Stress Test

Having kids hasn’t been cheap for a long time. But with the cost of living so high, is starting a family becoming something only well-off Canadians can afford?

New research from Statistics Canada suggests that income is playing a bigger role in who becomes a parent. In this episode, we hear from two mothers who want another child but are struggling with the financial realities of growing their families. We also speak with chartered professional accountant Janine Rogan about why job security plays a big role in that decision, the hidden costs of parenthood, and how to know when you’re financially ready for a baby.

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When you scroll through Instagram and TikTok, influencing can look like easy money. But how much do Canadian content creators actually earn, and can they afford to leave their day jobs?

In this episode of Stress Test, we speak with three Canadian influencers about their finances, from a full-time food creator earning six figures to a nurse making tens of thousands of dollars a year from a social media side hustle. They break down what brands pay, what it costs to create content and why a big following doesn’t always mean a big paycheque.
 

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As more Canadians buy homes later in life, homeownership is increasingly competing with another major financial goal: saving for retirement.

We meet two Canadians who bought their first homes in their 40s to learn why they waited, how they made it happen and whether they have any regrets. Then, Meera Raman speaks with certified financial planner Adam Jenkins about the risks of buying later in life and how to balance mortgage payments with retirement savings.

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Tensions between Canada and the U.S. are at an all-time high, and some young Canadians are questioning whether they still want to invest so much of their money south of the border. We hear from a millennial investor who dramatically reduced his U.S. holdings. Then Rob Carrick and financial planner Aravind Sithamparapillai discuss the risks and potential benefits of scaling back U.S. investments, and what investors should weigh before making a change to their portfolios.

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When are you ready to buy a home? To have a kid? To quit your day job and become your own boss? In 2026, financial milestones look different than they used to.

This season of Stress Test gets into the big money decisions Canadians are facing. We’ll look at whether the trade war is changing how people invest, why more Canadians are buying their first homes in their 40s and 50s, and how much money online influencers really make. Season thirteen of Stress Test launches October 14th wherever you get your podcasts.

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Retirement can feel overwhelming when headlines insist you need millions before you can stop working. But is that actually true? In this episode, we hear from young Canadians with very different visions of life after work. Then retirement reporter Meera Raman sits down with financial planner Moira Rose Váně to challenge some of the biggest assumptions about retirement. Together, they explore why so many younger Canadians feel behind before they’ve even begun, and what a more realistic path to retirement can look like.

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More than half of young Canadians say they’d want a prenup if they got married or entered a common-law relationship. But only a small share have actually signed one. So what’s stopping them? In this episode, we look at the gap between interest and action and why prenups may still be harder, pricer and more emotionally charged than many expect. 

We hear from a Toronto woman who says getting a prenup with her husband became the most difficult part of wedding planning. Then, Aimee Schalles, lawyer and co-founder of Jointly.ca, breaks down what could happen if you don’t have a prenup, why more young Canadians want them, and why so few actually sign.

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For decades, there was a formula for homeownership. Buy something small, maybe a condo or a townhouse, watch its value rise, and then eventually move up to something bigger. But that formula is breaking down for many young Canadians. 

Today, we’re looking at what happens when an idea passed down through generations stops working when it's your turn. First, we hear from a Toronto homeowner who stretched far beyond her budget to skip the starter home altogether and buy a place she hopes to stay in long-term. Then, we meet a millennial who’s decided to rent and wait rather than make the jump into homeownership. And later, Rob speaks with Mike Moffatt, founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative, who explains why many young buyers are either stuck in small condos or skipping the first rung entirely and what today’s market means for people hoping to move up.

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Breaking into the job market has always been tough, but right now, it feels harder than usual. Hiring is slow. Competition is high. And at the same time, artificial intelligence is changing the kinds of tasks that once defined entry-level roles. So what’s really behind this shift?

We hear from economist and professor Larry Smith, who says new technology has always shaken up the labour market, but AI is doing so at a much faster speed. He also explains why creativity and adaptability matter more than ever. Then, recruiter Travis O’Rourke joins us to explain how AI is already reshaping hiring. From fewer entry-level roles to a surge of AI-generated applications, he breaks down what job seekers are up against and what actually makes someone stand out.

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Investing on your own has never been simpler. Trading fees are disappearing, apps are better than ever and features like fractional shares mean you can start investing with just a few dollars. But is easier always better? On today’s episode, we look at what’s changed, what’s improved and what still matters most in the investing world. We hear from two Canadians who’ve taken different paths into DIY investing, and how new tools, from mobile apps to automated features, have changed how they invest their money. Then, Rob Carrick explains what’s driving this shift, why these changes are particularly good for new investors and why easier access isn’t always a positive.

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