Perspectives

In this episode, we walk through the ins and outs of modern-day philanthropy with Jacqui Allard, the Group Head of Global Wealth Management and co-executive sponsor of Scotiabank’s Employee Giving Campaign. She has tips on how to simplify and maximize donations, how to figure out where to give, how giving can factor into estate planning at any level and more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  1:14 – The role charitable giving has played in Jacqui’s life and the three pillars that are important to her when it comes to philanthropy  2:53 – What Jacqui would say to someone who might say, ‘I’m not wealthy, how can I think about giving?’  3:32 – Why it’s important to give  4:03 – How people should decide where to give their money or time  4:57 – Tips of making regular giving easier  6:55 – How philanthropy can play into overall wealth planning  8:57 – The role charitable giving can factor into estate planning  9:37 – Jacqui tells us about the Scotiabank Employee Giving campaign  11:28 – The key takeaway from this discussion

Canada’s first Indigenous-led, Indigenous-owned investment dealer, Cedar Leaf Capital, just celebrated its one-year anniversary. So, Cedar Leaf’s CEO Clint Davis joins us to walk us through the ups and downs of the first year, the state of Indigenous economic reconciliation, what role organizations like Cedar Leaf play in that process, what the next year might hold and more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  2:04 – What is Cedar Leaf Capital?  3:43 – How Cedar Leaf Capital came about and what made it historic  5:14 – What exactly is an investment dealer?  6:42 – Clint breaks down year one of Cedar Leaf  9:58 – Clints tells us about Cedar Leaf’s historic all-Indigenous trading desk and what that represents  12:46 – What Prime Minister Carney’s latest nation-building projects represent for organizations like Cedar Leaf and for Indigenous economic reconciliation in general  21:40 – What lessons and challenges has Cedar Leaf faced in the first year?  23:14 – Clint’s goals for the second year of Cedar Leaf Capital

In this episode Rob McGavin, the Managing Director at Scotiatrust, gives us a primer on wills. We’ll cover the basics from exactly what a will is, why you need one and where to get it. Also, we’ll go a little deeper and explore what roles you might need to assign and who can best fill them, how often to update a will, how to avoid common family conflicts and more.  Estate planning is a very personal and complex area, with many nuances and provincial differences. This podcast is intended to address/cover high level matters, not present a comprehensive overview. Everyone’s situation is unique, so it’s important to engage your personal advisors to ensure that all aspects have been fully canvassed before making or changing any part of your estate plan.  For more on estate planning, check out our previous episode with Rob McGavin: So, what exactly is a power of attorney?  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  1:42 – Starting with some definitions – what is a will?  2:09 – What is a power of attorney?  3:22 – Why would someone need a will?  4:06 – How many Canadians have a will?  4:54 – When should people think about getting a will?  6:17 – Common reasons why people don’t get a will  7:31 – What are the roles that need to be assigned when making a will?  9:21 – What exactly is an executor and what do they do?  10:55 – How to choose an executor  12:17 – What about hiring a trustee?   13:48 – Other roles that need to be appointed when it comes to a will  15:29 – Why making your wishes clear in a will is important  19:40 – Why you shouldn't assume that when you die your money will go to your spouse automatically  20:53 – Where should someone start when it comes to making a will?  22:22 – How often should you update a will?  23:40 – Why a will is just one part of estate planning   25:10 – Breaking down how taxes work when it comes to estates  27:00 – Why communication is key when it comes to estate planning  28:01 – What is the Code of Conduct for the Delivery of  Banking Services to Seniors?  29:10 – The key takeaway when it comes to wills and estate planning

In this episode, we dive into a recent Scotiabank report that unpacks how artificial intelligence might affect markets and the economy. Co-authors Rebekah Young, Vice President and Head of Inclusion and Resilience Economics at Scotiabank, and Walid Khalid, the Director of Investment Strategy at Scotia Wealth Management, walk us through the impact AI might have on jobs and productivity, whether there’s an ‘AI bubble,’ how investors should get their head around all of this and more.  For more, read the highlights of the report or the full report here: Macro, Markets, and Machines: The Economic and Market Transformation Driven by AI  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  1:34 – Rebekah summarizes what her and her co-authors were trying to accomplish with this recent paper  3:42 – How Walid looked at AI using an investing lens   7:01 – How does the emergence and rapid development of AI technology compare to previous technological revolutions?  8:41 – Is AI technology already helping productivity?   13:55 – What about the concern around AI replacing jobs? Is there any merit to that?  17:32 – What are the economic impacts that are already being felt from the increased adoption of AI?  21:09 – Some numbers around the potential impact AI may have on productivity  22:50 – Are we in an ‘AI bubble’? How does this compare with the ‘dot-com bubble’?   30:39 – Summarizing the key takeaways from the report

