Today on the show we are joined by Rob Carrick from The Globe and Mail! Rob has been writing about money and investing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of expertise and insight to share on everything from mutual funds to ETFs. In our discussion we cover common questions that Rob encounters, how his views have changed over the years, the parts of his job he has most enjoyed and his thoughts on where we are at right now. Rob comments on the feelings of worry and dissatisfaction that seems to characterize Canadian finances at the moment and talks about the FIRE Movement and lessons for the next generation. For all of this great content and much more, be sure to join on the podcast today!

John Robertson's spreadsheet

Key Points From This Episode:

• The most common questions that Rob receives. [0:02:47.8]
• Rob's shifting perspective on seeking out an advisor. [0:04:41.5]
• Why Rob has traditionally enjoyed writing about housing investments [0:07:49.9]
• The current financial climate and Rob's take on it. [0:10:14.4]
• Reasons why current financial worries are justified. [0:13:08.1]
• The rise in popularity of ETFs. [0:14:50.9]
• The bad rep that mutual funds have been getting recently. [0:18:37.4]
• Good practices for parents to teach their children about money. [0:21:42.2]
• The FIRE Movement and comparing generational attitudes. [0:24:56.6]
• Rob's own many practices and who he goes to for advice. [0:30:39.5]
• How Rob defines success. [0:35:23.5]
• And much more!

For more information or to contact Cameron and Ben, visit pwlcapital.com

Factor Investing with ETFs White Paper Today on the show we are taking about the influence of feelings in the decision making process. As investors and as humans in general, we tend towards making decisions based on feelings over rational and well-balanced data collection, that is just part of how we are wired. Here at the Rational Reminder Podcast we want to remind everyone of the importance of balancing these feelings with rationality. This does not mean that we should be making decisions without feelings but just to keep in mind our own biases and how these work to our detriment. In our discussion we cover what a good decision might look like, the two systems of thought as detailed by Daniel Kahneman and the importance of framing when approaching a weighty choice. We also run through a little on the safe savings rate and the ETF model portfolio. We end off with some useful strategies that can help you to make better decisions, especially when it comes to your money. For all this and a whole lot more, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The recurrence of feelings in decision making. [0:03:56.5]
• Lack of data in the safe savings rate research. [0:05:18.2]
• The ETF model portfolio and where to find it online. [0:10:53.8]
• A few of the twenty craziest investing facts ever! [0:12:13.5]
• What is a good money decision? [0:15:06.1]
• Confirmation bias and influences on our decision making. [0:18:50.9]
• Kahneman and the two systems of thought. [0:20:10.9]
• The effects of past experiences on our current strategy. [0:24:46.3]
• Framing as part of the discussion and decision making process. [0:27:36.2]
• Four things you can do to implement better decision making. [0:30:12.6]
• And much more!

Welcome to Episode 37 of the Rational Reminder Podcast. On today's show we are joined by Lindsay Plumb, Chief Coach-ess of MOOLA Financial Coaches and Advisors. We're discussing spending and budgeting, because that's kind of the opposite end of the spectrum of what we always talk about. We usually assume people already have wealth, but that's not always the case. Even if you do, both spending and budgeting are super important. Just getting in line with your values and what you spend money on, that affects everybody, no matter how many assets you might have. So in this episode we dive into what it means to have an understanding and alignment of what your values are and what your goals are and how that should inform your financial decisions. We're helping you help yourself and for that we've brought in the Chief Coach-ess with the most-ess. So, for all this and more, keep listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hear about Lindsay's background and what she does within MOOLA. [0:02:20.0]
• Why budgeting is so hard. [0:03:35.0]
• Discovering your goals and articulating your values. [0:04:56.0]
• Using a tool that allows you to stick to a budget. [0:05:48.9]
• Understanding the difference between budgeting and tracking. [0:07:40.0]
• Why people blow out their budget on food. [0:08:32.0]
• Coaching people to change their behaviour. [0:09:47.0]
• How Lindsay advises her clients to coach their kids to modify their behavior. [0:12:41.0]
• Speaking in somebody else's language, especially kids. [0:14:13.0]
• How to do bank accounts as couples. [0:16:48.0]
• Sudden wealth and how it can affect someones relationship with money. [0:21:50]
• Retirement and planning for philanthropic or legacy goals. [0:24:50]
• How Lindsay defines success in her own life. [0:29:30.0]
• And much more!

