The MapleMoney Show

Does applying for a mortgage seem overwhelming? With all of the complicated rules and jargon, it's easy to feel like you're at a disadvantage when dealing with your bank or mortgage broker. This week's guest is here to help.

Brighton Gbarazia is a mortgage broker, finance expert, and author of the book, Master Your Mortgage: What the Bank Won't Tell You About Buying the Right Home. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, he spent over a decade gathering game-changing skills, knowledge, and wisdom from his roles as a financial advisor and mortgage underwriter at Canada's largest banks and credit unions. I sat down with Brighton this week to find out what your bank is really looking for in a mortgage application.

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/196

This episode of The MapleMoney Show is brought to you by Willful. Did you know that 57% of Canadian adults don't have a will? Willful has made it more affordable, convenient, and easy for Canadians to create legal Will and Power of Attorney documents online from the comfort of home.

In less than 20 minutes and for a fraction of the price of visiting a lawyer, you can gain peace of mind knowing you've put a plan in place to protect your children, pets, and loved ones in the event of an emergency. Get started for free at https://maplemoney.com/willful and use promo code MAPLEMONEY to save 15%.

Does dealing with your finances cause you anxiety? If so, how do you handle it? My guest this week has a clever approach to conquering money-related anxiety - multiple emergency funds.

Alyssa Davies is a content manager for Zolo and the published author of The 100 Day Financial Goal Journal. Her newest book, Financial First Aid, hit stores on May 3rd. Alyssa is also the founder of the two-time award-winning Canadian Personal Finance Blog of the Year, Mixed Up Money. I sat down with Alyssa this week to chat about her unique approach to emergency funds, and the complicated relationship between our emotions and our bank account.

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/195

Do you prefer to invest in socially responsible companies? If so, our sponsor Wealthsimple will help you build a portfolio that focuses on low carbon, cleantech, human rights, and the environment. To get started with Socially Responsible Investing, head over to https://maplemoney.com/wealthsimple today!

The Canadian real estate industry is buzzing these days, but many people don't realize that there's more to real estate than houses and apartment blocks. Industrial real estate is also booming, and there is an opportunity for some investors to buy in.

Chad Griffiths has been an industrial real estate broker since 2005 and an investor since 2014. As a member of a global commercial real estate company and a partner with his local firm, Chad has completed over 500 deals with clients ranging from small companies to large institutional owners. Chad joins the show this week to explain how industrial real estate works, and how a person can get started investing in industrial properties.

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/194

Willful's user-friendly online platform means you can create your legal will and Power of Attorney documents from the comfort of home in less than 20 minutes and for a fraction of the price of visiting a lawyer. Get started for free at https://maplemoney.com/willful and use promo code MAPLEMONEY to save 15%

When it comes to home renovations, you want to know that the money you spend will lead to a return on your investment down the road. But not all home renos are worth the money when it comes to boosting resale value. How do you know what updates are worth the cost, and which ones to avoid.

Jennifer Hooper is a Calgary-based real estate agent with more than 10 years of industry experience. She joins me this week to talk about the types of renovations that increase a home's resale value and the ones that don't.

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/193

Do you prefer to invest in socially responsible companies? If so, our sponsor Wealthsimple will help you build a portfolio that focuses on low carbon, cleantech, human rights, and the environment. To get started with Socially Responsible Investing, head over to https://maplemoney.com/wealthsimple today!

When you look around, it's easy to see how much need there is in our world. But how do you increase your charitable giving when life seems to be getting more expensive every year?

For the past 15 years, Bob and Linda Lotich have shared their best money lessons on their award-winning blog, SeedTime, and the SeedTime Money Podcast. They recently wrote a book, titled Simple Money, Rich Life. Bob and Linda joined the show this week to explain what led them to start "giving their age" as a percentage of their income towards charity every year. Bob's now in his 40's. If that sounds impossible, then you'll want to check out this episode!

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/192

This episode of The MapleMoney Show is brought to you by Willful. Did you know that 57% of Canadian adults don't have a will? Willful has made it more affordable, convenient, and easy for Canadians to create legal Will and Power of Attorney documents online from the comfort of home.

In less than 20 minutes and for a fraction of the price of visiting a lawyer, you can gain peace of mind knowing you've put a plan in place to protect your children, pets, and loved ones in the event of an emergency. Get started for free at https://maplemoney.com/willful and use promo code MAPLEMONEY to save 15%.

More people than ever are making money by starting online businesses. But while it might sound simple, online entrepreneurship comes with its own set of challenges. This week's guest is here to help you find the courage to build something online and fire the haters.

