Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery

Job seekers are going back to old LinkedIn roles and rewriting them with today’s most desirable skills and buzzwords—but where is the line between a smart update and revisionist history? Stanford University researcher Gideon Moore joins Bruce Sellery to explain LinkedIn “time travel,” including why workers add terms such as AI, GPT and LLM to past job descriptions, remove language that has fallen out of favour and close employment gaps. They also explore the ethical questions and what this growing practice means for candidates, recruiters and researchersand

Find out more at gideonmoore.com and connect on X, Li...

Separation can turn shared bills and joint accounts into an overwhelming individual burden. Senior financial planner Sabiha Mukadam joins Bruce Sellery with practical strategies for managing debt after a separation, from categorizing immediate and long-term obligations to closing unused joint credit, documenting balances and protecting your credit score. She also explains how to assess whether you can afford to keep the family home, adjust to a single-income budget and recognize when it is time to seek professional help.

Find out more at scfplanning.com and connect on Instagram.

Why do we spend money to feel better when the news is stressful and finances are already tight? NerdWallet Canada lead writer Clay Jarvis joins Bruce Sellery to unpack “doom spending,” an emotional spending habit reported by two-thirds of Canadians surveyed. They explore the small purchases people use for comfort, how social media and easy online shopping trigger spending, and practical ways to recognize those patterns, find healthier outlets and focus on the financial choices within your control.

Find out more at nerdwallet.com/ca and connect on Instagram.

Buying a home costs far more than the number on the listing. Personal finance expert Rubina Ahmed-Haq joins Bruce Sellery to explain the hidden costs of homeownership, including closing fees, land transfer taxes, insurance, maintenance, renovations and unexpected utility bills. She also shares practical advice on getting multiple quotes, separating needs from wants, using a home equity line of credit responsibly and building an emergency fund that can handle the realities of owning a home.

Find out more at rubinaahmedhaq.com and connect on Instagram.

What does it really cost to own a home—and how can you protect your finances when life gets stressful or uncertain? On this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery speaks with personal finance expert Rubina Ahmed-Haq about the hidden costs of homeownership, from closing fees and renovations to insurance, maintenance and emergency savings. NerdWallet Canada’s Clay Jarvis explains why two-thirds of Canadians surveyed admit to “doom spending” and offers practical ways to curb emotional purchases. Senior financial planner Sabiha Mukadam shares strategies for managing joint debt, cash flow and major financial decisions after a separati...

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery cuts through the noise to prove that smart investing doesn't have to be complicated. Wealth manager Geoff Saab, author of Low Risk Rules: A Wealth Preservation Manifesto, explains the counterintuitive "low-risk anomaly" and why entrepreneurs and everyday investors should watch fees and liquidity instead of chasing hedge funds and private equity. Financial planner Mark McGrath, co-author of Wealthier: The Investing Field Guide for Canadian Millennials, argues that low-cost ETFs and a "stoic" investor mindset have essentially solved investing, and shares how to find affordable, fee-only advice. Wealthsimple's David...

Life is full of transitions from starting a career to retirement, and everything in between and each one has a financial dimension. In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery explores how to navigate life's biggest changes with money in mind. Owen Winkelmolen, founder and CEO of the Adviice retirement-planning platform, explains how affordable, AI-powered tools are making detailed financial and decumulation planning accessible to everyone. Career strategist Janel Abrahami shares a practical framework for knowing when it's time for a career pivot, the six moves anyone can make, and how to use an "energy resume"...

In this best of episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery digs into the money conversations we avoid most, starting with the taboo "Bank of Mom and Dad." The Purse founder Lindsey Stanberry unpacks the "boomer lifestyle subsidy" and the myth of the self-made success story, while RBC's Lucianna Adragna shares new poll findings on why parents hesitate to talk to their kids about money, and simple, everyday ways to build financial confidence at home. Portfolio manager Dan Bartolotti of PWL Capital offers a practical approach to helping family members without jeopardizing your own retirement, and certified...

