Perspectives

Markets have been doing pretty well lately, but what's in store for 2024? Hugo Ste-Marie is our guest. He is the Director of Portfolio and Quantitative Strategy in Equity Research at Scotiabank and he provides advice to global institutional investors, but his insights will be of interest to investors of all kinds. This episode he'll tell us what the markets might look like in the year ahead, where there may be some opportunities, what a ‘perfect soft landing’ is — and whether we may see one — and much more.   Key moments this episode:  00:57 — Some context around Hugo’s insights 1:30 — The big conclusions about where the economy is potentially headed in 2024 3:16 — Why the US Federal Reserve is a focal point when looking at the global economy 1:45 — Recap around what the Canadian and US economies looked like at the end of 2023 6:22 — Why 2023 ended with some optimism 7:08 — What is a ‘perfect soft landing’? 9:35 — What are the prospects for volatility in 2024? 10:30 — Where are there some potential opportunities as we look ahead at the year? 12:00 — What are small cap vs large cap equities and how to best leverage them 14:42 — Are there places geographically that show a more positive outlook? 15:32 — Hugo sums up his take on 2024  

If your resolution is to get a handle on your money, this year might be a little more challenging for some people. Lucky for us, personal finance expert Bruce Sellery is back this episode. He’s the CEO at Credit Canada Debt Solutions and host of Moolala, the weekly personal finance radio show on SiriusXM. He has some concrete tips for managing your money in a year with continued high-interest rates, high inflation and a looming threat of recession. For more financial advice visit Scotiabank’s Advice+ Centre.  Key moments this episode: 2:05 — Why people are looking at their finances a little differently in 2024 3:03 — A shocking stat that illustrates the need for help with personal finances 5:03 — "I can't afford my life!” — what Bruce is hearing from his clients 6:23 — The first thing Bruce has people consider about their finances heading into the new year 10:05 — The next thing people should think about: savings 11:01 — Bruce’s secret to saving money 11:33 — Two pitfalls around emergency funds 13:24 — The third thing to think about in order to get a handle on your finances: optimizing returns 14:34 — Bruce answers the question he gets all the time 15:20 — What Bruce is hearing around mortgage payments from clients and why it’s a shock for many 16:58 — Some tips on staying on top of your finances without thinking about money all the time 18:20 — Why Bruce thinks strict budgeting isn’t sustainable or effective 20:30 — Ending with wise words from one of the greatest philosophers: Bruce Sellery 

Gillian Riley, CEO of Tangerine Bank, discusses the evolution of digital banking, her experiences as a woman in the corporate world, and the creation of the Scotiabank Women Initiative. Highlights include Tangerine Bank's transition to a full-service bank, the advantages of being a digital bank during COVID-19, and the importance of feedback and vulnerability in leadership.

You’ve probably seen the ads or prompts at online checkouts offering to let you break up your purchase into multiple instalments. This is a new trend in payments called buy now, pay later or BNPL. And a lot of consumers might be wondering, ‘What’s the catch?’ Laura Scheck, Scotiabank’s Vice President of Credit Cards, joins this episode to give us a crash course on this emerging way of paying. Scheck recently helped launch the Bank’s own offering, called SelectPay, and explains exactly how BNPL works, how to use it wisely, as well as some helpful tips.   On Laura’s previous appearance on the show, she busted some common myths around the ever-mysterious credit score. You can find that episode in our podcast feed or visit the show page.Key moments this episode: 1:32 — What exactly is buy now, pay later? 2:03 — Does it seem like this type of payment option is popping up everywhere? 3:15 — Why buy now, pay later appears to be having a moment right now 4:35 — How exactly does this type of payment plan work? 5:36 — Is there a catch? 6:41 — Laura’s insider tip of how to make the most of BNPL 7:12 — Why are banks getting in on BNPL 7:40 — Advice on when to use BNPL and when to use your credit card 8:33 — What to look out for before using BNPL with different providers 9:23 — Laura addresses some of the frequently asked questions and misconceptions 11:31 — What is Scotiabank currently doing on the buy now, pay later front?  

The podcast discusses the Bank of Canada's decision to hold its key interest rate at 5%, the impact of previous rate cuts on the economy, the possibility of interest rates peaking, risks of inflation and wage growth, factors influencing future interest rates, and the anticipation and effects of rate cuts on the housing market.

