

The Money Scope Podcast
Benjamin Felix & Dr. Mark Soth
The Money Scope is a weekly limited-run podcast about personal financial decision-making for Canadian professionals. The podcast follows a curriculum deliberately designed to make you a better, more thoughtful financial decision maker.
It is hosted by Benjamin Felix - Portfolio Manager and Head of Research at PWL Capital, and Dr. Mark Soth - the Loonie Doctor.
The moneyscope.ca site is peppered with photoshopped fun, and each episode page is deliberately designed to be a multi-media curriculum with annotated transcripts, primary source references, and links to relevant materials in our other blog and podcast formats.
It is hosted by Benjamin Felix - Portfolio Manager and Head of Research at PWL Capital, and Dr. Mark Soth - the Loonie Doctor.
The moneyscope.ca site is peppered with photoshopped fun, and each episode page is deliberately designed to be a multi-media curriculum with annotated transcripts, primary source references, and links to relevant materials in our other blog and podcast formats.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 29, 2024 • 1h 4min
Ep 10: Investing in a Canadian Corporation
In today's episode, we delve into the complex topic of investing in Canadian corporations, something that will be deeply relevant to many of our listeners. Given the intricate interplay of investments and taxes within this context, it's crucial for corporate and business owners to grasp the fundamentals. We start off by unpacking key details of what defines a corporation, the intricacies of taxation for Canadian companies, and the nuances of passive income. Our conversation then goes on to cover tax integration, how to navigate its advantages and disadvantages, and what you can do to ensure that you avoid a large tax bump. We also break down the distinction between notional and real accounts, how they are used, tax deferrals, capital gains, and how to implement good insurance and estate planning. Today's episode covers a lot and makes for excellent reference material. Tune in today for a comprehensive breakdown of everything you need to know when it comes to investing in Canadian corporations! Key Points From This Episode: (0:01:01) Investing in Canadian corporations and why it's such a complex subject. (0:03:44) Understanding exactly what a corporation is and what a corporation isn't. (0:06:06) The main reasons for a separate operating company and a holding company. (0:08:08) Navigating liability and investment properties as a physician. (0:11:42) Taxation of active and passive investment income inside of a Canadian Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC). (0:16:06) What is considered passive income and the nuances within that. (0:20:50) Tax integration, advantages and disadvantages, and how to avoid a big tax bump. (0:23:43) Fears around the passive income limit, and why these concerns are overblown. (0:26:23) Taxation of corporate investments and why tax is a secondary consideration. (0:27:16) A breakdown of notional and real accounts and how they are used. (0:33:42) Eligible and non-eligible dividends and dividend tax. (0:43:49) Understanding unfavourable tax integration with foreign dividend income. (0:49:04) Tax deferral, capital gains, and the most valuable notional account. (0:54:09) How to implement good insurance and estate planning. (0:58:48) A review of today's content and what we'll be discussing next time. Links From Today's Episode: Dr. Mark Soth (The Loonie Doctor) — https://www.looniedoctor.ca/ Dr. Mark on X — https://twitter.com/LoonieDoctor Benjamin Felix — https://www.pwlcapital.com/author/benjamin-felix/ Benjamin on X — https://twitter.com/benjaminwfelix Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/

Mar 22, 2024 • 49min
Ep. 9 Case Conference: Keeping the Tax Hobbits at Bay
Delve into tax-efficient investing strategies, the risks of chasing dividends, leveraging home equity for investments, comparing bond tax efficiency, and exploring corporate-class bond ETFs. Learn about the free dividends fallacy, benefits of high dividend yield stocks, and the importance of structuring portfolios with tax implications in mind. Gain insight into leveraging home equity to defer tax, assessing risk profiles, and optimizing investment strategies for a prosperous financial future.

8 snips
Mar 15, 2024 • 1h 12min
Ep 9: Taxable Investing in Canada
They unpack how different investment returns are taxed, from interest and Canadian dividends to foreign dividends and capital gains. Attribution rules and second-generation income quirks get a close look. They cover prescribed-rate loan planning, leverage in taxable accounts, and practical tax-loss harvesting pitfalls. Asset location and common tax traps finish the conversation.

Mar 8, 2024 • 24min
Ep.8 Case Conference: Choosing the Right Door
Explore the complexities of registered account types for Canadian investors, including RRSPs, TFSAs, and RESPs. Learn how to navigate tax implications, maximize deductions, and transition to individual plans. Discover strategies for optimizing RRSP contribution room, managing income through corporations, and diversifying wealth for tax efficiency.

20 snips
Mar 1, 2024 • 1h 29min
Ep. 8 Canadian Investment Accounts
Learn about Canadian investment accounts in this episode as they break down the benefits and drawbacks of TFSA, RRSPs, RRIFs, LIRAs, and FHSA. Understand the rules, contribution limits, and withdrawal flexibility of each account to maximize tax benefits. Explore strategies for optimizing contributions, navigating group RESPs, and utilizing grants for education. Dive into the complexities of investment taxation and balancing personal and corporate taxable accounts.

Feb 23, 2024 • 20min
Intermission Episode
In this special intermission episode, the hosts reflect on the podcast journey, share listener feedback, and tease upcoming Canadian-focused content. They discuss dividend investing perspectives, audience engagement, and the impact on financial decision-making. The episode touches on success metrics, mixed feedback, and future directions for the Money Scope Podcast.

Feb 16, 2024 • 19min
Ep. 7 Case Conference: Big decisions with real money
Two real investor stories explore high-stakes choices about concentration, leverage, and timing. One tale follows an aggressive tech-heavy portfolio that ignored diversification and rebalancing. The other examines life after a business sale, focusing on cash allocation, risk tolerance, and systematic entry. Themes include investor psychology, asset allocation, and the practical need to rebalance during market turbulence.

25 snips
Feb 9, 2024 • 2h 1min
Ep. 7: Portfolio Design & Management
Explore the intricacies of portfolio planning, execution, and maintenance as we dissect the critical aspect of wealth management. Uncover the dangers of volatility and behavioral risks and discover strategies to safeguard your financial health. Assess your risk tolerance and automate tasks to craft a well-balanced portfolio. Learn about asset allocation options and vital steps for effective portfolio maintenance. Navigate the complexities of portfolio management with confidence and make informed decisions about your financial health!

8 snips
Feb 2, 2024 • 37min
Ep. 6 Case Conference: This Investment is Hot
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the looming recession and why it shouldn't worry investors. They explore different investment strategies and rational decision making. They also delve into the challenges of switching to a lower cost investment model and the importance of financial compassion. The chapter covers onboarding new clients, donating appreciated securities and spotting investment opportunities. Lastly, they caution against investing in high growth industries without considering when to sell.

70 snips
Jan 26, 2024 • 1h 18min
Ep. 6: Key Investing Concepts
In this podcast, the hosts discuss the basics of investment strategy and why investing is important. They explore the differences between investing and gambling, the speculative nature of investments, and the concept of risk. They also dive into financial assets, stocks and bonds, and the efficient market hypothesis. The importance of diversification, passive and active investing, and understanding investment costs are also covered. Overall, it's an informative and entertaining episode about key investing concepts.


