome to another episode of Think Smart with TMFG, hosted by Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management. In this episode, we delve into the growing trend of young Canadians choosing to manage their own investments, bypassing traditional financial advisors. We explore the factors driving this shift, such as the increased reliance on social media for fina...

Welcome to Think Smart with TMFG, your go-to podcast for newsworthy and relevant financial insights for everyday Canadians. Hosted by Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management, this episode dives into an important question: How much of your portfolio should be invested in the Canadian stock market? Rob and Mike explore a recent study by Vanguard that rev...

In this episode of "Think Smart with TMFG," Rob and Mike delve into the enduring strength of the U.S. Dollar and the U.S. stock market, exploring why they remain premier choices for investment portfolios. They reflect on past economic crises, like the 2008 financial meltdown, and discuss the resilience and growth of the U.S. economy in contrast to other global markets. The episode examines the his...

Welcome to this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, your go-to podcast for newsworthy insights relevant to everyday Canadians. Hosted by Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management, this episode delves into the top three most common investment mistakes and how to avoid them. 1. Timing the Market: Discover why trying to time the market can be costly, and lear...

In this episode of Think Smart with TMFG, Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management delve into the intriguing world of private equity. Drawing insights from a recent Globe and Mail opinion piece by Mike Wahlberg, the duo explores the burgeoning interest in private equity investments among Canadians. The discussion highlights the key challenges of private...

Welcome to Think Smart with TMFG, your weekly podcast on what's newsworthy and relevant to everyday Canadians. Join Senior Financial Advisor Rob McClelland and Mike Connon of Assante Capital Management as they discuss the recent interest rate cut of 0.25%. After an 18-month wait, the much-anticipated rate reduction is here. Rob and Mike explore why this small change has significant implications, f...