With the holidays just about here, people's minds aren’t just on buying gifts. They’re also thinking about charitable giving. That’s especially true this year with many feeling the strain of high interest rates and inflation. Nation Cheong, Vice President of Community Opportunities & Mobilization at the United Way of Greater Toronto, and Malcolm Burrows, Head of Philanthropic Advisory Services at Scotia Global Wealth Management, are our guests today. They’ll break down the state of giving as they see it, tell us how trends and technology are affecting philanthropy and even share some advice on how to give effectively this holiday season.  Key moments this episode: 1:33 — Nation gives us a bird's eye view of the giving landscape in Canada right now 2:17 — Did people step up in terms of giving during initial COVID lockdowns? 4:00 — Malcolm explains his role as Head of Philanthropic Advisory Services 4:57 — Malcolm weighs in on what he’s seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic 6:24 — Nation gives some surprising stats on the increased need for giving 8:24 — What trends Nation has seen in terms of fundraising over the course of the pandemic 10:02 — How does a charity or non-profit stand out when there are so many places to give? 11:03 — An answer to a question Malcolm frequently gets: “Which one charity should I give to?” 12:22 — Malcolm's experience on how technology and the pandemic have shaped how we give 14:02 — Nation on why he’s noticed it’s tougher to get volunteers post-pandemic 15:07 — What role big companies play in generating volunteers 16:13 — Advice for people who want to give their money or time this holiday season but might be overwhelmed by the options 19:29 — What motivates Nation and Malcolm to keep doing the work they do 

Black Friday is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. So, what can consumers expect this year as they search for deals? George Doumet is our guest this episode. He’s a consumer products analyst at Scotiabank. He chats with Armina Ligaya to break down what the retail landscape looks like as it gears up for one of its busiest seasons. And he’ll even tell us what Taylor Swift, the Paw Patrol and weight loss drugs might have to do with all this.  Key moments this episode: 1:09 — What the latest consumer trends and data tell us about how the holiday shopping season is shaping up 1:58 — Why the trend around spending on experiences vs goods appears to be sticking around this year 2:32 — What does “Taylor Swift mania” have to say about the experience trend? 3:15 — Are consumers going to be able to find some deals this year on black Friday? 4:04 — Why consumers and retailers are playing a bit of a game of chicken 5:34 — How consumers are using their loyalty points this season 6:00 — What’s the general health of the consumer looking like this year? 8:06 — What about food costs this holiday season? What’s up, what’s down? 9:01 — What about eating out, why have consumers had a “shift of stomach” lately? 9:49 — One surprising potential trend to keep an eye on: the effect weight-loss drugs may have on food sales in the future 10:44 — Last year George told us inflation was going to play the Grinch that holiday season. Is that still the case this year? 

In this podcast, Rodrigo Echagaray explains the concept of nearshoring and its implications for supply chains and global markets. They discuss the shift of manufacturing back to North America, the impact on sustainability, and the integration of the economies of all North American countries. They also explore the potential increase in prices of goods due to nearshoring and the need for policy alignment between Mexico and Canada.

For many people, a credit score is a mysterious thing. But that number can have a huge impact on our lives. In this episode that originally aired in back in April, Laura Scheck, Vice President of Credit Cards at Scotiabank talks to Natalie Nanowski from our Perspectives Newsroom team to help bust some common myths around the credit score as well as explain the basics. What number is good, what’s bad, what will actually decrease your score and, of course, tips on how to improve it.  Key moments this episode: 1:24 — The “origin story” of the credit score 2:06 — What is a good credit score? 2:27 — Can you get a perfect credit score? 3:02 — How is a credit score calculated? 3:32 — Five main factors that impact credit scores 4:30 — The most common way to negatively impact your credit score 5:50 — Another common way people unknowingly decrease their score 7:04 — Can checking your own credit score negatively impact it? 8:33 — Is using your full credit card limit a bad thing for your credit score?  9:34 — Will taking a higher credit limit on your credit card affect your credit score? 10:31 — What are some ways to improve your credit score and how quickly can it be done? 11:36 — The best way for newcomers or students to build their credit 12:52 — Have attitudes changed from generation to generation when it comes to credit? 13:40 — The biggest shift in the current credit landscape that Laura has noticed 14:52 — The biggest takeaways when it comes to credit scores 

Taxes?! Isn’t that a March or April thing? According to our guest this episode, a little bit of planning now will save you some headaches come spring. Robbie Brown is the Director of Advanced Planning and Services and the Head of Wealth Management Taxation at Scotia Wealth Management, and he’s got helpful tips on everything from key dates, to maximizing government grants, to how to best use the new First Home Savings Account even if you don’t plan on buying a house in the near future. For more information, and even more tips, check out the full 2023 year-end tax planning tips article.Key moments this episode: 1:21 — Tip #1: Some key dates. Including a big one that has shifted this year 4:56 — Tip #2: If eligible, take advantage of the First Home Savings Account (or FHSA) 7:24 — Tip #3: RRSP basics 9:07 — Tip #4: How to best use the TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) 13:33 — Tip #5: How to maximize your RESP (Registered Education Savings Plan)  This publication has been prepared by Scotia Capital Inc. and is intended as a general source of information only and should not be considered as personal and/or specific financial, tax, pension, legal or investment advice. We are not tax or legal advisors and we recommend that individuals consult with their qualified advisors before taking any action based upon the information contained in this publication. Opinions and projections contained in this publication are our own as of the date hereof and are subject to change without notice. While care and attention has been taken to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the material in this publication, neither Scotia Capital Inc. nor any of its affiliates make any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of such material and disclaim any liability resulting from any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this publication or the information contained herein. This publication and all the information, opinions and conclusions contained herein are protected by copyright. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior express consent of Scotia Capital Inc.