Stress Test

Disclaimer from Aligned Capital Partners Inc.: This podcast is for informational purposes only and not intended to be personalized investment advice. The views expressed are opinions of Aravind Sithamparapillai and may not necessarily be those of ACPI. Content is prepared for general circulation and information contained does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any investment fund, security or other product or service.

Pandemic lockdowns made it harder for people to make new romantic connections. Now, inflation is making it more expensive. This has left people searching for creative ways to meet the love of their life - while spending less. In this episode, Rob and Roma hear from three Canadian daters to learn how they’re coping with higher costs and offer advice for ways to not break the bank while dating.

You’re broke, but you blow $100 on a dinner you can’t afford. Or maybe your colleagues are making more money doing the same job as you, but you don’t ask for a raise. You feel like you’re bad with money and your way of coping is to ignore your finances. These are common behaviours that can lead to something called money shame. In this episode, Roma speaks to Chantel Chapman, a Richmond, B.C.-based financial trauma researcher and educator about what money shame is, how it affects our financial decisions and how to move past it. Plus, we hear from Irina, a millennial who shares her personal experiences with money shame.

Rents are soaring across the country, especially in Canada's biggest cities. To secure a place to live, some Canadians are competing in  bidding wars or spending over 50 per cent of their monthly income on rent. Others are settling for short-term leases and long commutes. In this episode, we hear from three renters about what they went through to try and find a place to live and what it cost them. Plus, Rob talks to Shaun Hildebrand, the president of Urbanation, which researches condo, rental and development markets in the Greater Toronto Area where rents are “supercharged”.  Shaun shares what’s driving rents so high and how the real estate market affects rentals. Plus, he gives tips for those looking for an affordable place to live.

Just when you thought pandemic-related financial challenges were ending, we have a new plot twist: the threat of a recession. The Globe's personal finance podcast for Gen Z and millennials is back to help make sense of it all. Join hosts Rob Carrick and Roma Luciw this season as they tackle the cash crunch many Canadians are facing when it comes to things like housing and dating, and provide practical advice to help you navigate rough economic waters.

For our last episode of this season, we’re talking retirement – why it’s changing, and how to plan for it. We hear from Vicky (25), Irina (34) and Brent (36), who each have different visions of retirement and what they’re doing – or not doing – to plan for it right now. Plus, Rob speaks with Shannon Lee Simmons, a Toronto-based certified financial planner whose core clients are millennials and Gen Z, about shifting views of retirement and how you can best prepare. 

Most people buy homes with their partners or by themselves. But others are ditching the traditional paradigm. Today, we’re talking about unconventional homebuyers: family members, friends and others that team up to get into the property market. We hear from two sisters who are trying to buy a house together – and who are struggling to get into the market even after joining forces. Plus, Roma speaks with Leah Zlatkin, a mortgage broker at Mortgage Outlet and expert at LowestRates.ca, about what you should know before buying a home with others and why legal agreements are critical for those considering buying as a group. 

If you’re a homeowner or want to be one, you probably have questions about mortgages. Like where to get a good deal, what factors to pay attention to and how to choose between fixed and variable rates.  This week, we’ve got answers. Consider this episode your Mortgage 101 course. Mortgage planner and Globe and Mail columnist Robert McLister joins Rob and Roma  to discuss mortgage basics and the changing interest rate environment. Plus, we hear from Angela Calla, a mortgage broker based in Port Coquitlam, B.C. 

Gen Z and millennials are getting a lot of their money advice from TikTok, where personal finance videos have more than 5.8 billion views. In this episode, we look at why the social media platform is resonating, how to use it effectively and what advice you should be wary of on the app. We hear from a 25-year-old TikTok user from Mississauga, Ont., about how he started getting personal finance advice from the platform. Plus, Roma speaks to Ellyce Fulmore, aka @queerd.co, a TikTok content creator from Calgary, Alta. Ellyce, who identifies as queer and neurodivergent, shares how her experience helps her create personal finance advice for audiences traditionally ignored by the financial industry.

Being concerned about the planet and your finances can go hand in hand. Today, we’re talking about the rise in what’s called ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing and how people can balance their values with their financial goals. We hear from a 30-year-old in Ottawa who’s getting started in ESG investing because she cares about the environment – and she wants to make money. Plus, Rob speaks to The Globe’s business reporter Jeff Jones to learn more about how  ESG funds are performing and how to keep an eye out for greenwashing.