

Stress Test
The Globe and Mail
You had your best-laid plans and then COVID-19 came along and hammered the entire economy. But you’ve got this – if you have the right information. Join The Globe and Mail’s personal finance team, columnist Rob Carrick and editor Roma Luciw, as they guide you through one of the biggest stress tests your finances will ever face. If you’re between 20 and 40, this financial advice is for you.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 26, 2022 • 30min
Salary negotiation 101: How to ask for a raise (encore episode)
 A lot of people feel uncomfortable negotiating with their boss for a raise and other perks. But if you don’t ask, you won’t get. And it’s definitely a lot easier to save money if you’re making more of it. We hear from a group of friends (who tell each other everything) as they discuss their recent experiences asking for a raise. Plus, Roma talks to Hadiya Roderique, who taught negotiation at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and also was a lawyer. She shares her tips on how to make your case like an expert. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 

Jan 19, 2022 • 23min
Are you giving your parents money?
 Are you helping your parents by paying for groceries, house bills or even funding their retirement? The overwhelming trend in Canada is for parents to be supporting their adult kids financially. But today, we’re talking to the Gen Z and millennials who are in the opposite position and helping support their family. We hear from a 27-year-old from Stoney Creek, Ont., who has been helping her parents with monthly payments for over five years. Plus, Roma speaks to Natasha Knox, a Vancouver- based financial planner, about how common this is among her clients and how it impacts their financial planning. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 

Jan 12, 2022 • 29min
Rents are soaring. What does it mean for millennials and Gen Z?
 If you’re a renter, you already know how unaffordable it’s getting. So how are people dealing with the rising costs? And what does it mean for their other financial goals - and for their life? We hear from a 25-year-old renter in Kelowna, B.C., who says finding a place to live was more stressful than finding a job. Then, we hear from a millennial couple with two young children who are renting in Markham, Ont. and have very different opinions about their current living situation. Plus, Rob speaks to The Globe’s real estate reporter Shane Dingman about what he’s been seeing when it comes to the rental market in Canada and potential solutions to help renters get a leg up. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 

Dec 15, 2021 • 24min
City Space: How can cities hold onto the middle class?
 In this bonus episode, we're bringing you an episode of City Space, a podcast from The Globe about how to make our cities better.A generation ago, a middle-class income could buy you a detached home in a big city. Now? Folks are finding they need to set their sights further and further away from any downtown centre if they want to hold fast to that dream. But as populations and climate emergencies rise, experts tell us that urban densification is the necessary path forward. So what do cities have to do to retain the middle-class? And how, exactly, does the middle-class break their addiction to personal space and redefine “making it” when it comes to acquiring housing?In this episode, we hear from Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto’s former Chief City Planner and founder of Markee Developments, on why she thinks rental units and high-quality public spaces will do the trick. Plus, Rollin Stanley, former General Manager of Planning for Calgary, details how governments all over the country should get imaginative with their heritage buildings. Finally, we ask Rob Carrick, Personal Finance Columnist at the Globe, about why he’s letting millennials off the hook when it comes to housing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 

Dec 8, 2021 • 34min
From investing to housing, personal finance experts share their predictions for 2022
 2021 was a year of surprises in personal finance. Who would have thought inflation would take off, housing could get even hotter and that job-hopping would be commonplace amid a global pandemic? So, what’s next? In this episode, Rob and Roma ask four personal finance experts - Robb Engen, Preet Banerjee, Erica Alini and Barry Choi - what they'll be watching in 2022. Plus, Rob and Roma share their own thoughts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 

Dec 1, 2021 • 21min
What you might not know about buy now, pay later plans
 If you’ve bought anything online recently, chances are you’ve seen the buy now, pay later (BNPL) option when checking out. BNPL is an instalment payment plan that allows you to spread out the cost of your purchase over several increments, and often interest-free too. It sounds convenient and especially tempting around holiday season, but is it smart personal finance? In this episode, Rob and Roma delve into how BNPL has surged in popularity during the pandemic. We hear from two women in their 20’s who have tried BNPL and had very different experiences. Plus, Rob speaks to Jessica Moorhouse, a financial educator and host of the More Money podcast, to hear why she thinks consumers should be skeptical. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising. 

Nov 24, 2021 • 28min
Inflation is squeezing our finances. What can we do about it?
 If you drive a car, buy groceries or pay for shelter, chances are you’ve noticed that right now you’re paying a lot more for things than you did last year. With the inflation rate  higher than it’s been in decades, how concerned should you be? And what can you do to combat the rising costs? We hear from two millennials — a Torontonian hit by soaring food prices and a new homeowner in Calgary — to learn where Canadians are feeling the pinch and how they’re adapting. Plus, Roma talks to The Globe’s economics columnist David Parkinson about what’s causing the rapid increase in inflation and how much longer it might be with us. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 

Nov 17, 2021 • 20min
Is a hot housing market pricing Canadians out of their small towns?
 If you’ve listened to our show over the last few seasons, you already know that soaring home prices have caused all kinds of problems for Gen Z and millennials looking to buy in big cities like Toronto and Vancouver. The search for more affordable housing sent some first-time buyers to smaller cities and towns. But how has that impacted the young Canadians who already lived in those places? What happens to affordability for locals with home ownership dreams? In this episode, Rob and Roma finally leave their home studios and hit the road with the rest of the Stress Test team to find the real story in Belleville, Ontario. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising. 

Nov 3, 2021 • 2min
Coming Soon: Season 4 of Stress Test
 Your favourite personal finance podcast is back for a fourth season. Join hosts Rob Carrick and Roma Luciw as they talk to real people and experts to tackle the money questions that have been on your mind. Coming up this season: what rising inflation means for you, those ‘buy now pay later’ options you’re seeing everywhere and of course, housing. Listen to the trailer and catch up on previous episodes now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising. 

Jul 7, 2021 • 31min
What it’s been like to invest during a pandemic
 Investing has been one of the biggest financial stories of the pandemic. There was the stock market crash in March 2020, followed by a huge rebound. We’ve heard about meme stocks and cryptocurrencies. But what does it all mean for Gen Z and millennials? In the final episode of season three, we hear from listeners about their investment stories and how they reacted to all the ups and downs during COVID-19. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising. 