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government has tabled its first budget with major spending aimed at driving economic growth and boosting Canada’s competitiveness but also cuts to various programs.   Rebekah Young, Scotiabank’s Head of Inclusion and Resilience Economics, joins us to break down the key takeaways from the federal government's spending plan, what caught her eye, and what it means for Canada’s economy going forward.   Read Rebekah’s full report on the 2025 federal budget - Balancing Boldness: Canada Tables Its Investment and Austerity Budget  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures  Key moments this episode:  1:01 - What is the headline for the federal budget?  1:22 - What does this mean for the average Canadian – are they better off (or not) with the measures in this budget?  3:00 - Rebekah breaks down some of the big-ticket items in the federal government’s $89.7 billion in new spending, and whether these investments will spur economic growth  8:14 - Rebekah weighs in on whether the government’s expectation that the budget will unlock $1 trillion in investment in the Canadian economy is doable  11:11 - What major spending cuts are in this budget?  13:14 - Is the federal budget’s $78-billion deficit concerning or reasonable given the challenging circumstances?  16:10 - Rebekah on whether the government’s spending plan is a step in the right direction  17:32 - The three biggest takeaways from the federal budget for Canadians

The Bank of Canada has lowered its key policy interest rate for a second consecutive time by 25 basis points to 2.25% amid ongoing weakness in the economy and as inflation pressures ease.   Governor Tiff Macklem said the current policy rate is “at about the right level” to keep inflation in check near 2% while helping the economy through this period of “structural adjustment.”  Scotiabank’s Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault returns to the podcast to break down this decision and what it says about the economy, as well as provide a preview of the upcoming federal budget and explain how it factors into the rate announcement, and much more.  To learn more about the upcoming federal budget and what to look for, read Scotiabank Economics’ report: The Cost of Ambition: Anticipating Canada’s Federal Investment and Austerity Budget.    For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures  Key moments this episode:  00:52 - JF’s main takeaway from the Bank of Canada’s decision to cut its key policy rate for a second time  02:32 - What drove the central bank’s decision to cut?  04:01 - The upcoming federal budget and how it factors into the Bank of Canada’s rate decisions  5:51 - What to expect and look for in the upcoming federal budget announcement in November  7:06 - What does this cut and the overall outlook mean for Canadians?   9:00 - What does this cut, and the central bank’s message that it will be the last cut for a while, mean for those wanting to buy a home? What does this mean for the Canadian housing market?  10:30 - Governor Tiff Macklem said that the weakness in the Canadian economy is “more than a cyclical downturn. It is also a structural transition.” JF breaks down what this means. 14:05 - JF on where the economy goes from here  16:03 JF on the main takeaways from the Bank of Canada’s decision for Canadians

In partnership with the Scotiabank Women Initiative, business journalist Amber Kanwar, host of the In the Money with Amber Kanwar podcast, is our guest to talk about women’s relationship with money, how motherhood affects that, her personal journey from TV host to being her own boss and what she’s learned about investing and finance along the way.  There is a lot to consider when planning for your future. Discover Scotia Wealth Management’s Total Wealth Planning process and how it can benefit you. Learn more at https://www.scotiawealthmanagement.com/ca/en/about-us.html    For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  2:01 – Amber walks us through the decision to focus as a reporter on money and business journalism  3:16 – What it was like learning the ropes in a largely male-dominated industry  5:56 – How women tend to approach investing differently and why  11:00 – The generational difference on how women approach money  13:49 – Amber's biggest tip for women who are interested in starting to invest  15:28 – What Amber's learned from the latest chapter in her career: leaving TV and starting her own podcast

