Microfinance is an intervention that we usually think of as being valuable in a developing world context. The world is full of hard-working people with an entrepreneurial spirit who lack access to the necessary financing to get a business off the ground. Lending to these entrepreneurs has a host of societal benefits that include creating jobs and incomes for families in their communities, a spike in local economic activity as these businesses purchase local goods and services, and generates tax revenues for local governments to afford additional public services.

So one of the last places you might think microfinance is necessary is in a nation like the US which sells itself on the American Dream; a land of opportunity where anyone can be successful if they work hard enough. But in this episode we speak with Andrew Posner, Founder & CEO of Capital Good Fund who joins us to discuss why even in the US, microfinance is necessary and how his non-profit organization uses microfinance and coaching to combat a $200 billion dollar a year predatory industry that consists of payday lenders, pawnshops, rent to own stores, and subprime lenders; each offering some form of consumer loans at high double or often triple-digit interest rates.

During the discussion, Andy and I discuss the challenges low-income Americans face, how race factors in, the importance of coaching in addition to lending to their clients, how COVID has disproportionately affected low-income Americans, and how the Capital Good Fund has adapted its services as a result.

Increasingly, there is growing recognition of both the moral imperative and the practical benefits of having diverse and equitable workplaces. But many of us either don’t know where exactly to start or aren’t making as much progress as we could be. Join us for a discussion with Sonya Dreizler, where we discuss practical steps we can all take to engage and build relationships with a more diverse network of colleagues, friends, and business partners.

Sonya Dreizler is a speaker, author, and consultant focused on fostering candid conversations about gender and race in financial services. She is also a subject matter expert in ESG and responsible investing and is a former CEO of an independent BD/RIA. When she's not working, you can find her hanging out with her kids, lifting weights, enjoying the beauty of Northern California, and chairing the board at CUESA.

Resources:

- Solutions with Sonya Website

- Follow Sonya on Twitter

- McKinsey study "Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters"

Our meat-filled diets can damage the environment, our own and animals’ well-being. So what could a post-animal diet look like? In this episode we discuss topics such as plant-based meats (think Beyond Meat), plant-based dairy alternatives (e.g. Oatly), cultured or lab-grown meat, insect proteins, and a host of other topics. To discuss all this we're joined by two leaders in this space including: 

Join us for a real and raw conversation about how to prepare for and handle your finances during the dark times in our lives when our neatly laid plans come unravelled. Come with your questions! We’ll be joined by Erin Bury (CEO of Willful.co, Public Speaker, and PR/Branding Maven) and Jason Pereira (Award-Winning Financial Planner, Portfolio Manager at Woodgate Financial, Entrepreneur, Lecturer, Fintech Expert, Writer, TV Host & Podcaster) to discuss topics like when and why you need a will, insurance, emergency funds, etc.

Erin Bury joins us for Episode 2. Erin is an entrepreneur, speaker, startup advisor, and former technology journalist. She is the co-founder and CEO at Willful, an online estate planning platform that makes it easy for Canadians to create a will in less than 20 minutes. Previously Erin spent time as Managing Director at Eighty-Eight, a Toronto-based creative communications agency, and Managing Editor at startup publication BetaKit. Erin was named one of Marketing Magazine’s top 30 Under 30 marketer and is a frequent speaker with Speakers’ Spotlight. She has appeared in publications including The New York Times, Forbes, and CNN.

In this episode, we discuss a wide range of interesting topics. We start by discussing Erin’s work with Willful and the firm’s mission to make it easy and affordable for all Canadians to get a will. We then dive into the more practical aspects of end of life planning like, why is a will even important, and what do most people miss when setting one up? We also touch on Ethical Wills and Pre-Nuptials (aka Pre-Nups), including why you might consider getting one. We cover Erin’s financial journey from the money lessons she learned growing up to the changing money dynamics in her relationship with her Co-Founder husband. And be sure to stay tuned to the end where Erin shares some of her top tips for couples who go into business together.

You can find Willful on its website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. And Erin can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Kind Wealth, along with friends of ours (including Willful), is offering pro-bono financial consultations to anyone struggling financially right now as a result of Coronavirus. Learn more by visiting www.kindwealth.ca/coronavirus-response

Today's guest is Meghan Chomut. Meghan is an Entrepreneur, Real Estate Investor, Media Personality, and Financial Planner for families with rental properties. After completing a degree in finance from Lakehead University, Meghan spent time at Royal Bank of Scotland before becoming an Account Executive with Quirion Financial Services where she spent nearly 10 years serving clients in preparing and implementing all aspects of a comprehensive financial plan. After completing her first real estate investment, Meghan left Quirion in 2017 to more fully commit to real estate investing. She eventually also founded her own independent financial planning practice where she helps her clients live well, worry less, and build wealth. 

During this episode, we not only learn about the highs and lows of Meghan's journey to becoming a real estate investor and entrepreneur but also Meghan shares a lot of practical advice like "the 1% rule", tips for 1st-time real estate investors, and the important things to do once you own a rental income property. And be sure to stick around to the very end of the episode when Meghan reveals the biggest mistakes she sees real estate investors make.

PSA: Kind Wealth, along with friends of ours, is offering pro-bono financial consultations to anyone struggling financially right now as a result of Coronavirus. Learn more by visiting www.kindwealth.ca/coronavirus-response

Welcome to the first episode where your host Dave O'Leary, shares his personal story of claiming bankruptcy at just 25 years old. Dave details how his troubles unfolded, the painful financial collapse he suffered, the lengths he went to in order to hide the bankruptcy from his friends and work colleagues, and ultimately losing a job offer because of it. This story is for anyone who has ever felt ashamed or embarrassed about their financial circumstances. You're not alone. We have all made mistakes, even financial professionals. This episode is a reading of an article Dave recently authored and published on www.lowestrates.ca. 

PSA: For anyone struggling financially right now, Kind Wealth has teamed up with a variety of other financial professionals to offer pro-bono consultations to anyone who is stressed or struggling with the financial impact of Coronavirus. If you're interested in receiving some help, visit www.kindwealth.ca/coronavirus-response

In our inaugural episode, we sit down with one entrepreneur who gives us a behind the scenes account of her journey starting and running a small business and how her world got turned upside down when the world was hit by a global pandemic. Amanda Munday is the Founder and CEO of The Workaround, a parent-friendly workspace with childcare located in the Danforth area in Toronto. During our conversation, Amanda opens the books and reveals what it's really like to be an entrepreneur by providing a tell-all of her experience, not just the Instagram highlights. Importantly, we discuss why the existing Government relief has been too slow, poorly designed, and insufficient to save tens of thousands of small businesses across Canada like hers. 

If you want to learn more about how you can help advocate for small businesses visit: www.savesmallbusiness.ca. You can learn more about The Around by visiting its website or following it on social media on Instagram or Twitter. And you can follow Amanda on LinkedIn and Twitter.