Great Canadian Piggybank

You’ve heard about the S&P 500 but what exactly is it, and why should Canadian investors care?

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Bernard, finance professional and author of The Index of America, to break down one of the world’s most important stock market indexes.

Tom explains what the S&P 500 actually represents, how companies make the cut, and how Canadians can invest in it through low-cost ETFs and index funds. They also explore why investing doesn’t need to be complicated, how to think about risk and market downturns, and why sometimes the best strategy is simply one you can stick with.

Because when it comes to investing and teaching our kids about it, understanding the basics and getting started can matter more than getting everything perfect.

Show Notes:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-bernard/
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@indexofamerica
Website: https://indexofamerica.com/
Book: The Index of America

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Investing Simplified
02:54 Understanding the S&P 500
05:36 The Importance of the S&P 500 for Canadians
08:18 Investing in the S&P 500: ETFs and Mutual Funds
10:56 Overcoming Investment Hesitations
13:57 The Case for Simplicity in Investing
16:45 Finding Your Personal Investment Strategy

Stocks. ETFs. Mutual funds. Bonds.

These are words we hear all the time when people talk about investing, but do you actually know what you’re buying or how these investments fit together?

In this episode, Christi sits down with Mark McGrath, a Certified Financial Planner, co-founder of Finance (an advice-only financial planning firm for Canadian physicians), and co-author of Wealthier: The Investing Field Guide for Millennials, to break down the investing basics every parent should understand before teaching their kids.

You’ll also learn:

• What you are actually buying when you purchase a stock
• Why owning individual companies is different from owning the market
• How ETFs and index funds work
• Why lower fees matter when investing
• What bonds are and why they still have a role in a portfolio
• Why bond ETFs can go up and down in value
• How to think about building a simple first investment portfolio for your kids

Whether you’re opening your first investment account, managing an RESP, or simply want to feel more confident talking to your kids about money, this episode will help you build the foundation you need.

Because before we can teach our kids about investing, we need to understand it ourselves.

Show Notes:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmcgrathcfp/

IG:https://www.instagram.com/markmcgrathcfp/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/mark.mcgrath.3597

Website: https://www.phynance.ca/

Book: Wealthier: The Investing Field Guide for Canadian Millennials

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Stocks and Ownership

02:15 The Allure of Individual Stocks

03:42 The Case for Diversification

06:33 Exploring ETFs and Index Funds

09:10 The Rise of ETFs

12:02 Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

12:29 The Impact of Fees on Investments

18:45 Understanding Fees and Financial Products

21:12 Demystifying Bonds: A Complex Investment

24:01 Bonds vs. Bank Loans: The Strategic Choice

27:01 Bond ETFs: Understanding Volatility

31:25 The Current State of Bonds: Are They Dead?

32:33 Building a Balanced Portfolio: Stocks, Bonds, and More

33:45 Investment Advice for Beginners: Starting Young

36:33 The Importance of Diversification in Investing

Season 3 of The Great Canadian Piggybank is almost here!

As our kids get older, the money questions get bigger too.

Should we be teaching our kids to invest? What do you say when your kid wants to buy crypto? How much financial freedom should we give them? Are we preparing them for life after high school—or just saving for it? And how much do we really need to spend on everything that comes with raising kids?

This season, Christi Rae sits down with financial experts, authors, educators and parents to talk about stocks, ETFs, crypto, RESPs, ADHD and money, the cost of raising kids, youth sports, financial independence and more.

No lectures. No judgment. Just practical conversations to help Canadian parents raise kids who feel more confident about money and the decisions they'll eventually have to make on their own.

Season 3 starts September 15. Follow The Great Canadian Piggybank so you don't miss an episode.

In this episode, I sit down with Adrian Bar (Canadian in a T-Shirt) to break down a simple “tax playbook” for Canadian families, from young kids all the way to young adults.

We walk through how the system actually works in real life:

• How RRSP contributions can do more than lower your tax bill, they can increase your Canada Child Benefit payments
• Why teens should file a tax return even if they earn little (or nothing)
• What changes at age 18 and 19, and how that affects benefits and credits
• How to think about FHSA vs TFSA when helping your kids take their first financial steps

This is a practical, stage-by-stage conversation to help you stop reacting to taxes and start using them to support your family’s long-term financial picture.

If you’re heading into the April 30 deadline, this episode will help you think a little differently about the decisions you’re making right now and the impact they can have later.

