Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery

Claudia Hepburn, CEO of Windmill Microlending, explains how her national charity helps skilled immigrants overcome financial barriers to professional accreditation in Canada. Windmill provides affordable micro-loans of up to $15,000 at just below prime rates, along with financial literacy training, career coaching, and mentorship to help newcomers challenge exams and get re-accredited in their fields. With the average client more than tripling their income after receiving support, Windmill is proving that removing financial obstacles can unlock tremendous potential for Canada's economy. Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Writer, editor, and critic David Berry explores the complex relationship between art and money, revealing that less than 15% of artists throughout history have ever made a full-time living from their creative work. He discusses the importance of artists viewing themselves as their own patrons, finding sustainable day jobs that leave time for creativity, and overcoming the cultural stigma that thinking about money somehow poisons artistic expression. Berry emphasizes that passion alone won't sustain you when you go to bed hungry—managing money is essential to honoring your creative gift. Find out more at thedavidberry.com and connect on Instagram.

Financial journalist and author Renée Sylvestre-Williams reveals the hidden financial penalties that single Canadians face, from shouldering housing costs alone to missing out on tax benefits like income splitting in retirement. She explains why building a strong support team—including lawyers, financial advisors, and friends—is critical for solo earners, and emphasizes the importance of estate planning and powers of attorney when you don't have a spouse to automatically inherit your assets or make decisions on your behalf. Connect on Instagram and find out more on Substack and pick up The Singles Tax: No-Nonsense Financial Advice for Solo Earners

Financial educator and behavioral finance expert Preet Banerjee explains how artificial intelligence is transforming the financial services industry, from chatbots handling customer service to the promise of democratizing quality financial advice for everyday Canadians. He warns about the dark side of AI, including sophisticated hyper-personalized phishing scams targeting new employees, and shares practical strategies to protect yourself while using AI to fact-check financial advice and make smarter money decisions. Connect on Instagram.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how Canadians manage their money, but is it helping or hurting? Financial educator and behavioural finance expert Preet Banerjee reveals how AI is transforming financial services, from chatbots providing 24/7 customer support to the promise of democratizing quality financial advice for everyday Canadians. But there's a dark side: scammers are using AI to create sophisticated, hyper-personalized phishing attacks that can drain your bank account before you realize what's happened. Preet shares practical strategies to protect yourself while leveraging AI's benefits, and explains why adding friction to your spending decisions might be the smartest financial move you can make. Then, financial journalist Renée Sylvestre-Williams tackles the hidden costs of being single in Canada, from higher housing costs to retirement anxiety, and why building a strong support team is more critical than ever for solo earners. The episode continues with writer David Berry discussing his book on how artists navigate the often-contradictory relationship between creative expression and financial survival, revealing why most successful artists throughout history never made a full-time living from their art alone. Finally, Claudia Hepburn, CEO of Windmill Microlending, explains how her national charity is helping skilled immigrants overcome the financial barriers to professional accreditation in Canada through affordable micro-loans of up to $15,000. With the average client more than tripling their income after receiving support, Windmill is proving that small financial interventions can create life-changing opportunities for newcomers ready to contribute their skills to the Canadian economy. To find out more about the guests check out: Preet Banerjee: Instagram Renée Sylvester-Williams: Instagram | Substack | The Singles Tax: No-Nonsense Financial Advice for Solo Earners David Berry: thedavidberry.com | Instagram Claudia Hepburn: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and best-selling author. As the founder of Moolala and the CEO of Credit Canada, Bruce is on a mission to help you get a better handle on your money so you can live the life you want. High energy & low B.S., this is Moolala: Money Made Simple. Find Bruce Sellery at Moolala.ca | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

ADHD coach and former CFO Leanne Gawley joins Credit Canada facilitator Kelly Cowan to explore how ADHD affects financial management. She explains how ADHD brains are wired for immediate dopamine hits versus delayed gratification, leading to impulse buying driven by instant gratification, lack of impulse control, and FOMO (fear of missing out). Leanne discusses "time blindness"—where the future doesn't feel like now—and why deadline-driven completion is so common. She shares practical strategies including breaking budgets into 10-minute segments, implementing waiting periods (2-24 hours) before purchases, and asking support partners the key question: "How can I best support you?" Resources available through the Canada ADHD Society can provide additional support. Find out more at leannegawley.ca and connect on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Simon Brascoupe introduces "Braiding Mind, Body, and Spirit," a culturally relevant financial wellness resource developed with Prosper Canada and the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada. Using the braiding metaphor, the resource addresses Mind (financial tools and knowledge), Body (protection strategies), and Spirit (holistic teachings). Simon discusses how the resource helps address "sudden wealth syndrome" when receiving lump sum payments, and includes activities like "Coloring My Dreams" for visualization, "My Money is Medicine" for reframing money as a positive force, and financial wellness journaling. He also highlights the challenge of limited bank access in Indigenous communities, with only three to four First Nations in Ontario having banks. Connect with Simon on Instagram.

