In “The Glass is Half Full (Part 3)” I’m sharing some snippets of a longer conversation that I recently had with Richard Killen, a Licensed Insolvency Trustee with Richard Killen & Associates. Our conversation spanned a wide range of topics centred on the personal finance space and this episode will wrap up the three-part series of Glass is Half Full. This episode starts off with the with what a I call an “impact question” about personal finance –  “What is the Value of Time?”, then we tackle one of my favourites, “What is the deal with Goals?” and wrap up […]

In “Calming Covid Shocked Clients” I’m sharing thoughts on how financial professionals can readjust their perspective on what is happening in the lives of their clients during times of crisis and anxiety. Let’s take a trip back in time, shall we? Back, way back, to 2020 BC. As in 2020 – Before Covid. It was a simpler time. My wife and I were sitting poolside in Mexico, celebrating her recent retirement after 37 years of teaching. The gentleman next to us said, “Have you been reading anything about this new Coronavirus?” “Cornona-what? No. Never heard of it.” “Seems to be some sort […]

In “Sticky Is Good” I’m sharing thoughts on resilience and how being more like a postage stamp can be a good thing. “Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.”—Orison Swett Marden I hadn’t thought about this particular quote in a long time and might not have at all had it not been for a unique set of circumstances two weeks ago. We ordered take-out from a pub we’re supporting during these Covid times in Oakville, Ontario , and along […]

In “Can You Hear Me Now?” I’m sharing thoughts on listening and how doing more of it can lead to better results. If I mentioned the name Paul Marcarelli – would you have any idea who I am talking about? What if I said “Can you hear me now? Good.” You would likely say “Hey, it’s the Verizon guy…”. A ubiquitous tag line that we still remember from 20 years ago (yes, it was that long ago…). Paul Marcarelli was the Verizon Guy for 10 years, doing over 250 different versions of that ad and my guess is right now […]

In “Money Conversations with Our Kids” I am sharing part of a longer conversation I recently had with George Torok. George hosts an excellent podcast called “Your Intended Message” focusing on communication skills and delivering clear messages. You can check out George’s podcast here: Your Intended Message with George Torok The conversation that George and I shared focused on conversations about money and personal finance relating to three distinct audiences: our kids, our partners and our aging parents. This episode focuses on the basic money conversations we have with our kids and our ability to impact their thinking about money. […]