Sustainability has long been part of agriculture, by necessity and design, but what does it mean for today's modern growers? For Dr. Sally Flis, the Director of Sustainable Ag Programs at Nutrien Ag Solutions, sustainable practices can help producers be more resilient in the face of global economic uncertainty. Sally is our guest along with Janice Holzscherer, the Managing Director and Head of Agricultural Banking at Scotiabank. They’ll explore what sustainability means when it comes to agriculture, how it plays an important role in the story that modern farmers and growers tell the public and more.    For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  1:13 – Sally tells us about Nutrien Ag Solutions  3:06 – Some context around Scotiabank’s partnership with Nutrien  5:22 – What Sally mean by “cutting through the noise of sustainability” in agriculture  9:46 – How has the notion of sustainability evolved over the last few decades?  12:19 – What about the consumer side? Is there added pressure on growers and producers to adopt more sustainable practices?   14:13 – What is the story growers want to tell the public when it comes to sustainability?   16:37 – Final thoughts on the state of sustainability and where it’s heading in agriculture

From the impact of the pandemic to AI, security to quantum computing, this episode two industry veterans will walk us through the state of technology in banking. Inci Akpinar, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer for Canadian Banking Engineering at Scotiabank, and Sebastian Blandizzi, the Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer for Data & Global Wealth Technology at Scotiabank, explore how far the field has come, where it might be going and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  2:17 – Inci and Sebastian look back on technology in banking when they started their careers vs where it is now  7:27 – What pressures does a bank face when it comes to the evolution of technology?  10:50 – What are the next big challenges and opportunities on the horizon?  12:53 – What keeps Sebastian up at night and why that’s recently changed  16:47 – How AI has changed how Inci and Sebastian look at their work and what clients expect  22:50 – What is banking technology going to look like in the next ten years?

Just over a decade ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its Final Report into Canada’s Residential School System, including its 94 Calls to Action and 10 Principles of Reconciliation. This episode we’ll hear about the legacy of the TRC 10 years later with one of the three commissioners, Marie Wilson. She’ll tell Myan Marcen-Gaudaur, Scotiabank’s Director of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, about her time as a commissioner, the state of reconciliation over the past 10 years, the progress on the 94 Calls to Action and more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  3:05 – Marie describes the work she did with the TRC and explains why 10 years later many might be unaware  10:09 – The importance of starting with the ‘why’ when it comes to reconciliation  13:57 – What did Marie see as the potential for her work 10 years ago?  18:17 – How much progress has Marie seen in the last 10 years?  27:48 – Where the title of Marie’s book, North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner came from  29:55 – Where the inspiration for writing a book came from  32:27 – What role Marie sees her book playing in Canada’s collective commitment to reconciliation   38:47 – What advice Marie would give to Scotiabank as they continue on the path of reconciliation

In this episode, we have two experts to break down the latest scams and tell us how to avoid falling victim. From bank impersonation scams to AI and even old-fashioned door-to-door grifts, Detective Constable Valerie Dahan from Toronto Police Service and Aaron McAllister, Vice President of Fraud Threat Management at Scotiabank, run down the red flags and what to do if you suspect you, a loved one or a neighbour might be a victim. For more fraud prevention resources, check out Scotiabank’s Cybersecurity and Fraud Hub.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  2:02 – Val tells us about her role at Toronto Police Services and an overview of the scams landscape right now  3:23 – Aaron gives us his overall take on the current state of scams  4:11 – Broader context about scams and how they are often perpetrated by overseas victims of human trafficking   8:07 – A deeper dive into specific scams starting with impersonation scams, specifically bank impersonation scams  13:24 – Val breaks down romance scams and the psychology behind them that makes them so potent  20:07 – What are home improvement scams and what should people look out for?  22:26 – Are seniors targeted more often with scams?  23:13 – Some final tips on how people can protect themselves

Some welcome relief has come for consumers and businesses as the Bank of Canada has decided to lower its key policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, marking the first cut since March.   Scotiabank’s Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault is back to explain what drove the central bank’s decision, what it says about the state of the economy, why we “aren’t out of the woods” yet on inflation, the odds of another cut this year, and much more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  00:53 - JF’s main takeaway from the Bank of Canada’s decision to cut its key policy rate  1:53 - What does this say about the state of the economy?  2:28 - How much of an impact does a cut of 25 basis points have on the economy? (And why another cut is likely)  5:08 - With counter-tariffs on the U.S. largely eliminated, what is driving inflation in Canada now? What is keeping inflation higher than hoped?  7:39 - What does JF see for the economy ahead, given all the uncertainties?  9:14 - With a federal budget to be announced in November, what could this influx of government spending mean for the economy and inflation?  12:33 - How will this 25 basis point cut impact households, individuals, and businesses? And why mortgage borrowers are most likely to feel the impact  14:14 - Will lowering interest rates and making it easier for consumers to buy a house drive up prices and inflation?  15:16 - Why JF expects the Bank of Canada to cut again before the end of the year – but then possibly start to reverse them next year  16:26 - JF’s main takeaways for Canadians from the central bank’s announcement

The economy seems to be top of mind for most Canadians’ right now. But it can be hard to understand which stats actually matter and what they mean for us. So, Scotiabank Senior Economist Farah Omran is back this episode to break down five key economic indicators to help you better interpret the state of the economy and understand the headlines.    For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  1:44 – Why understanding economic indicators is especially important now  2:19 – Indicator #1: Inflation  6:35 – Indicator #2: GDP growth  10:41 – Indicator #3: Unemployment rate  13:55 – Indicator #4: Bank of Canada policy rate  18:25 – Indicator #5: Housing prices  21:17 – Bonus indicator: Productivity

The Bank of Canada has decided to hold its key policy rate steady at 2.75%, for the third consecutive time, amid ongoing trade uncertainty.   Scotiabank’s Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault returns to break down the central bank’s decision to hold once again, how Canada’s economy has been stronger than anticipated, possible economic scenarios ahead, and much more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures  Key moments this episode:   1:10 - JF’s main takeaway from the decision  1:35 - Did we learn anything from the Bank of Canada’s commentary or outlook?  2:31 - Was a hold the right call in JF’s view?  3:16 - JF walks us through the Bank of Canada’s three possible economic scenarios ahead  5:18 - What scenario does JF think is most likely?  5:55 - How unusual is it for the Bank of Canada to not have an economic forecast?  7:14 - What is the current state of Canada’s economy?  9:30 - A breakdown of Canada’s “unbelievable” employment numbers  10:34 - Which sectors are feeling the impact of trade uncertainty the most?  12:17 - Scotiabank Economics’ outlook for rate decisions for the rest of 2025  15:07 - What’s happening in Canada’s housing market?  16:54 - JF’s main takeaways for Canadians from the Bank of Canada’s decision and outlook?

Newcomers to Canada are still critical to fuel our country's economic growth, despite recent cuts to immigration targets. In this episode, we’re joined by Kingsley Chak, the Senior Vice President of Deposits and Investments at Scotiabank, and Anthony Bambokian, Senior Economic Analyst with Scotiabank. They’ll discuss Canada’s changing immigration targets and the potential economic impacts that may have, the hurdles new Canadians face, some of the services Scotiabank offers newcomers, and much more.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  2:14 - Anthony catches us up on Canada’s immigration numbers from pre-COVID to present  7:13 – Why, despite changing targets, Canada will always be a nation of immigrants  8:48 – What balance Canada needs to strike when it comes to new arrival targets  10:24 – What are the main challenges newcomers face when they first arrive in Canada?  11:30 – Some data around how long it takes newcomers to find their economic footing after arriving in Canada  13:25 – Two more key hurdles many newcomers face in Canada  14:42 – What challenges newcomers face when it comes to banking and finances  19:02 – The numbers behind newcomers and entrepreneurship  21:12 – How Kingsley's personal immigration story also relates to banking  22:18 – Final takeaways from the conversation

Scotiabank’s Chief AI Officer, Yannick Lallement, returns to fill us in on the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. He’ll also give us an update on how AI is being used in the banking and finance world and what might be on the horizon.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  1:54 – How Yannick got to be Scotiabank’s Chief AI Officer  3:44 – Did Yannick expect this proliferation of AI technology when he started studying it in the 90s?  4:37 – The thing that surprised Yannick most about the latest breakthroughs in AI  5:45 – The surprising way Yannick uses AI in his day-to-day work  6:30 – A new type of AI on the horizon: agentic AI  9:02 – In general, has the financial services industry adopted AI?  9:37 – How has Scotiabank been adopting AI?  15:25 – How banks and other institutions are safeguarding clients when it comes to AI  18:22 – What Yannick sees for the future of AI in banking

The Bank of Canada announced that it has held its policy interest rate steady at 2.75% for the second consecutive time as tariff uncertainty continues to loom, the Canadian economy shows signs of weakness and inflation persists.   Scotiabank’s Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault is back on the show to break down the central bank’s latest decision, what’s happening with inflation and in Canada’s housing market, why he doesn’t expect any interest rate cuts this year, and much more.    For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:   1:00 — What is JF's main takeaway from the Bank of Canada's latest decision?  1:43 — JF breaks down Canada's latest GDP numbers and how that factored into the central bank's decision to hold  4:03 — A closer look at inflation in Canada and how key measures are rising  6:35 —JF's outlook for the economy in the coming months  10:00 — Why JF isn't expecting the Bank of Canada to announce a cut this year  14:06 — What's happening in the Canadian housing market? If interest rates stay put for awhile, what kind of ripple effect could that have?  16:29 — The main takeaway from the Bank of Canada's decision and outlook for Canadians

Financial abuse has been called ‘The crime of the 21st century’ and elder financial abuse in particular is becoming increasingly prevalent. In this episode, our guests are Raeann Rideout, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, and Nicole Daley, Senior Investigator for Central Canada at Scotiabank Corporate Security Investigation Services. They'll explain how elder financial abuse happens, how to spot it, what to do if you’re a victim or suspect someone is and more.   For more resources and information please visit Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario or Scotiabank's Cybersecurity and fraud hub.  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  1:40 – Starting with the basics: what is elder financial abuse?  2:41 – A few stats to give a sense of the scale of the issue  4:16 – How does this type of abuse typically start?  4:55 – Who are the typical perpetrators of elder financial abuse?  7:33 – How to spot elder financial abuse  8:33 – Misconceptions around this issue  9:30 – How power of attorney, or POA, factors into elder financial abuse  10:56 – How seniors can balance the benefits of a POA for property while still protecting themselves  12:15 – What should someone do if they are a victim or suspect someone is a victim of elder financial abuse?  14:16 – What Scotiabank is doing to prevent financial abuse of seniors  15:15 – Final takeaways from the discussion

With life expectancy on the rise, people may actually spend more time in retirement than they do working. With that in mind, this episode is the second of a two-part series we’re calling Investing Through the Ages. In it, we’ll work our way through different age groups and break down how they should be thinking about saving and investing at each stage along the way. In this instalment, we’re looking at age 50 and beyond, also known as the decumulation stage. Erin Griffiths, the Executive Vice President of Scotiabank Global Wealth Solutions, is our guest to give tips on how to age gracefully from a financial perspective in the face of recent volatility, how to best shift from saving to generating income from your assets, address some common misconceptions about this phase and much more.    For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  1:46 – Erin introduces us to what experts call the “decumulation stage”  4:25 – How should people think about investing differently at this stage?  6:09 – How longevity has complicated retirement planning in recent years  9:35 – Addressing common misconceptions about managing money at age 50+  10:55 – How should people who are facing retirement or recently retired be navigating market volatility?   13:40 – What exactly does a financial plan look like at age 50+?  15:50 – Breaking down the two key elements around planning for retirement: financial and personal  19:13 – What challenges do women in particular at this age face when it comes to wealth management?  20:15 – What about intergenerational wealth transfer — how does that factor into financial planning?  22:09 – What Erin wants people to take away from this conversation

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) recently announced they'll be adding two new teams next season and league-wide attendance has now surpassed the 1 million mark. What’s been the key to this still-young league’s huge success? Jayna Hefford, the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations for the PWHL and a four-time Olympic gold medalist with Team Canada, tells us how the business strategy behind the league helped propel it beyond a successful launch and into part of what’s becoming a cultural movement.     For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures    Key moments this episode:  2:02 – Jayna's overall assessment of the PWHL’s second season so far  3:36 – What surprised Jayna about the make-up of the fans  4:23 – The strategy to sustain fan excitement for the second season  5:20 – How a mandate from leadership helped enable some of the league's innovations  7:53 – Why has this iteration of professional woman’s hockey gained traction?  10:16 – How does the PWHL attract talent?  11:25 – How viewership has changed since the league started and how that's helped growth  12:43 – The role the PWHL plays in wider societal change  15:08 – A look ahead to next season  16:32 – What the success of the PWHL means personally to Jayna