After becoming financially independent at 32 years old, Jillian Johnsrud turned her personal and professional experience towards a creative life. She is a popular public speaker, teaches online classes, is a coach, and a writer. Her book Fire the Haters: Finding the Courage to Create Online in a Critical World helps creatives and entrepreneurs share their best work with the world.

I sat down with Jillian this week to discuss a range of topics, including how to tackle imposter syndrome, the importance of setting emotional boundaries, and the constant fight for balance in a busy world.

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/191

Do you prefer to invest in socially responsible companies? If so, our sponsor Wealthsimple will help you build a portfolio that focuses on low carbon, cleantech, human rights, and the environment. To get started with Socially Responsible Investing, head over to https://maplemoney.com/wealthsimple today!

If you're of a certain vintage, like me, the name CBC Street Cents is sure to trigger memories from adolescence. The popular Canadian TV show, aimed at teenagers, originally aired on CBC Television between 1989 and 2006. Streets Cents is making a comeback, but this time, it's not on TV. This week, I sat down to chat with two of the lead content creators for the new Street Cents: Carley Thorne and Mercedes Gaztambide.

Carley Thorne is a designer, and comedian. She has spent time at Toronto's Second City and toured North America performing sketch comedy. She translated her love of books into a successful YouTube channel with over 150K subscribers.

Mercedes Gaztambide is a new graduate from Ryerson University with a degree in Journalism. Born and raised in Boston, her love of reading and writing started in Harvard University Libraries. Her goal is to find the truth in every story and prepare the next generation of critical thinkers. She knows what her credit score is and can help you find yours.

I asked Carley and Mercedes about the upcoming Street Cents Reboot, and we talked about some of the key financial challenges facing young Canadians in 2022.

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/190

Willful's user-friendly online platform means you can create your legal will and Power of Attorney documents from the comfort of home in less than 20 minutes and for a fraction of the price of visiting a lawyer. Get started for free at https://maplemoney.com/willful and use promo code MAPLEMONEY to save 15%.

Money can be complicated, even for the experts. It's why my guest this week hires a financial planner, even though he was a financial advisor for more than 15 years. He joins the show to share some outside-the-box money tips, including how to win at insurance, the value of timelining your goals, why focusing on risk tolerance is a problem, and why you, too, need a financial planner.

Joe Saul-Sehy is the co-host of the popular Stacking Benjamins podcast, and co-author of the book called Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Money Management. I sat down with Joe this week to chat about the various money topics he tackles in his new book, and an interesting connection to the Hardy Boys.

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/189

Do you prefer to invest in socially responsible companies? If so, our sponsor Wealthsimple will help you build a portfolio that focuses on low carbon, cleantech, human rights, and the environment. To get started with Socially Responsible Investing, head over to https://maplemoney.com/wealthsimple today!

Why are so many people afraid to ask for help when they're having money trouble? What about opening up to a spouse or partner about their shared finances? My guest this week shares the 3 steps you can take to make talking about money easy. Want to know more? Don't miss this episode!

If you still think of wealth as a numbers game, you haven't met Michelle Arpin Begina. An Advisor, Author, and Speaker, Michelle has taken her own money story and transformed it into a passion for financial literacy that marries wealth management and financial therapy. Michelle and I sat down to discuss a common problem; not being able to solve financial problems with those closest to you, because you're afraid to bring up the subject.

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/188

This episode of The MapleMoney Show is brought to you by Willful. Did you know that 57% of Canadian adults don't have a will? Willful has made it more affordable, convenient, and easy for Canadians to create legal Will and Power of Attorney documents online from the comfort of home.

In less than 20 minutes and for a fraction of the price of visiting a lawyer, you can gain peace of mind knowing you've put a plan in place to protect your children, pets, and loved ones in the event of an emergency. Get started for free at https://maplemoney.com/willful and use promo code MAPLEMONEY to save 15%.

What kind of investor are you? With the advent of technology and the emergence of low cost discount brokerages, more Canadian investors are taking a DIY approach with their money. Does that mean that financial advice no longer matters?

Sheldon Brow is the founder & CEO of Fintech platform Pocket Finance. He's passionate about empowering clients with full and fair disclosure, inclusion, and bridging gaps to financial guidance and deeper client engagement. He's also an open banking enthusiast and finance futurist. I sat down with Sheldon recently to discuss why it's still important to seek the advice of various experts when it comes to your money.

You can find the show notes for this episode at https://maplemoney.com/187

Do you prefer to invest in socially responsible companies? If so, our sponsor Wealthsimple will help you build a portfolio that focuses on low carbon, cleantech, human rights, and the environment. To get started with Socially Responsible Investing, head over to https://maplemoney.com/wealthsimple today!