Control and Compound with Darren Mitchell

You spent years building your company, creating revenue and accumulating retained earnings. But once the money has been made, an entirely different challenge begins:

How do you keep it working without losing access or control?

In this episode, Darren and Christina explain why successful business owners eventually begin thinking like bankers… even when they don't realize it.

They examine how banks generate wealth by controlling the movement of capital, why traditional places for storing corporate wealth can leave money trapped or inefficient, and how properly structured participating whole life insurance can help entrepreneurs build their own banking system.

You'll learn why infinite banking isn't simply an investment strategy, how corporate-owned life insurance can strengthen a corporation's financial position, and why making money and managing capital require two completely different skills.

If you've built a successful business and are now wondering what to do with the money it has created, this episode is for you.

Subscribe for straight-talking Canadian financial insights, business-owner strategies, and conversations you won't hear from your bank.

Check out our webinar on infinite banking: https://shorturl.at/k1V89

Show notes:

00:00 - Why Successful Business Owners Become Bankers

01:55 - How Banks Actually Make Their Money

05:11 - The Evolution of a Successful Business Owner

07:11 - You May Already Be Building a Banking System

09:00 - The Problem With Trapped Corporate Capital

10:48 - Infinite Banking as a Capital Management Strategy

13:17 - Using Life Insurance as a Corporate Asset

15:01 - Getting Wealth Out of Your Corporation

17:20 - The Questions Wealthy Entrepreneurs Ask

19:20 - The Lesson Banks Have Been Teaching Us

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Courtney and Terrence Howell didn't move to rural Newfoundland because it was the easiest place to build a business. They moved there because it was where they wanted to build their life.

After meeting while teaching English in South Korea, the couple eventually settled in Grates Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. With backgrounds in anthropology and fine arts, they launched an art and tourism business before transforming an old school into a Cajun-Creole fusion restaurant.

Then a walk along the beach changed everything.

Terrence, who has lived with Crohn's disease for most of his life, was dealing with serious irritation around his medical appliance. After handling a piece of local seaweed and noticing an unexpected change in his skin, he and Courtney began exploring how its naturally occurring bioactive compounds could be extracted and preserved.

That discovery eventually became 7 Fathoms Seaweed Skin Care.

In this Entrepreneurial Spotlight, Courtney and Terrence join Darren to discuss building a business in rural Newfoundland, finding their earliest customers, working with scientific researchers, sustainably harvesting seaweed, appearing on Dragons' Den and preparing 7 Fathoms for its next stage of growth.

Learn more about 7 Fathoms Seaweed Skin Care: https://www.7fathomsseaweedskincare.ca/

Follow Control & Compound for more conversations about Canadian business, entrepreneurship, investing and building lasting wealth.

Show notes:

00:00 - From Seaweed to a Growing Skincare Company

01:15 - Meet Courtney and Terrence Howell

02:02 - Choosing a Life in Rural Newfoundland

03:14 - Starting Their First Business

04:04 - Building a Restaurant at the End of the Road

06:25 - Terrence's Journey With Crohn's Disease

08:59 - The Walk on the Beach That Changed Everything

11:15 - Turning a Personal Discovery Into a Product

13:43 - When Customers Started Calling

15:44 - The Scientist Who Walked Into Their Restaurant

19:01 - Why Entrepreneurial "Luck" Isn't Really Luck

19:19 - Discovering the Science Inside Newfoundland Seaweed

22:09 - Navigating the Difficult Years

25:00 - Raising a Family While Building a Business

27:07 - Scaling From Rural Newfoundland

31:05 - Harvesting Seaweed Sustainably

36:19 - Making It Onto Dragons' Den

38:53 - Preparing for the Dragons' Den Effect

41:37 - The Biggest Myth About Entrepreneurship

45:23 - Curiosity, Courage and Giving Back

45:51 - Where to Find 7 Fathoms

Check out our webinar on infinite banking: https://shorturl.at/k1V89

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

The Bank of Canada says the Canadian economy is beginning to improve, inflation has fallen to 2.8%, the TSX has reached another all-time high and Canadian consumers continue to spend.