Show Links:

Youtube: youtube.com/c/CanadianinaTShirt/
Instagram  instagram.com/canadiantshirt

Chapter List:

00:00 Introduction to Tax Planning for Parents

00:50 Maximizing Benefits: The CCB Double Dip Strategy

03:33 RRSP vs. TFSA: Making the Right Choice

07:39 Filing Taxes as a Teen: Why It Matters

11:44 Understanding RESPs and the 13-Week Rule

14:25 Prioritizing Withdrawals from RESPs

16:08 Navigating RESP Withdrawals and Tax Implications

18:29 Navigating Financial Independence for Young Adults

18:49 Understanding the First Home Savings Account (FHSA)

25:38 Key Financial Rules for Parents

28:23 Summary

Kids today rarely use cash but they’re still making money decisions every day. So how do we actually teach them healthy money habits in a digital-first world?

In this episode of The Great Canadian Piggy Bank, Christi Rae sits down with Angelique de Montbrun, CEO of Mydoh and a parent herself, to talk about how kids really learn about money through earning, spending, saving, making mistakes, and having honest conversations at home.

They discuss:

• Why letting kids make small money mistakes is essential
• How digital money changes the way kids understand spending
• Balancing parental control with real financial independence
• Why flexibility matters when teaching neurodivergent kids about money
• How money education needs to evolve as kids grow
• What it actually means to raise financially confident kids

This episode is not sponsored. Christi uses Mydoh in her own household and invited Angelique on because the product sparked meaningful money conversations at home, not to sell anything, but to share what’s genuinely working.

Show Links:

Website: https://mydoh.onelink.me/GoC3/tgc-piggybank

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@mydohapp
Tik Tok  tiktok.com/@mydoh
Instagram  instagram.com/mydohapp
Facebook facebook.com/mydohapp/

Chapters List:

00:00 Introduction to Financial Literacy for Kids

00:58 Understanding the Mydoh App

04:10 Identifying Gaps in Financial Education

06:15 The Role of Parents in Financial Education

07:19 Challenges of Digital Money Management

07:58 Balancing Control and Autonomy

10:13 Adapting Financial Education as Kids Grow

12:08 Inclusivity in Financial Tools

14:00 Supporting Neurodivergent Kids

15:07 The Future of Financial Education with AI

17:30 Hopes for the Next Generation's Financial Future

Inheritance is one of the most emotionally charged topics in family life, especially when families aren’t simple. In this episode, Eli explores what happens when wills aren’t equal, focusing on blended families, step-children, second marriages, and situations where “fair” doesn’t always mean “equal.”

You’ll learn how unequal inheritances can create conflict, why silence around estate decisions often causes more harm than the decisions themselves, and how thoughtful planning and clear communication can protect relationships, not just assets.

This episode is for parents and caregivers who want to make intentional choices, reduce the risk of family rifts, and understand how to structure a will that reflects their values while minimizing confusion and resentment.

Show Links:Website  upfinancial.ca
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@elithemoneyguy
Tik Tok  tiktok.com/@elithemoneyguy
Instagram  instagram.com/elithemoneyguy
Facebook  facebook.com/upfinancial. 

Chapters List:00:00 Navigating Inheritance: Fairness vs. Equality

02:46 The Emotional Landscape of Inheritance

05:13 Supporting Children with Different Needs

07:10 Communication: The Key to Family Harmony

08:46 Blended Families and Inheritance Challenges

11:19 Cultural Perspectives on Inheritance

13:49 Giving with a Warm Hand vs. Cold Hand

14:03 The Consequences of Inaction

15:44 Tools for Smooth Inheritance Distribution

18:05 Taking Action: First Steps for Parents

Wills and estates can sound intimidating—but they don’t have to be. In this episode, Eli breaks down the basics of what a will actually is, what an estate includes, and why having a plan matters more than most families realize.

You’ll learn what happens if you don’t have a will, the key decisions every will should cover, and the common misconceptions that stop people from getting started. This episode is about understanding the foundation—so you can make informed, confident choices that protect the people you care about.

Whether you’re just starting to think about estate planning or putting it off because it feels overwhelming, this conversation makes the essentials clear, practical, and approachable.