Lisa MacIntyre-Smith, CEO of Furble, explains why veterinary care costs are rising faster than standard inflation due to staffing shortages, medication supply issues, and advanced diagnostic equipment. With 50% of pet parents now skipping vet visits due to costs, Lisa introduces a solution: prescription medications delivered directly to homes at reduced costs compared to veterinary clinics. Many pet owners don't even realize their vet has written prescriptions for medications like flea and tick prevention, which can be filled through pharmacy partners at significant savings. Find out more at furble.com and connect on Instagram and X/Twitter.

Personal finance columnist Lesley-Anne Scorgie shares the three key indicators that it's time to break up with your financial advisor: poor communication, underperformance against benchmarks over seven years, and an inability to think holistically about your finances. She explains how to request a "total household rollup performance report" to evaluate your advisor's true performance, how fee structures like 2%+ MERs make it harder to meet benchmarks, and why many advisors are now lowering fees to compete with robo-advisors. Lesley-Anne also walks through the surprisingly simple logistics of transferring assets to a new advisor and provides scripts for having that difficult conversation. Find out more at mevest.ca and connect on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter.  

Sometimes breaking up is the right thing to do, even with your financial advisor. Lesley-Anne Scorgie, personal finance columnist at the Toronto Star and founder of MeVest, shares the red flags that signal it's time to move on, from poor communication and underperformance to misaligned fees. She explains how to evaluate your advisor using a "total household rollup performance report," compare results against seven-year benchmarks, and navigate the surprisingly simple logistics of switching advisors. Plus, Lisa MacIntyre-Smith, CEO of Furble, discusses why pet care costs are outpacing inflation and how Canadians can access more affordable veterinary medications through pharmacy partners instead of clinic dispensing. Simon Brascoupe introduces "Braiding Mind, Body, and Spirit," a culturally relevant financial wellness resource for Indigenous communities that addresses sudden wealth syndrome, protective planning, and holistic money management through teachings and journaling. Then, ADHD coach Leanne Gawley joins Credit Canada facilitator Kelly Cowan to explore how ADHD affects financial management, from dopamine-driven impulse buying and time blindness to budget overwhelm. Leanne shares practical strategies like breaking tasks into 10-minute segments, using accountability buddies, and implementing waiting periods before purchases to help neurodivergent individuals build healthier money habits. To find out more about the guests check out: Lesley-Anne Scorgie: mevest.ca | Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter Lisa MacIntyre-Smith: furble.com | Instagram | X/Twitter Simon Brascoupe: Instagram Leanne Gawley: leannegawley.ca | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and best-selling author. As the founder of Moolala and the CEO of Credit Canada, Bruce is on a mission to help you get a better handle on your money so you can live the life you want. High energy & low B.S., this is Moolala: Money Made Simple. Find Bruce Sellery at Moolala.ca | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

To close the show, Bruce speaks with Michelle Pannor Silver, professor at the University of Toronto and author of Aging with Agility: How Elite Athletes and Ordinary Folks Embrace Exercise with Age. They connect physical health, longevity and money, reframing the body as a key resource that affects retirement costs, healthcare spending and quality of life. Michelle shares insights from elite athletes and everyday older adults who are in the best shape of their lives, practical tips for staying active as we age (including small daily habits and mindset shifts), and why aging doesn’t have to mean deteriorating – especially if we “invest” in our bodies with the same intention we bring to our finances. Find out more at michellepannorsilver.com  

Bruce welcomes CPA and author Maya Corbic to talk about her book From Piggy Banks to Stocks, a kid-friendly guide to investing and financial literacy. Maya explains why saving alone isn’t enough to build wealth, how to teach kids about inflation and compound interest, and why simple tools like index funds and ETFs can help families invest for the long term. She shares how parents can learn alongside their children, use real brands kids already know (like tech and entertainment companies) to make investing relatable, and give kids safe “hands-on” experience with markets so they grow up confident, informed investors. Connect with Maya on Instagram, Facebook and X/Twitter.

In this segment, Bruce dives into new research from Home Equity Bank with chief financial commentator Pattie Lovett-Reid on financial literacy among women aged 55+. They explore why many older women rate their money confidence lower than men, how old taboos about talking about money still linger, and why “Plan B” thinking is essential for retirement and widowhood. Pattie shares stories from her 92-year-old mother, discusses the realities of aging in place, reverse mortgages, and single-income retirement, and offers practical steps for women to build confidence, define wealth on their own terms, and take ownership of their financial future. Connect with HomeEquity Bank on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Also connect with Pattie on Instagram and check out the HerMoneyMatters episode on YouTube.

Bruce talks with Laurie Fox, campaign director of Willpower, about how Canadians can use their wills to leave a powerful charitable legacy without shortchanging their families. They discuss why only about 10% of Canadians currently include a charity in their will, how even 1% of an average estate can become a five-figure gift, and the significant tax benefits of gifting through your will – including donating securities and reducing or even eliminating estate taxes. Laurie also shares tips on choosing charities, doing due diligence, and keeping your legacy gift flexible so it can have the greatest impact over time. Connect with Laurie on  Instagram, Facebook  and LinkedIn.

This episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple with host Bruce Sellery spans every age and stage of your financial life. Bruce starts with wills and legacy giving, speaking with Laurie Fox, campaign director of Willpower, about how more Canadians are choosing to leave a charitable gift in their will – and why even 1% of your estate can create a meaningful, tax-efficient legacy while still putting family first. Then he dives into new research from Home Equity Bank with chief financial commentator Pattie Lovett-Reid, unpacking what older women say about their financial literacy, fears about outliving their money, and the realities of aging in place on a fixed income. Next, Bruce turns to the kids’ table with Maya Corbic, CPA, author of From Piggy Banks to Stocks, on how parents can teach children the basics of investing, compound interest, and long-term wealth building in a way that’s fun and non-intimidating. Finally, he explores why your body is one of your most important financial assets with Michelle Pannor Silver, professor at the University of Toronto and author of Aging with Agility: How Elite Athletes and Ordinary Folks Embrace Exercise with Age. Together, they connect physical health, longevity, and mobility to the money choices you make today – from retirement planning to healthcare costs and quality of life in your older years. To find out more about the guests check out: Laurie Fox: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn Pattie Lovett-Reid: Instagram | YouTube Episode HomeEquity Bank: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn Maya Corbic: Instagram | Facebook | X/Twitter Michelle Pannor Silver: michellepannorsilver.com Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and best-selling author. As the founder of Moolala and the CEO of Credit Canada, Bruce is on a mission to help you get a better handle on your money so you can live the life you want. High energy & low B.S., this is Moolala: Money Made Simple. Find Bruce Sellery at Moolala.ca | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

To wrap up the episode, Bruce interviews Didier Lavallée, CEO of Calgary-based Tetra Digital, about Stablecoin, a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value. Didier breaks down what Stablecoin is, how it’s backed by traditional dollars, and why it can move money globally in seconds at very low cost. He also talks about regulation, how Stablecoin differs from volatile crypto like Bitcoin, and what everyday Canadians might see in the next decade—from cross-border payments to digital dollars built into everyday apps. Connect with Didier on LinkedIn and find out more with Tetra Digital on LinkedIn.

Bruce speaks with Lucianna Adragna, Vice President of Client Segments at RBC, about new research on how Canadian parents feel about talking to their kids about money. Lucianna shares why so many parents lack confidence, how their own financial stress holds them back, and why waiting for “big life moments” to start the conversation is a missed opportunity. She offers practical ways to weave money lessons into everyday life—at the grocery store, with allowances, and with simple save/spend/give systems—so kids can learn healthy habits long before they move out on their own. Connect on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

In this segment, Bruce is joined by Julie Kuzmic, Head of Consumer Advocacy and Compliance at Equifax Canada, to unpack the light bulb moments around credit scores. Julie explains why being a secondary cardholder can leave you with no recent credit history, how buy now–pay later and payday loans might show up on your report, and why your utilization at statement time can drag your score down even if you pay in full. She also covers how long negative items like collections stay on your file, what can cause your score to rebound quickly, and why checking your credit report regularly is essential. Connect with Julie on  X/Twitter and LinkedIn.

Bruce Sellery talks with personal finance expert and author Preet Banerjee about the “light bulb moment” that changed his money life as a teenager: automatic savings and the astonishing power of compound interest. Preet walks through simple examples that show why starting early matters more than saving perfectly, how small increases in your contributions can more than double your nest egg, and why high-interest credit card debt is compounding working against you. If you’ve ever wondered whether those online calculators are “too good to be true,” this segment will flip the switch. Connect with Preet on Instagram.

In this episode we dive into the powerful “light-bulb moments” that can transform the way you manage your money. Bruce Sellery speaks with personal finance expert Preet Banerjee, who shares the compounding insight that changed his financial life at age 16—plus the surprising math behind why starting early matters far more than saving perfectly. Then, Bruce talks with Julie Kuzmic of Equifax Canada, who explains the often-misunderstood mechanics of credit scores, from utilization timing to how collection accounts really work. Later, RBC’s Lucianna Adragna joins to unpack new research on why parents struggle to talk to their kids about money, and how to make financial lessons part of everyday life. The episode wraps with Didier Lavallée of Tetra Digital, explaining what Canadians need to know about Stablecoin, why it’s gaining popularity, and how blockchain-enabled digital dollars may shape our financial future. A packed, practical episode full of insights to help Canadians make smarter, more confident money decisions. To find out more about the guests check out: Preet Banerjee: Instagram Julie Kuzmic: X/Twitter | LinkedIn Lucianna Adragna: X/Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Didier Lavallée: LinkedIn Tetra Digital: LinkedIn Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and best-selling author. As the founder of Moolala and the CEO of Credit Canada, Bruce is on a mission to help you get a better handle on your money so you can live the life you want. High energy & low B.S., this is Moolala: Money Made Simple. Find Bruce Sellery at Moolala.ca | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn