Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery

This episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple digs into real-world tools and timeless lessons to help you manage your money with more confidence. We start with Equifax Canada’s Rebecca Oakes on “Optimal Path,” an AI-driven feature that translates your own credit data into clear, realistic steps - think concrete targets for utilization, payment consistency, and score impact over the next three months. Then psychiatrist Dr. Sally Satel explains “contingency management,” a harm-reduction approach where clinics pay meth users small, escalating rewards to sustain abstinence and why the data shows it works for tough clinical cases. Veteran personal-finance columnist Rob Carrick joins Bruce to unpack 30 years of lessons, from ETF simplicity and diversification to the traps of trend-chasing, dividend myths, imperfect bond hedges, and why market crashes are buying opportunities (if your timeline is long enough). We close with author Jane Blaufus on having courageous conversations about money and estate planning - what to discuss, how to persist, and why writing it down matters when life gets hard. Practical, candid, and Canadian: this episode helps you take the next step, wherever you’re starting. To find out more about the guests check out: Rob Carrick: Dr. Sally Satel: Substack | X/Twitter Rebecca Oakes: equifax.ca | X/Twitter | LinkedIn Jane Blaufus: janeblaufus.com | Facebook | 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

Money stress often starts with silence. Certified financial therapist Erika Wasserman, author of Conversations with Your Financial Therapist, joins Bruce Sellery to discuss how to talk about money with your partner, family, or even yourself without shame or conflict. Erika’s M.O.N.E.Y. framework turns hard financial conversations into moments of connection, helping you uncover your money mindset and rewrite unhelpful habits. From setting shared goals to using scripted conversations, this segment blends financial literacy with emotional intelligence to help you grow your confidence and your bank account. Find out more at yourfinancialtherapist.com and connect on Instagram.

Cybercrime isn’t just a corporate problem anymore. James South from Aviva Canada joins Bruce to explain personal cyber insurance, a new layer of protection for the digital age. From online fraud recovery and ransomware response to cyberbullying coverage and dark-web monitoring, this coverage can help individuals and families stay financially and emotionally protected after an online attack. Learn how it works, what it costs (hint: about $6/month), and why every connected Canadian should consider adding it to their home or tenant policy. Find out more at aviva.ca and connect on Instagram and LinkedIn.

If you’re starting late on retirement savings, this interview with CPA and author David Trahair will give you hope and a plan. Drawing from his book The Procrastinator’s Guide to Retirement, David shows how Canadians can still build financial security even if they begin saving in their 40s or 50s. He unpacks the math behind RRSP vs. mortgage paydown, spending patterns after retirement, and smart ways to maximize CPP. This conversation proves it’s never too late to take control of your financial future. Find out more at trahair.com and connect on LinkedIn and X/Twitter.

Bruce Sellery sits down with Chris Potvin, co-founder of Camp Mustache Toronto: Firescape, a four-day retreat for Canadians pursuing Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE). Chris shares how the camp blends community, hands-on workshops, and lifestyle design to help attendees align their spending with their values. From budgeting around what truly matters to building a supportive peer network, this conversation explores how to make financial independence a reality, without losing sight of purpose or fun along the way. Find out more at cmtofirescape.com.

In this week’s episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, Bruce Sellery kicks off with the FIRE movement at CMTO Firescape, where co-founder Chris Potvin shares what a four-day money camp looks like: hands-on workshops, case studies, and a community built around Financial Independence, Retire Early. Then, for listeners who got a late start on savings, CPA David Trahair unpacks The Procrastinator’s Guide to Retirement—including the real math behind RRSP vs. mortgage paydown, how spending actually changes in retirement, and smart ways to maximize CPP when time is short. Next, we look at protecting your household in a digital world. James South from Aviva Canada explains what personal cyber insurance covers—from online fraud recovery and forensic clean-ups to cyberbullying support and dark-web monitoring—and how much it typically costs to add to a home/tenant policy. Finally, financial therapist Erika Wasserman walks through practical scripts to improve your money mindset and have calmer, more productive conversations about budgeting, debt, and goals with partners and family. Whether you’re chasing early retirement or rebuilding late, this episode blends actionable retirement tactics, consumer protection insights, and behavioral tools to help Canadians feel more confident about their money. To find out more about the guests check out: Chris Potvin: cmtofirescape.com David Trahair: trahair.com | LinkedIn | X/Twitter James South: aviva.ca | Instagram | LinkedIn Erika Wasserman: yourfinancialtherapist.com | Instagram 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

Bruce Sellery, host of Moolala: Money Made Simple, is joined by ecoATM’s Neil Fried, as he explains the 6–7 minute kiosk process: —device checks, data wipe and pay on the spot to turn your phone into cash. Plus how to prep your phone (backup, factory reset, remove locks) and where devices go next. Connect with Neil Fried on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, Gifting Sense founder Karen Holland shows parents how big events can build financial literacy: total-cost planning (tickets, travel, merch), dynamic pricing realities, and the DIMS Score + “Worth-the-Wait” tracker to practice patience and smart trade-offs. Find out more at giftingsense.org and Score Money Smarts With 2026 FIFA

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery chats with Chandler Point’s John Puffer as he breaks down how 1/10 ownership and 5 weeks/year actually work, what fees cover (cleaning, taxes, reserves, Wi-Fi), how rentals and rules are handled, and why it’s different from a timeshare, —including resale and passing shares to family. Find out more at chandlerpoint.com and connect on Facebook .

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, Melissa Leong sits down with host Bruce Sellery and shares a practical playbook for splitting costs with friends: set expectations early (“everything optional, nothing personal”), assign a banker/accountant, use bill-splitting apps, and know when to say no if you can’t pay off the trip. Find out more at melissaleong.com and connect on Instagram.

In this week's episode, planning a bachelor(ette) party, golf getaway, or friends’ trip—without blowing up the budget or the friendship? Bruce talks with Melissa Leong (Happy Go Money) about stress-free ways to split bills, set expectations, and avoid money awkwardness on group travel. Then: Fractional cottage ownership in Ontario,—how it differs from a timeshare, costs, usage weeks, fees, and conflict resolution —with John Puffer of Chandler Point. Next, FIFA 2026 as a teachable moment: Karen Holland (Gifting Sense) shows parents how to use big-ticket events to build kids’ money skills and patience. Finally, turn your old phone into cash, —how ecoATM kiosks evaluate devices, wipe data, and pay on the spot —with SVP Neil Fried. To find out more about the guests check out: Melissa Leong: melissaleong.com | Instagram John Puffer: chandlerpoint.com | Facebook Karen Holland: giftingsense.org | Score Money Smarts With 2026 FIFA Neil Fried: 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

Newcomers face a steep learning curve: chequing vs. savings, why credit history matters, and how to get a first credit card. On this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery, Head, Customer Growth & Segments, at BMO Sumit Sarkar walks through the earliest money moves to make—often before you land—plus digital tools that map personal goals and help establish credit. Learn why a primary bank relationship is so valuable, how to open accounts pre-arrival (with in-country verification later), and what to expect as you set up life in a cash-light, credit-heavy system. Clear steps to get stable fast, with confidence. Find out more at bmo.com and connect on X/Twitter and LinkedIn.

CFP Owen Winkelmolen introduces Advice (with two i’s), a low-cost platform that helps do-it-yourselfers build and iterate a proper retirement plan. Input income, expenses, assets, debts, and goals—then let strategy tools explore hundreds of “what ifs” in seconds: RRSP/RRIF withdrawals, CPP/OAS timing, tax brackets, income splitting, and estate trade-offs.  On this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery, we discuss why accumulation is simple but decumulation is where real value is created, and why you should start that plan ~5 years before retiring. Quick to set up, easy to refine—so you can spend confidently for the long run. Find out more at adviice.ca.

Author Adam Ferguson proposes an unconventional contract: before your kid gets a smartphone, they complete 50 real-world experiences—from cooking a family meal and doing laundry to building a fire and planning a road trip. On this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery, he explains why the list is a “carrot,” not a crackdown, and how it builds resilience, connection, and competence.  We tackle the spicy items (self-defense, “break a minor law”) and talk age & stage—why Grade 8 is a useful target while recognizing maturity varies. Parents will get practical ideas to replace infinite scroll with meaningful, confidence-building moments. Find out more at beforethephone.com.

Career strategist Janel Abrahami joins Bruce on this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple to demystify the career pivot. From low-risk mini moves to big leaps like entrepreneurship or going back to school, she outlines six clear options and when to use each. Learn the simple test for timing a change (learning, earning, or loving), how to frame a so-called “bridge job” without saying it out loud, and why building a personal Board of Advisors speeds decisions.  Janel’s “energy résumé” method helps you sort energizers from drainers, apply the “five whys,” and flip dislikes into must-haves—so your next role makes sense on paper and in real life. Find out more at janelabrahami.com and connect on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

In this episode, career strategist Janel Abrahami shares a practical framework for knowing when to change lanes, the six types of pivots you can make (from mini moves to major overhauls), and how to use a personal Board of Advisors and an “energy résumé” to decide what’s next. Then, author Adam Ferguson walks through his provocative checklist for kids—50 things to do before you get a phone —and why those experiences build skills, character, and connection. For newcomers to Canada, BMO’s Sumit Sarkar explains first steps for banking, credit, and building a personalized plan with BMO’s tools. Finally, Owen Winkelmolen (Adviice—yes, with two i’s) shows how DIYers can build and iterate a retirement plan, and why decumulation strategy matters more than you think. To find out more about the guests check out: Janel Abrahami: janelabrahami.com | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn Adam Ferguson: beforethephone.com Sumit Sarkar: bmo.com | X/Twitter | LinkedIn Owen Winkelmolen: adviice.ca 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

Buying your first home can feel overwhelming — from saving a down payment to understanding mortgage rules. In this segment of Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery, Bruce talks with Andrew Peker, founder and CEO of Homie, a new Canadian fintech app designed to help first-time homebuyers understand, track, and grow their buying power. Andrew explains how Homie works: Pulling real financial data securely through partners like Plaid and Equifax Canada Showing users what they can afford based on how a mortgage underwriter would see them Offering habit-building nudges — from avoiding new car loans that could hurt your approval, to staying aware of interest rate impacts Helping users plan for hidden costs like cash reserves, land transfer taxes, and closing fees If you’re a first-time homebuyer in Canada or helping someone become one, this segment will give you practical insight into mortgage readiness, budgeting smarter, and avoiding costly mistakes on the road to homeownership. Find out more at meethomie.ca and connect on LinkedIn.

What if you didn’t have to wait until 65 to enjoy retirement? Bruce sits down with Jillian Johnsrud — coach, speaker, and author of Retire Often: How Anyone Can Take Multiple Career Breaks to Unlock Adventure, Advance Their Career, and Find Financial Freedom. Jillian shares how mini retirements — intentional breaks of a month or longer — can help you reset, pursue meaningful goals, travel, or spend time with family without sacrificing your long-term financial health. She explains: How to budget for a mini retirement: replace one month of income and cap extra costs at ~50% of take-home pay Why it’s smart to front-load affordable, physically demanding adventures early in life Creative ways to offset costs, from renting out your home to home exchanges How mini retirements can actually advance your career by reducing burnout and opening new opportunities The mindset shifts needed to see career breaks as investments rather than setbacks If you’ve ever dreamed of backpacking across Europe, taking a sabbatical to write a book, or just having the time to breathe between career chapters, this conversation gives you the financial planning tools, creative strategies, and inspiration to make it happen — without blowing up your future retirement plans. Find out more at retireoften.com and connect on Instagram.

A lot of people think they have a financial plan — but do they really? Bruce is joined by Sandi Martin, a certified advice-only financial planner, to break down what a real financial plan looks like and why it matters. You’ll also hear why a real plan is more than just an investment portfolio or a set of bank statements, how to stress-test assumptions (like inflation and market returns), and why focusing on the top three “needle-moving” actions is better than a 15-point to-do list. Sandi explains how to avoid “straight-line” planning mistakes by considering worst-case scenarios, and why an annual review keeps your plan relevant as life changes. If you’ve ever wondered whether the plan you got from your bank or investment advisor is actually setting you up for success, this conversation will help you tell the difference — and take steps toward a truly comprehensive, purpose-driven financial plan. Find out more at sandimartin.ca and connect on Instagram and Bluesky

Vacant office towers could be the key to solving Canada’s housing affordability crisis. Bruce speaks with Robert Barnard, CEO of Toboggan Flats, about their innovative plan to convert underused downtown office buildings into co-living spaces for young professionals. You’ll hear about: Target rents of $1,100–$1,300 all-in, aimed at roughly 30% of the average salary for 25–34-year-olds. How shared living can help young workers save for future home ownership. Landlord and investor incentives, including reduced building density, steady nighttime occupancy, and the environmental benefits of reusing existing buildings. The focus on curated events, roommate matching, and staff support to make co-living more than just a room — it’s about fostering a real sense of community downtown. If you’ve wondered how Canada can create affordable housing without years-long construction timelines, this conversation is full of practical insights on office-to-residential conversions, co-living trends, and the future of urban housing. Find out more at tobogganflats.com and connect on LinkedIn.