Show Links:

Website  ⁠upfinancial.ca⁠

Youtube: ⁠www.youtube.com/@elithemoneyguy⁠

TikTok  ⁠tiktok.com/@elithemoneyguy⁠

Instagram  ⁠instagram.com/elithemoneyguy⁠

Facebook  ⁠facebook.com/upfinancial⁠

Chapters List:

00:00 Navigating Financial Support for Kids

00:32 Understanding Trusts and Estate Planning

04:03 Informal vs. Formal Trusts

07:40 Balancing Support and Independence

10:22 Planning Inheritance: When and How?

11:32 Guardianship and Child Welfare

12:41 Understanding TFSAs and RESPs

14:07 Gifting: Now vs. Later

15:45 Supporting Adult Children Financially

17:22 Instilling Financial Values in Children

The sandwich generation is exhausted—and for many immigrant and first-generation Canadian families, the pressure runs even deeper.

In this episode, Christi Rae sits down with Parween Mander (The Wealthy Wolfe) to create a practical, compassionate survival guide for parents caught between supporting aging parents, raising financially resilient kids, and trying not to sacrifice their own retirement in the process.

This conversation goes beyond budgets and spreadsheets to address the real drivers of stress: money guilt, cultural expectations, scarcity mindset, and the emotional burden, often carried by eldest daughters, to be the family’s financial anchor.

You’ll learn:

• How to set financial boundaries with parents without feeling like you’re abandoning them
• Why balancing support, savings, and retirement is essential to breaking cycles of scarcity
• How to raise cycle-breaking kids without passing down money trauma
• What it really means to move from survival mode to financial safety

This episode is a reminder that protecting your financial future isn’t selfish, it’s how long-term care for your family actually becomes possible.
Ideal for: sandwich-generation parents, immigrant families, first-generation Canadians, and anyone navigating money, boundaries, and guilt

Show Links:

Website: TheWealthyWolfe.ca

Instagram: @parween.mander

TikTok: @parweenmoneycoach

Chapter List:

00:00 Navigating Financial Pressures in Immigrant Families

02:51 Setting Financial Boundaries with Parents

05:55 Breaking the Cycle of Financial Scarcity

08:38 Teaching Kids About Money Without Trauma

11:38 Balancing Family Support and Personal Financial Goals

14:38 Understanding Collectivist vs. Individualist Cultures

16:43 Shifting from Survival Mode to Safety Mode

19:22 The Journey of a Financial Counselor

Confused about where to start with your investments?

In this episode, Christi Rae sits down with Toby Manson, CPA and certified financial planner with IG Wealth, to break down Canada’s key savings accounts: TFSA, RRSP, and FHSA.

Learn which account to open first, when to start contributing to an RRSP, and how the FHSA can help first-time homebuyers.

Perfect for beginners, young adults, and parents who want to raise money-smart kids. This episode gives you the confidence and language to take control of your finances, one step at a time.

Chapter List:

00:00 Introduction to Financial Literacy for Parents

00:48 Understanding TFSA, RRSP, and FHSA

02:51 Tax Benefits of Registered Accounts

05:11 Choosing the Right Account for Young Adults

07:11 Transitioning from TFSA to RRSP

07:43 Overcoming Financial Intimidation

08:51 Navigating DIY Investing vs. Financial Planning

10:20 Understanding Financial Planning for Beginners

11:35 Building Relationships with Financial Advisors

12:38 Balancing Saving and Enjoying Life

13:27 Key Takeaways for Young Investors

14:35 Summary

Most parents know what they should do with money save more plan ahead and talk to their kids about finances. So why is it still so hard to follow through?

In this episode of The Great Canadian Piggy Bank host Christi Rae sits down with Dr. Preet Banerjee one of Canada’s leading experts in behavioral finance to unpack why knowing better does not lead to doing better. They explore how fatigue stress and our brain’s focus on the present sabotage good financial intentions and why willpower is the wrong tool for the job.

You will learn how small systems automation and intentional friction can help parents close the gap between intention and action how kids absorb financial habits from what we model not what we say and why creating emotional safety around money matters more than getting everything right.

This episode is for parents who want to raise money smart kids without guilt perfection or burnout.

Show Links:

Website: https://www.preetbanerjee.com/

Financial Course: https://www.airfoilacademy.com/courses/yourmoneydegree

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preetbanerjee/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PreetBanerjee

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@preetbanerjee

Chapter List:

00:00 Understanding the Financial Behavior Gap

02:47 The Empathy Gap and Future Self

06:36 Automating Financial Decisions

10:06 Taking Action on Financial Intentions

11:57 Teaching Money Skills for an AI Future

15:53 Creating Emotional Safety Around Money Conversations

17:59 Summary