Welcome to Episode 36 of the Rational Reminder Podcast. Today we are going to roll out our new ETF model portfolios. This includes only two new ETF's compared to a couch potato type portfolio that many of you might be familiar with. Nothing too revolutionary, but it certainly makes a meaningful difference. In this episode we also talk about asset location and review a couple of great podcasts that we've been listening to that provide interesting tidbits for investors, and some great information about the evolution of the industry, and about working with the clients. So, for an incredible conversation, be sure to join us!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Slicing up your portfolio for tax efficiency purposes. [0:01:57.6]
• Controlling for pretax or after tax asset allocation. [0:05:0]
• Optimal asset locations - highest yielding assets in tax free accounts. [0:06:05.0]
• Having the same asset mix across all your portfolios & forgetting asset location. [0:09:51.1]
• Intricate versus complex adaptive. [0:12:22.0]
• The benefits of working with an adviser. [0:15:32.7]
• Holding yourself accountable if you're going at it alone. [0:17:09.0]
• How it is much harder to find missed prices in the marketplace even for an expert. [0:19:40.0]
• A history of the financial advice business and how it's evolved into what it is today. [0:21:29.0]
• Index investing and where people get their information from. [0:23:33.0]
• ETF model portfolios that truly offer exposure to the factors. [0:26:11.0]
• Why people should be thinking about small cap in value. [0:31:38.0]
• And much more!

Welcome to Episode 35 of the Rational Reminder Podcast. Today on the show we are joined by Jonathan Chevreau who is the founder of Independence Hub. He has authored and co-authored many books and has contributed to The Globe and Mail, The Financial Mail, and Money Sense. Jonathan is here today to talk about financial independence and having that "findependence" while still being extremely engaged in things that you enjoy doing. He also shares with us why your aim shouldn't be retirement and what he means by a victory lap. We also dive into the role that media plays in investor behaviors and exactly what Jonathan defines as a success life. Jonathan's insights on financial independence alone are incredibly valuable, and anything on top of that is simply a bonus! So, for an incredible conversation, be sure to join us!

Welcome to Episode 34 of the Rational Reminder Podcast. Today we are discussing how our new ETF model portfolios will be employed to better accommodate our non-client listeners to whom Dimensional Fund Advisors are not as relevant. We talk about how BlackRock and Vanguard are dominating the market, why the US is leading in passive investment and why traditional financial planning needs to be re-evaluated. In addressing our main topic—safe savings rates—we explore the need for moving away from a focus exclusively on wealth accumulation to an approach more concerned with a safe savings strategy. We ask the all-important question, "How much will I need a month when I stop working?" and provide helpful guidelines on how focusing on the process rather than on the number that can help you to achieve your financial goals. Join us today to find out how you can adopt a safe savings approach!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How we will accommodate non-client listeners using ETF model portfolios. [0:03:34.0]
• The issue of accessibility with Dimensional Fund Advisors. [0:04:51.0]
• How the world is exploding with asset allocation ETFs. [0:05:26.0]
• The dominance of BlackRock and Vanguard in the market. [0:09:33.0]
• How the US is leading in passive management. [0:10:06.0]
• What the Vanguard-effect does [0:10:27.0]
• Investing in factor funds versus portfolios of factor funds. [0:11:17.0]
• The benefit of having a one-decision portfolio that has a variety of different factors. [0:13:28.0]
• Factor returns versus smart beta returns. [0:15:33.0]
• Why low beta looks good on the factor side, but bad on the implementation side. [0:16:19.0]
• More about the 4% rule. [0:17:35.0]
• The four steps of traditional financial planning. [0:18:06.0]
• Pfau's suggestion for a better alternative to traditional financial planning [0:20:27.0]
• What your savings rate should be [0:24:00.0].
• The benefit of having a safe savings approach rather than focusing on wealth accumulation. [0:25:09.0]
• The challenge of knowing how much you need when you stop working. [0:25:49.0]
• Why you need to focus on the habit rather than on the target. [0:27:10.0]
• And much more!