In this Best Of episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery explores the powerful connection between money and mental health. ADHD coach Leanne Gawley explains why budgeting feels different for neurodivergent brains and shares practical tips for managing impulse spending, time blindness, and financial overwhelm. Deloitte psychologist and behavioural scientist Michelle Hilscher reveals how scammers weaponize psychology, using urgency, FOMO, and false intimacy, and how to protect yourself and loved ones. Licensed insolvency trustee Rob Kilner discusses how debt load affects sleep, relationships, and overall well-being, and why simply talking about it is the first step toward...

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery digs into the money mistakes we all make and how to overcome them. Certified financial planner Hanna Horvath unpacks "friction maxxing," the trend of intentionally making spending harder (and saving easier) to curb impulse purchases. Financial coach Alana Abramsky of Broad Money walks through seven popular budgeting methods, the traditional and zero-based budgets, 50-30-20, goals-based, pay-yourself-first, spending caps, and the envelope system, and how to find the approach that actually fits you. Equifax Canada's Julie Kuzmic delivers a credit score reality check, explaining why recent credit history...

Theatres, symphonies, and galleries are the backbone of Canadian culture, so why can't many of them get a basic corporate credit card or line of credit? Jamie Bennett, consultant at Lord Cultural Resources, joins Bruce Sellery to expose the gap between arts organizations and Canada's financial services sector, explain why it's largely a problem of education and business language, and make the case for why a dedicated "bank for the arts" or at least a specialized banking vertical could change everything.

Connect with Jamie on Instagram and LinkedIn.

If you're struggling with debt you can't manage, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT) may be the most powerful resource you've never heard of. Caryl Newbery-Mitchell, Senior Vice President at MNP's Consumer Insolvency Practice, Canada's largest insolvency firm, explains what situations lead people to seek help, how a consumer proposal works, what an LIT can and can't do, and how to tell a legitimate trustee apart from the predatory debt advisors flooding social media.

Connect with Caryl on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, X, TikTok, and Reddit.

Alex Mayyasi, longtime contributor to NPR's Planet Money podcast, joins Bruce Sellery to talk about the new book Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life. From the "Pickle Problem" at food banks to Argentina's failed BlackBerry factory, the economics of remote work, and the algorithm quietly running dating apps, Alex breaks down how everyday economic principles affect decisions we make at home, at work, and in love.

Find out more at alexayyasi.com and connect on Instagram, Gastronomics Podcast, Substack, and X.

What does economics have to do with food banks, dating apps, and the Canadian arts scene? In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery sits down with Alex Mayyasi, a longtime contributor to NPR's wildly popular Planet Money podcast and author of the new book Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life. He is here **to unpack how economic principles touch everything from tariffs and remote work to the "stable marriage problem" behind dating apps. Then, Caryl Newbery-Mitchell, Senior Vice President at MNP's Consumer Insolvency Practice, breaks down exactly what a...

Karen Holland, an economist and early financial educator and founder of Gifting Sense, introduces Spending Ed: Driver’s Ed for Money, a practical kit designed to help kids ages 10–15 build lifelong money habits before bad ones take hold. Using the familiar framework of a learner’s permit, Karen walks through mindful spending tools, trade-off exercises, and back-to-school budgeting strategies that parents can use without any personal finance expertise.

Find out more at giftingsense.org, connect on Instagram, and check out School’s Out. Time for Spending Ed: Driver’s Ed for Money!.

Financial journalist Alicia Adamczyk from The Purse shares insights from her ongoing Division of Labour series, which profiles real couples and how they navigate the daily split of childcare, household tasks, and finances. From stay-at-home dads to same-sex couples rewriting the rulebook, Alicia explores how gender norms still shape, and sometimes limit, the choices couples make at home.

Find out more at thepurse.co and connect on Instagram, and TikTok.

Author Stefanie O'Connell joins Bruce to unpack her data-driven book The Ambition Penalty, revealing how workplace culture tells women to lean in, then penalizes them for doing exactly that. From biased performance reviews to salary negotiation backlash and the "paradox of meritocracy," Stefanie explains why the problem isn't women's ambition, but the environments responding to it differently based on gender.

Find out more at tooambitious.substack and connect on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and check out The Ambition Penalty.

Why do ambitious women keep getting penalized at work even in 2026? In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery sits down with author Stefanie O'Connell to dig into her data-driven book The Ambition Penalty, which reveals how corporate culture tells women to step up and then pushes them back down through biased performance reviews, salary negotiation backlash, and the "paradox of meritocracy." Then, financial journalist Alicia Adamczyk from The Purse shares real-couple stories from her Division of Labour series, exploring how household responsibilities are (or aren't) being shared equally. Finally, Karen Holland, founder of Gifting Sense...

Nearly 10 million Canadians have no access to a workplace retirement plan and the problem is most severe at small and mid-sized employers. Alex Mazer, co-founder and CEO of Commonwealth, joins Bruce to make the case for a Small Employer Retirement Plan Tax Credit: a federal incentive that could reduce the cost of setting up a group retirement plan by roughly 40% over three years, including up to $1,000 per employee in matching contribution credits. It's a policy proposal that could help close Canada's retirement savings gap and it may just appeal to politicians across the spectrum.

Find out more...

For decades, buying a home was seen as the cornerstone of financial security in Canada. But with Toronto and Vancouver homes priced at 10 to 12 times the average family income, more Canadians are renting well into their 30s and 40s not by choice, but by necessity. Senior Desjardins economist Kari Norman discusses her recent study on the rise of the permanent renter, exploring the data behind affordability, the trade-offs between renting and owning, the lack of family-sized rental housing in major cities, and what a 27-year-old saving today should really be thinking about.

Connect with Kari on LinkedIn...

Financial influencers are everywhere on TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn but how do you know if the advice they're sharing is accurate, unbiased, and actually right for your financial situation? Zainab Williams, founder and CEO of Fund Evolve, joins Bruce to walk through her Influencer Safety Score, an AI-powered tool that analyzes financial videos for red flags like sponsored bias, factual inaccuracies, and suitability gaps. Think of it as a food label for your financial content which helps you consume smarter and stay anchored to your true financial picture.

Find out more at fundevolve.com and connect on...

With crypto prices swinging wildly, many Canadians are sitting on gains or losses and aren't sure what to do next. Certified financial planner Jason Heath of Objective Financial Partners and Objective Tax and Accounting breaks down exactly how the CRA treats cryptocurrency: when profits are taxed as capital gains versus business income, how switching between coins triggers a taxable event, what to do with a capital loss, and why the lack of T-slips makes crypto reporting more complicated than most people expect. Whether you bought Bitcoin on a dip or mined your way to a windfall, Jason has the...

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery tackles four pressing personal finance topics for Canadians. Certified financial planner Jason Heath breaks down the tax implications of cryptocurrency, including capital gains and losses, the risks of business income classification, and the importance of proper CRA reporting. Zainab Williams, founder of Fund Evolve, introduces her Influencer Safety Score, an AI-powered tool that helps Canadians evaluate the credibility and personal suitability of financial advice found on TikTok, Instagram, and beyond. Senior Desjardins economist Kari Norman explores the rise of the permanent renter in Canada, examining affordability data, wealth-building...

Carol Willes, Director of Estate Planning at BMO Private Wealth, offers essential guidance for families navigating the financial complexities of caring for a child with a disability. She breaks down the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), a tax-sheltered account eligible for up to $70,000 in government grants, and explains when and why a Henson Trust is the right tool for passing on an inheritance without disqualifying a child from provincial benefits. Carol also shares a cautionary real-life story about a well-intentioned estate plan that went wrong, and what every parent in this situation needs to know before it's too late.<...

Chantel Chapman, CEO and founder of the Trauma of Money Institute, reveals the surprising and deeply personal ways that past trauma, including generational scarcity, relational wounds, and systemic stress, shows up in our financial behaviour. She introduces the concept of "financial fawning" (using money to seek approval and avoid abandonment), explains why scarcity triggers the same brain response as trauma, and shares why naming what's happening in a client relationship can be the single most powerful thing a financial professional can do.

Find out more at thetraumaofmoney.com and connect on Instagram with @chantelchapman, and @traumaofmoney.

Mischa Oak, LGBTQ+ keynote speaker and author of Rainbow Wisdom: 18 LGBTQ+ Life Lessons for Everyone, joins Bruce to explore why inclusion still matters in the modern workplace. Mischa shares how "thinking queerly" means breaking out of imposed boxes, the critical difference between fitting in and truly belonging, and how allies can "queer the space" in their daily interactions. He also explains why queer joy isn't just a cultural phenomenon; it's a proven driver of creativity, innovation, and organizational performance

Find out more mischaoak.com and connect on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery tackles three powerful conversations that connect identity, emotion, and financial well-being. First, LGBTQ+ keynote speaker and author Mischa Oak joins Bruce to discuss Rainbow Wisdom: 18 LGBTQ+ Life Lessons for Everyone, which explores queer joy as a workplace superpower, the difference between fitting in and truly belonging, and what real allyship looks like in practice. Then, Chantel Chapman, CEO and founder of the Trauma of Money Institute, unpacks how past trauma, from childhood poverty to generational scarcity, shapes our financial behaviours today, including a concept she calls "financial fawning."...

Cherolle Prince, Director of Fraud and Identity Management at Equifax Canada, unpacks the alarming rise of first-party fraud — when individuals misrepresent their own identity or inflate their income to qualify for credit. With economic pressures pushing more Canadians to the financial edge, Equifax data shows first-party fraud is up over 30% year over year, doubling in both credit cards and banking. Cherolle explains how AI-powered detection tools and lender collaboration are fighting back, and why this growing trend ultimately tightens credit access for everyone — even those who play by the rules.

Connect on LinkedIn(Cherolle), X, Facebook, Instagram, YouT...

Ron Butler, principal broker at Butler Mortgage and host of the Angry Mortgage Podcast, breaks down exactly how home equity lines of credit work, the key differences between a HELOC and a traditional mortgage, and the real risks of using one to cover vacations, pay off credit cards, or fund rental properties. He also explains why a HELOC is a demand loan — meaning the bank can reduce or call it on just 24 hours' notice — and offers one simple self-assessment to determine whether you have the financial discipline to manage one responsibly.

Find out more at butlermortgage.ca and...

Organizational psychologist Dr. Liane Davey explains the concept of "thoughtload" — the invisible drain on your performance caused by cognitive overload, emotional triggers, and depleted energy. She shares how to identify your overwhelm style (whirlwind, stickler, brooder, or rogue), why multitasking is counterproductive, and practical tools like three-tiered priority lists and dedicated "focus and forge" time blocks to help you work smarter, reduce anxiety, and replenish your energy reserves.

Find out more at lianedavey.com and connect on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X.

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery tackles three pressing issues facing Canadians today. Organizational psychologist Dr. Liane Davey introduces the concept of "thought load" , an invisible tax on your performance and presence driven by rising cognitive demands, emotional triggers, and depleted energy reserves. Liane shares practical strategies to identify your overwhelm style and reclaim your focus. Then, Ron Butler, principal broker at Butler Mortgage and host of the Angry Mortgage Podcast, breaks down the pros and cons of home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), explaining how they work, when they make sense, and the...

Licensed insolvency trustee and Spergel partner Rob Kilner joins Bruce to break down the explosive growth of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) platforms and the serious financial risks they pose for Canadian consumers. Rob explains the concept of debt stacking of how small incremental payments across multiple accounts can quietly spiral into unmanageable debt and reveals that "interest-free" BNPL isn't truly free, as costs are typically baked into product pricing. He also shares what happens to BNPL debt in a consumer proposal and offers practical principles for using these platforms more responsibly.

Find out more at spergel...

Tim Hewson, CEO and co-founder of Legal Wills, joins Bruce to explore how estate planning has been transformed by the digital era. From cryptocurrency and social media legacy accounts to iPhoto libraries and frequent flyer miles that vanish at death, Tim explains what your executor needs to access, what can and can't be passed on to beneficiaries, and why every Canadian adult needs an up-to-date will. He also introduces the LifeLocker service that helps you document all your digital and financial assets, so nothing falls into a digital black hole.

Find out more at legalwills.ca and...

Leadership strategist and author Dan Pontefract joins Bruce to unpack the "age debt crisis": the organizational failure to plan for and value older workers and why a demographic shift from a bell-shaped to a bulb-shaped workforce means companies can no longer afford to ignore age. Dan explains why simply replacing experienced employees with AI is a dangerous short-term play, how companies like BMW and Unilever are rethinking age inclusivity in the workplace, and what both individuals and organizations need to do now to prepare for a world where working into your 70s and 80s is the new normal.

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery tackles three money and work topics you can't afford to ignore. Leadership strategist and author Dan Pontefract joins to discuss his new book The Future of Work is Grey, exploring the untapped value of older workers, the looming "age debt crisis," and why organizations that ignore aging demographics risk a $5.4 trillion knowledge loss. Then, Tim Hewson, CEO and co-founder of Legal Wills, breaks down how estate planning has evolved in the digital age from Bitcoin and frequent flyer miles to iPhoto libraries and legacy account holders and why...

Certified financial planner Jackie Porter joins Bruce Sellery to make the case for financial awareness, a deeper, more actionable layer of understanding that goes beyond basic literacy. Jackie explains why knowing your cash flow, net worth, and financial blind spots is essential for both risk management and optionality: the freedom to make choices on your own terms. Through real client stories, she illustrates how this awareness can unlock the ability to take a year off, weather an unexpected job loss, or ensure your assets are used exactly the way you intend right up to the end of your life.<...

After nearly 30 years as the personal finance columnist at the Globe and Mail, Rob Carrick has launched a new podcast, the FinDustry, co-hosted with Shannon Lee Simmons. Rob joins Bruce to talk about why he's turned his lens toward financial advisors themselves, how the industry has evolved on transparency and fees, and what clients should actually expect for their money. He also tackles the rise of advice-only planning, the challenge of decumulation in retirement, and whether AI is coming for the advisory profession.

Find out more at robcarrick.ca and connect on Substack, LinkedIn and X.

Heather Scoffield, CEO of the Canadian Tax Observatory, walks Bruce through new independent research on Canada's First Home Savings Account. While the program was designed to help young Canadians save for their first home, the data tells a more complicated story with higher-income earners are maxing out the account, older Canadians are taking advantage of the lack of age restrictions, and the Bank of Mom and Dad is quietly channeling wealth through the program. Heather weighs in on what a more progressive housing policy could actually look like.

Find out more at X, LinkedIn, and Substack.

Psychologist and Deloitte behavioural scientist Michelle Hilscher joins Bruce Sellery to explore the emotional mechanics behind financial scams. From manufactured urgency and false intimacy to overconfidence bias and the myth that education alone keeps you safe, Michelle breaks down why anyone, regardless of age, income, or savviness can fall victim. She also shares a practical framework for protecting yourself and having difficult conversations with loved ones you think may be at risk.

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, Bruce Sellery explores the emotional and psychological tactics scammers use to manipulate their victims with psychologist and Deloitte behavioural scientist Michelle Hilscher. It’s all about unpacking why awareness alone isn't enough to protect you and what questions you should ask yourself before you click. Heather Scoffield, CEO of the Canadian Tax Observatory, shares eye-opening research on Canada's First Home Savings Account and who it's really benefiting. Rob Carrick discusses his new podcast The FinDustry, co-hosted with Shannon Lee Simmons, exploring the financial advisory industry from the inside. And certified financial pl...