Black Friday marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. So, we're taking the pulse of Canadian consumers and retailers. John Zamparo, Analyst in Retail and Consumer Products at Scotiabank is our guest and will tell us why Canadian retailers and consumers are feeling cautious, where bargain hunters may (or may not) find some deals, what trends he’s seeing and much more. For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures  Key moments this episode: 1:15 – Why the headline for this year’s Black Friday is “proceed with caution”  2:01 – Why good economic news isn’t translating to increased consumer spending 3:56 – The most common question John gets from family and friends on pricing 4:33 – How consumer sentiment might affect Black Friday trends 6:11 – What does John mean when he says we might see a more “traditional” Black Friday? 6:25 – How the postal worker strike may affect Black Friday and holiday purchasing 6:54 – Where consumers will likely see some deep discounts this Black Friday (and where they won’t) 7:44 – Canadians love a deal. And that’s backed by research 9:00 – What about trends when it comes to Canadians dining out vs. dining in? 10:01 – What is the state of food prices in grocery stores now vs. a year ago? 11:36 – How Canadian consumers compare to the rest of the world when it comes to online shopping and how that changes on Black Friday 12:48 – What’s John splurging on for himself this holiday? 

Do you have a will? For almost half of Canadians, the answer is no – and the task of creating one is likely at the bottom of their to-do list. The process can seem complicated or even intimidating. So, this episode we’re going to help make things less daunting by debunking some common misconceptions around wills and other end-of-life documents. Erin Bury, Co-founder and CEO of Willful, a Canadian, do-it-yourself online will platform is our guest and has ten common myths around this topic that she’ll dispel once and for all. For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures  Key moments this episode: 2:15 – How did Erin come up with this list of myths around estate planning? 3:45 - Myth 1: I’m too young to need a will  5:19 - Myth 2: I don’t have enough assets to warrant getting a will  6:35 - Myth 3: I don’t need a will, everything will just go to [insert family member’s name] anyway  9:00 - Myth 4:  I can just tell my family my wishes  9:55- Myth 5: I have to visit a lawyer to create a will  12:13 - Myth 6: A will is a one-and-done document  14:24 – Bonus myth: where should you keep the paper copy of your will? 15:05 - Myth 7: I’ve got a will, now I’m done with estate planning.  17:35 - Myth 8: Creating a will is extremely time-consuming  19:05 - Myth 9: I need to list out all my assets in my will 21:45 - Myth 10: My spouse and I only need one will 

Join Chief Economist Jean-François Perrault from Scotiabank and Chief Investment Strategist Myles Zyblock from Scotia Global Asset Management as they explore the post-election economic landscape. They dissect how U.S. election outcomes could sway stock markets and discuss the bullish vs. bearish implications for global growth. Delve into the consequences of Canada's immigration policy on labor and housing, and uncover the transformative role of AI on economies and jobs. Plus, hear why Myles has a keen interest in gold's market dynamics!

In this episode, we’re highlighting five more missteps that investors seem to make time and time again. Yuko Girard, Portfolio Manager on the Multi Asset Management Team at Scotia Global Asset Management returns to cover everything from ETFs vs. mutual funds, passive vs. active management and even how psychological factors like loss aversion or FOMO can hamper your investments.  Check out Yuko’s first installment for more common mistakes to avoid. For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures  Key moments this episode:  1:36 - Common investing mistake #1: Not fully understanding what it is that you’re buying. For example, what's the difference between an ETF and a mutual fund? 7:07 - Common investing mistake #2: Being impatient 8:52 - Common investing mistake #3: Letting your emotions drive your decision making. For example, the phenomenon of loss aversion 11:54 - Common investing mistake #4: Falling for the FOMO trap 13:30 - Common investing mistake #5: Overestimating your ability to invest on your own 

Join Jean-François Perrault, Scotiabank’s Chief Economist, as he discusses the Bank of Canada’s surprising 50-basis-point interest rate cut. He explains the unusual nature of this decision and its motivations amid inflation concerns. The conversation covers how Canadians and businesses will feel the impacts, and the timeline for these changes to take effect. Perrault also shares potential risks that could reverse inflation trends and offers insights into the economy’s outlook for 2025. Tune in for key takeaways every Canadian should know!

Cedar Leaf Capital is the first Indigenous-led, Indigenous-owned investment dealer in Canada. Our guests today describe that as unprecedented, disruptive and a step towards empowerment and economic reconciliation in Canada. Mindy Wight, CEO of Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation — one of the three Indigenous shareholders which own the majority of Cedar Leaf — and Cedar Leaf CEO Clint Davis are here to tell us all about this latest venture and what it means for access to capital for Indigenous communities and beyond. Want to read more about Cedar Leaf Capital? Check out our full story here.  Key moments this episode: 1:39 – What exactly is Cedar Leaf Capital? 2:21 – Why underrepresentation of Indigenous groups in capital markets particularly interest one of the shareholders, Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation  3:17 – How did Cedar Leaf come together? 4:50 – Why Mindy found the proposition to be a part of Cedar Leaf so compelling 5:30 – What does an Indigenous-led, Indigenous-owned investment dealer bring to the table that other ventures may not? 6:40 – The feedback Mindy has been hearing from her community and why it’s an opportunity to educate 7:38 – Why Mindy thinks there is underrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in finance 9:13 – What progress has been made on economic reconciliation in Canada in the last decade? 12:30 – How Cedar Leaf may help with access to capital for Indigenous communities 13:55 – How the unique ownership structure of Cedar Leaf and the plan to be wholly Indigenous-owned sets a ‘new standard’ 17:12 – How did Cedar Leaf select its three Indigenous partners: Nch’ḵay̓, Des Nedhe and the Chippewas of Rama First Nation? 19:08 – What's next for Cedar Leaf Capital?  21:36 – Why this venture is such a personal mission for Clint and Mindy  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures

When it comes to online scams, people not only need to remain vigilant to protect themselves, they have to look out for a parent and maybe even kids who are just starting to go online. So, this episode our fraud expert, Scotiabank’s Vice President of Cybersecurity Operations Louise Dandonneau, breaks down the latest cyber scams and offers tips on how you can keep your family safe.  Key moments this episode: 1:54 – A quick snapshot of what the cyber crime landscape looks like 2:37 – The most common cyber crime according to statistics 3:58 – Are individuals (in addition to large organizations) being extorted by criminals locking down their data? 4:20 – Louise runs down an increasingly common online fraud: gift card scams 5:35 – The big reason scammers are becoming more sophisticated: AI 6:15 – Why phone scams are still prevalent  7:01 – What is spear phishing? 7:58 – In what ways are older people specifically targeted for cyber fraud? 9:22 – What should you tell an older parent to avoid being a victim of cyber fraud? 10:41 – How online security can take a cue from old school safety techniques  11:11 – How are kids targeted online and how can we help prevent them from becoming victims? 13:33 – One key tip that can help prevent cyber crime  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures

Carbon capture sounds like a simple solution to a complex problem like climate change. And it’s especially appealing for a country like Canada with ambitious emission reduction targets. But does it work? John McNally, the Senior Advisor for Climate and Socio-Economic Policy at Scotiabank, recently wrote a report on the topic and is our guest this episode. He’ll give us a primer on this emerging technology and outlines the promise and potential hurdles it presents.   Key moments this episode: 1:23 – A quick overview of what carbon capture is 2:26 – Why is there so much talk about carbon capture right now? 3:26 – What is done with the carbon after it’s captured? 5:12 – What do carbon removal or capture facilities look like? 6:11 – Why Canada has an advantage when it comes to storage 6:40 – The most common question John gets asked: does carbon capture really work? 8:15 – How realistic is this technology when it comes to curbing climate change? 9:58 – What is the current global carbon capture capacity? 10:30 – Why Canada has the ‘bronze medal’ when it comes to carbon capture 10:47 – How big of a role does carbon capture play when it comes to Canada’s strategy to hit its climate goals? 12:11 – What are the biggest hurdles in ramping up carbon capture? 14:12 – The risks around carbon capture technology 16:03 – Why put the effort towards carbon capture and storage rather than focusing on reducing emissions?  17:25 – What the future has in store when it comes to carbon capture  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures

When it comes to estate planning, most people’s first thoughts are about creating a will. But there’s another important document that only about one third of Canadian adults currently have in place. And that’s a power of attorney or POA. Laura Tamblyn Watts, Author and CEO of Canada’s National Seniors Advocacy Organization, CanAge, and Rob McGavin, the Managing Director at Scotiatrust give us the ins and outs of this sometimes intimidating, but essential document. Key moments this episode: 1:44 – So what is a power of attorney? 2:50 – The various names for these documents in different provinces  3:28 – How POA for property can be used to help a family member who would rather have someone else handle those decisions and tasks before its necessary 4:15 – Why POA is a critical part of the estate planning conversation 4:50 – How many Canadians actually have a POA? 7:20 – Why POAs are important for people of all ages 8:21 – What are the responsibilities for someone acting as an attorney?  11:12 – When POA for personal care kicks in and how is that determination made?  14:34 – The limitations of managing a loved one's finances without a POA 17:37 – When should someone get a POA? 20:00 – How to start a conversation with a parent about POA 22:32 – Addressing the common misconceptions around POAs 22:38 – Who should or shouldn’t you appoint as your POA? 28:20 – What role Scotiatrust can play when it comes to estate planning  For legal disclosures, please visit http://bit.ly/socialdisclaim and www.gbm.scotiabank.com/disclosures   

Yuko Girard, a Portfolio Manager at Scotia Global Asset Management, shares invaluable insights on avoiding common investment pitfalls. She discusses the dangers of over-relying on tech stocks and the futile effort of trying to time the market. Yuko warns against chasing returns and emphasizes that the market doesn’t always reflect economic reality. She also highlights the risks of investing based on political speculation. Tune in for practical advice to enhance your investment strategy and build a resilient portfolio!