The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast

Ed Rempel is a fee-for-service financial planner and tax accountant, as well as a popular and passionate blogger. He has written hundreds of articles to educate the public on his unique insights and strategies that actually work, instead of the “conventional wisdom” common in the financial services industry and the media. He is an expert in many financial strategies, including the Smith Manoeuvre.

In my interview with Ed, we discuss managing risks of the Smith Manoeuvre, tax issues you need to be aware of and what happens once your mortgage is paid off.

Gordon Stein is a personal finance keynote speaker and author of the bestselling Cashflow Cookbook - a unique personal finance book that offers an approach to help readers add millions of net worth with minimal effort and sacrifice. The book has become a Toronto Star column and his talks are in high demand.

In my interview with Gordon, we discuss simple ways to save on the ongoing expenses of homeownership, factors to consider (besides just the rate) when shopping for a mortgage and good DIY home repairs to tackle on your own (and when to call in the pros).

Chantel Chapman is a Millennial Money and Credit Score Expert with a background in the mortgage industry. She was a mortgage broker for over a decade and has been teaching financial literacy for 10 years.

Chantel is the founder of W-T-Finances, financial literacy and advice for millennials looking to get their money right. W-T-Finances is backed by science-based research in addiction and behaviour to explore how consumerism and mental health are linked to money problems.

In my interview with Chantel, we discuss the 5 main factors that affect your credit score, some common misconceptions about credit scores and the best tips for improving your credit score.

Alan Whitton aka BigCajunMan has been writing about finance, child disabilities, RESPs and consumerism on his blog Canadian Personal Finance Blog for over a decade. He’s a homeowner in Ottawa who’s married with four kids. He has been featured in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star and MoneySense.

In my interview with Alan, we discuss dealing with double digit mortgage rates, why downsizing doesn’t always make sense and the right way to help adult children buy their first homes.

Anna Baluch is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about real estate and personal finance. She's particularly interested in mortgages, retirement, insurance and investing. Her work can be seen on LendingTree, Credit Karma, Experian, Business Insider and other well-known publications.

In my interview with Anna, we discuss factors to consider when buying a home, how she paid off her mortgage in only 16 months and how to create a third income.

Doug Hoyes is the co-founder of Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc., one of Canada’s largest personal insolvency firms. In his thirty-year career as a chartered accountant and Licensed Insolvency Trustee, he has personally helped over 10,000 individuals solve their debt problems and rebuild their financial future.

He has appeared before the Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee in Ottawa to give testimony on the impact of bankruptcy legislation on the individual, and serves as an OSB (Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy) Oral Board Examiner.

Doug is a passionate advocate for ensuring that people find the right solutions for their debt problems. Frequently interviewed in the media, he has shared his knowledge and expertise on the most common financial myths and mistakes on CBC, Global News, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Business News Network, The Financial Post, and CTV News.

Doug is the author of the personal finance book Straight Talk on Your Money – The Biggest Financial Myths and Mistakes…and How to Avoid Them available online and in major bookstores across Canada. He’s also the host of the Debt Free in 30 Podcast.

In my interview with Doug, we discuss the pros and cons of filing for bankruptcy and a consumer proposal, what happens to mortgage debt when you file for bankruptcy or a consumer proposal and how to use a home equity line of credit (HELOC) in a responsible way.

Anna Belov is a successful investor with a cash positive real estate portfolio in Ontario, Canada. When Anna and her husband both lost their jobs in 2012, they were determined to take control of the situation and build a safety net for the future so that they would never have to worry about living from paycheque to paycheque. In under five years, Anna acquired 20 rental units while working full-time and being a mom of three.

Anna is the author of the book, Just Over Broke? How to Invest in Assets and Eliminate Liabilities – the sincere Canadian blueprint to escaping paycheque-to-paycheque life.

In my interview with Anna, we discuss how she went from being broke to owning 20 rental units, investing mistakes she made and how she got past them and strategies for someone who’s starting to invest in real estate today.

Tim Hudak is the CEO of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), Canada’s largest provincial real estate industry association. Tim joined OREA after a distinguished 21 years of public service in the Ontario Legislature – including five years as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.

Since becoming CEO in December 2016, he and his OREA team have focused on transforming OREA into Ontario’s most effective professional association that delivers high-impact advocacy on behalf of realtors and consumers, and provides quality services to members.

OREA has launched the Keep the Dream Alive campaign. The campaign is aimed at helping ensure that affordable homeownership remains a top priority for politicians in the province of Ontario. To learn more about the campaign and to take action by telling your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to keep homeownership affordable for future generations, visit KeepTheDreamAlive.ca.

On a personal note, I first met Tim a couple years ago when I was invited to speak at the 10th Annual Post City Magazine Real Estate Round Table. We ended up sitting beside each other and really hit it off. Since them we have been collaborating and supporting each other, since we both share the common goal of helping keep homeownership affordable for the younger generations.

In my interview with Tim, we discuss measures the government could take to keep homeownership affordable for younger folks, new real estate rules OREA is proposing for homebuyers and home sellers and whether the mortgage stress test should be tweaked.

Rubina Ahmed-Haq is a personal finance expert, journalist and public speaker. Rubina’s passion for all things money started at a young age growing up in Canada with her frugal parents. Their money-saving ways stuck and built the foundation for her work today.

For 20 years Rubina has been reporting news and stories at CBC, Global News, CTV, Yahoo Finance and others. Rubina is also the host of her own podcast Dear Rubi.

In my interview with Rubina, we discuss her journey into real estate investing with her brother, the hurdles women face when investing in real estate and her experiences as a landlord.

Erin Bury is an entrepreneur, speaker, startup advisor, and former technology journalist. She previously spent 6 years as Managing Director at Eighty-Eight, a Toronto-based creative communications agency. She’s a frequent speaker at events across North America and was named one of Marketing Magazine's top 30 Under 30 marketers, journalists & PR pros in August 2012.

Erin is also co-founder and CEO at Willful, an online estate planning platform that makes it easier for Canadians to prepare for and deal with death in a digital age.

Let’s face it. Life can get busy and to do lists can seem never-ending. Willful does the heavy lifting to make estate planning as painless as possible while skipping an expensive visit to a lawyer. Unlock peace of mind knowing there’s a plan in place for you and your loved ones.

Willful guides you each step of the way, helping you create customized legal documents to protect you and your family. Create a will in less than 20 minutes for as little as $99.

Visit BurnYourMortgage.ca/willful to learn more and try Willful out for free. Enter promo code SEANCOOPER for 10% off any plan. I’ve also included a link and the promo code in the show notes.

In my interview with Erin, we discuss what happens when you die without a will, what are some common excuses for not having a will and why it’s important to have a power of attorney for property.