Today on the show we are joined by Rick Ferri. Anyone who follows or is interested in index investing will probably have read something of Rick's. He's written seven books, working on the eighth, and he's written a ton online as well. Rick opened Portfolio Solutions, the first low fee index fund based wealth management shop and built it up to over a billion dollar company. Rick created the model of low cost fiduciary advice, using index funds and putting the client first, so today we're chatting to him all about it. Inside this episode Rick shares why he is so passionate about low cost index investing, the four levels of an index investor, and the requirements for being a good index investor in the long term. We also talk about his relationship with John Bogle, who recently passed away. It was a pretty meaningful conversation! For this and more, be sure to join us on today's episode!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Rick's passion for low cost index investing. [0:02:24.0]
• The four levels of an index investor. [0:05:0]
• Dimensional funds: active management that uses factor based investing principles.[0:10:29.0]
• None market risk factors fitting into a portfolio. [0:11:54.0]
• Rick's thoughts on the price and the value around behavioral coaching. [0:13:44.0]
• The future of robo-advisers. [0:18:14.0]
• Three things required for a person to be a good index investor in the long term. [0:18:54.0]
• Not indexing yet? - You need repetition, repetition, repetition. [0:20:28.5]
• Having more assets than they'll ever need in term of their equity exposure. [0:22:40.0]
• John Bogle as a person and how he changed the financial services industry. [0:24:33.5]
• How Rick defines success. [0:29:05.0]
• And much more!

We have a special, short bonus episode for you today! We are very glad to welcome the mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson, to the podcast and although we are not strictly talking about investing and our usual topics, we do think it is a great and insightful conversation that you will enjoy, no matter where you are from. Mayor Watson tells us about his vision for the city, how he characterizes it, and the importance of the tech scene to its growth and success. We also talk about talent attraction and retention, social media in politics, budgeting, and his greater mission while in office. Be sure to tune and hear it all, here on the Rational Reminder Podcast!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The mayor's description of Ottawa. [0:02:24.7]
• Ottawa's tech scene and the impact of companies like Shopify. [0:03:16.2]
• Attracting and retaining talent in the city. [0:05:48.8]
• Implementing a vision through daily work. [0:07:38.4]
• The role of social media in the job of the mayor. [0:08:53.7]
• Mayor Watson's greater mission in politics. [0:11:06.6]
• Budgeting and balancing expectations around this. [0:12:55.1]
• And much more!

Welcome back to another episode of the Rational Reminder Podcast. Our goal this year is to find our podcasting rhythm, creating a schedule that alternates between guests and these conversational episodes where it's just us.

On today's episode we want to pull the focus of the podcast back to answering a handful of client questions that have come up in the past little while.

So on today's episode we are jumping right in to answer those listener questions, getting back on the factor train, and trying to get to the root of the desire for face-to-face investment advice. We also talk about a few articles as well, including some of the biggest headlines in investment news, and why it it critical to not only save for but also make plans to fulfill the vision of your retirement. So for another insightful episode answering all of your questions, stay tuned! Key Points From This Episode: • Discussing recent stand-out investment articles. [0:03:12.0] • Unpacking the debate between active and passive investment management. [0:07:11.0] • Why using factors is not another flavor of active management. [0:10:43.0] • Understanding market caps surrounding factors. [0:14:41.0] • Evaluating the worth of a stock that has not dividends or profit sharing. [0:16:46.0] • Planning for retirement, or not retiring at all: the retirement trends of today. [0:19:53.0] • Wealthsimple's premium advice option: the value of dealing face-to-face [0:23:44.0] • The lost Bitcoin wallets crisis; understanding centralized versus decentralized [0:30:44.0] • And much more!

Today on the show we are joined by Steven Leong who is the Head of Canada iShares Product at BlackRock. Steven is here to talk about single decision ETFs, the new XGROs and XBALs from BlackRock and whole lot more. We start off the episode with a bit of an introduction on BlackRock and iShares before Steven informs us on the new relationship between BlackRock and RBC Global Asset Management. From there we get into the meat of the episode looking at the portfolios in question and Canada's current positioning in the global trends. We talk about some of the great advantages that these funds offer investors and Steven shares his ideas on the current role of the financial advisor with regards to the rise of passive investing. We are lucky enough to have Steven offer his perspective on a slew of related topics before ending off with two great pieces of advice for our listeners. For this and more, be sure to join us!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A quick overview of BlackRock's scope and size [0:02:44.0]
• BlackRock's relationship with RBC Global Asset Management. [0:04:35.8]
• A little about the XGRO, the XBAL portfolios. [0:06:32.3]
• Overweighting in Canada in common model portfolios.. [0:08:52.1]
• The advantage of automatic rebalancing for the investor. [0:11:06.3]
• The evolving role of the trusted financial advisor. [0:12:27.4]
• Sharp downturns in fund fees and the results of this trend. [0:15:01.8]
• Canada's relatively slow uptake in index funds and iShares' factor products. [0:19:46.9]
• The future of active versus passive investing. [0:25:21.2]
• Two pieces of investment advice from Steven! [0:27:14.7]
• And much more!