So why does the economic outlook still feel so uncertain?

In the August 2026 Economic Update, Darren and Christina break down the proposed 50% U.S. tariffs on certain Canadian products, the latest movement in the Canadian dollar, what's driving the Canadian and American stock markets, and why major institutions continue buying Bitcoin.

They also examine the growing disconnect between the federal government's promise to build 500,000 homes annually and CMHC's forecast that Canadian housing starts will decline over the next several years.

Darren also digs into the newly opened Gordie Howe International Bridge, why the project is great news for Canadian trade and the unanswered questions surrounding the revised revenue-sharing agreement with the United States.

Plus, they discuss the difference between mortgage insurance and personally owned term insurance, Manulife's growing use of AI, Control & Compound's new Instagram account and the episodes coming in August.

*** Follow the new official Control & Compound Instagram account: @controlandcompound_

Show notes:

00:00 - Canada's August Economic Update

03:54 - Bank of Canada Holds Interest Rates

06:42 - Inflation Falls but Groceries Keep Rising

08:15 - What's Pushing Down the Canadian Dollar?

10:30 - The TSX Outpaces the S&P 500

15:02 - Bitcoin Rebounds as Institutions Keep Buying

18:54 - Canada's Housing Market Begins to Stabilize

20:55 - The Government Promised 500,000 Homes a Year

23:13 - The Gordie Howe Bridge Is Officially Open

25:42 - Questions About the Revised Bridge Agreement

30:38 - Trump's Proposed 50% Tariffs

32:34 - Some Positive News for Canada's Economy

34:36 - Term Insurance Versus Mortgage Insurance

37:04 - How Manulife Is Using AI

39:07 - Control & Compound's New Instagram Account

41:18 - Recent Episodes and What's Coming in August

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Check out our webinar for business owners: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay

Michele Romanow didn't build her wealth by chasing a bigger salary. She built companies, retained ownership and used each success to create her next opportunity.

In this financial autopsy, Darren and Christina examine how the Dragons' Den investor went from launching a caviar company in New Brunswick to building businesses such as Buytopia, SnapSaves and Clearco. More importantly, they break down the financial pattern that continued throughout her career.

You'll learn why ownership can create wealth differently than income, how skills and relationships compound alongside money, why entrepreneurs should think carefully before giving away equity and how successful business owners eventually make the transition from operator to investor.

Michele's journey is a Canadian success story—but the principles behind it can be applied by business owners everywhere.

Show notes:

00:00 The Financial Autopsy of Michele Romanow

01:19 - Why Michele's Story Is Different

03:50 - Meeting Michele Romanow

04:44 - The Story Before Dragons' Den

05:01 - Building a Caviar Business From Scratch

06:44 - Entrepreneurship Is About Finding Answers

08:33 - How Michele Romanow Built Her Wealth

09:03 - Why Ownership Matters More Than Income

10:22 - Turning One Success Into the Next

11:39 - The Business Problem That Inspired Clearco

12:16 - Why Founders Give Away Ownership

13:18 - Capital Without Giving Away Equity

14:22 - Control, Capital and Financial Flexibility

16:04 - Five Lessons From Michele Romanow

16:27 - Your First Business Isn't Your Forever Business

16:53 - Skills Can Compound Faster Than Money

17:28 - Protecting Your Ownership and Equity

18:26 - Making the Shift From Operator to Investor

19:30 - The Work Behind the Success

21:24 - Final Thoughts

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Check out our webinar for business owners: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay

Canada set out to become an electric vehicle superpower. Governments backed the strategy with up to $52.5 billion in support, automakers announced massive projects, and the expectation was that jobs, exports and an entirely new Canadian supply chain would follow.

Since then, demand has fallen short of early projections, trade tensions have changed the market and some of the country's biggest EV projects have been paused or suspended.

In this episode of Control and Compound, Darren and Christina break down the economic and environmental arguments behind Canada's EV strategy, the assumptions the plan depended on, what happened to Honda's proposed $15 billion Ontario EV supply chain, and why Canada is now allowing up to 49,000 Chinese EVs into the country annually.

Was the vision wrong, or did the government try to force the future before consumers and the market were ready? Darren also explains why this story is about much more than cars; it's about who carries the risk when governments make massive industrial bets with taxpayer money.

Show notes:

0:00 - Canada's $50 billion EV gamble

2:50 - Canada's original EV superpower vision

3:36 - Economic strategy or environmental policy?

7:01 - The business owner test

8:19 - Did government force the future too quickly?

10:01 - What Canadian taxpayers committed

11:54 - Four assumptions behind the EV strategy

16:52 - What happened to Honda's $15 billion project?

18:18 - Chinese EVs enter the Canadian market

20:27 - Four ways this could play out

21:25 - The bigger issue beyond electric vehicles

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Check out our webinar for business owners: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay

Most people think their family knows where everything is.

The reality? They usually know pieces of the puzzle.

If something happened to you tomorrow, would your spouse know where your will is? Your insurance policies? Your passwords? Your investments? Your business information? Your digital accounts?

In this episode, Darren and Christina walk through the practical checklist every Canadian should have to make one of life's hardest moments a little easier for the people they love.

Whether you're a parent, business owner, homeowner, or simply want to protect your family, this conversation could save your loved ones months—or even years—of confusion, stress, and unnecessary legal headaches.

Topics include:

• Emergency binders

• Wills

• Executors

• Business succession

• Digital assets

• Life insurance

• Common-law considerations

• Estate planning mistakes

• Protecting your family

If this episode helps you, share it with someone you care about.

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction

02:18 - Questions Every Family Should Answer

05:20 - Build Your Emergency Binder

10:22 - The Legacy One Client Left Behind

13:11 - What Happens Without A Will

20:10 - Choosing The Right Executor

22:17 - Business Owners Need A Different Plan

24:27 - One Hour That Could Change Everything

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Check out our webinar for business owners: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay

What does it really take to build a global company from Atlantic Canada?

In this month's entrepreneurial spotlight, Darren sits down with entrepreneur Travis McDonough, founder of Kinduct and Wellnify, to explore the mindset, resilience, leadership, and relentless perseverance required to build one of Canada's most successful sports technology companies.

From overcoming learning disabilities and competing as a national boxer to building a company trusted by more than 650 professional sports organizations, including teams across the NHL, NBA, MLB, and NFL, Travis shares the hard-earned lessons that shaped his entrepreneurial journey. He opens up about remortgaging his home to make payroll, navigating failure and uncertainty, scaling a startup, raising capital, leading high-performing teams, and ultimately selling Kinduct before launching his next mission-driven company, Wellnify.

This conversation goes far beyond business. It's about developing habits that shape your future, finding purpose through entrepreneurship, building organizations that matter, and creating a lasting impact in your community.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, startup founder, executive, investor, or someone striving for personal growth, this episode is packed with practical insights on leadership, innovation, resilience, business growth, and the mindset required to build something extraordinary.

In this episode:

• Building a global tech company from Halifax, Nova Scotia • The entrepreneurial mindset behind long-term success • Leadership lessons from elite sports • How to build and scale high-performing teams • Overcoming adversity, failure, and rejection • Raising capital and growing a startup • The story behind Kinduct and Wellnify • Why habits determine your future • Innovation, community, and purpose-driven leadership

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Control & Compound for more conversations with entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, and innovators who are shaping the future of business and wealth in Canada.

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction

01:03 - Learning Disabilities That Became Travis' Greatest Strength

05:09 - What Sports Taught Him About Entrepreneurship

07:24 - Building a Business from Scratch in Ireland

11:52 - How Kinduct Grew to 650 Professional Sports Teams

17:27 - Mortgaging the House to Keep the Company Alive

23:09 - Life After Selling Kinduct

26:21 - Why Travis Started Wellnify

36:06 - Building a Legacy That Matters

40:01 - "Build Stronger Fences, Not More Ambulances"

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

FIND TRAVIS ON:

LINKEDIN: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/travismcdonough

WEBSITE: https://wellnify.ai/

Check out our webinar for business owners: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay

Canada has a problem... and it's bigger than inflation.

On this month's economic update, Darren and Christina break down the hidden crisis facing Canada's economy: uncertainty. From interest rates and inflation to the falling Canadian dollar, housing, trade negotiations, business investment, and Canada's untapped natural resources, this update explains why so many Canadians feel like the official numbers don't match real life.

They also cover what the uncertainty around the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement could mean for business owners, investors, jobs, wages, and the future of the Canadian economy.

If you're trying to understand what's really happening in Canada right now — and how it could affect your money — this episode is worth watching.

Subscribe for more Canadian financial education, economic updates, and strategies to help you take control of your money.

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction

00:40 - Bank of Canada Rate Decision

02:35 - Inflation Is Rising Again

04:00 - Canadian Dollar Hits One-Year Low

06:05 - Stock Market Update

08:05 - Bitcoin Drops Again

10:20 - Canadian Housing Market

11:35 - Government Buying Unsold Condos

16:10 - Canada's Biggest Opportunity

20:00 - The US Trade Deal Explained

24:55 - Why Business Investment Is Stalling

28:55 - China Trade Problems

32:15 - Life Insurance Industry Update

35:00 - Keyspire Summit

37:20 - Podcasts You May Have Missed

40:30 - Final Thoughts

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/controlandcompound/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

Check out our webinar for business owners: https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay

For decades, Canadians were told retirement was simple:

✔ Pay off your mortgage ✔ Max out your RRSP ✔ Collect CPP and OAS ✔ Retire comfortably.

But that plan was built for a completely different Canada.

In this episode, Darren and Christina explain why inflation, taxation, government policy, and longevity are changing retirement forever—and why accumulating assets alone is no longer enough.

They break down:

• Why retirement has become a control problem instead of a savings problem

• The hidden inflation most retirees underestimate

• The RRSP "tax bet" almost nobody understands

• How government policy can completely change your retirement plan

• Why wealthy Canadians focus on flexibility instead of simply accumulating more money

• How tax diversification creates more retirement options

• Where participating whole life insurance fits into a long-term wealth strategy

If you're relying solely on traditional retirement advice, this episode may completely change how you think about building wealth.

Subscribe for weekly episodes covering Canadian wealth building, Infinite Banking, tax strategies, investing, entrepreneurship, and financial freedom.

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction

01:49 - The retirement formula Canadians grew up believing

03:29 - Inflation, taxes and why retirement is different today

04:58 - The shocking effect of inflation over 30 years

07:56 - Why taxes destroy more wealth than investments

09:04 - The RRSP tax bet most Canadians don't realize they're making

11:05 - Hidden tax stacking in retirement

13:20 - Government policy risk and changing retirement rules

17:35 - How just 1% more taxation changes everything

19:19 - What wealthy Canadians do differently

20:40 - Why flexibility beats accumulation

22:30 - Building retirement options instead of one strategy

24:02 - Final thoughts

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us

https://hub.controlandcompound.com/business-masterclass-webinar-replay

John D. Rockefeller didn't just build one of the largest fortunes in history – he built a system that allowed his wealth to last for generations.

In this episode of Control and Compound, Darren and Christina are doing a financial autopsy on Rockefeller and how he built his fortune through discipline, ownership, reinvestment, vertical integration, and control of capital. They also explain how the Rockefeller family preserved wealth using life insurance, trusts, and family governance.

The big lesson? Building wealth is one thing. Structuring it properly so it can continue for generations is another.

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction

01:41 - How Rockefeller Built His Fortune

05:54 - The Business Lessons Anyone Can Copy

09:06 - Why Controlling Capital Matters

12:40 - Borrowing Against Assets vs Selling Them

13:23 - How Rockefeller Preserved Wealth for Generations

17:51 - The Biggest Takeaway for Business Owners

FIND US ON:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/controlandcompound_

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@controlandcompound?lang=en

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/darren-mitchell-associates-inc/?viewAsMember=true

BOOK A CALL WITH US NOW: https://www.controlandcompound.com/contact-us