Behind the Advice

We often think of financial planning as a game of math. But for Zainab Williams, the real work doesn't start with numbers; it starts with understanding the person sitting across from her. Zainab is a certified financial planner and dedicated money coach who operates on an advice-only model. She and Brenda discuss why she views financial planning as a form of behavioural therapy, why she’s worried about the speed at which AI is affecting personal finance choices, and how establishing personal guardrails around money can give people the freedom to live fully today while still securing tomorrow.

Maili Wong has always embraced a challenge. Whether that was pursuing a career in neurosurgery, or, after shifting her focus to finance, moving to New York City to work on the trading floor of a prestigious Wall Street investment bank. But working in a building connected to the World Trade Center on the morning of 9/11 had a profound effect on Maili, forcing her to reevaluate her career path and consider what truly mattered. In this episode, Maili and Brenda discuss her decision to leave her successful Wall Street career, the impact of AI on the wealth advisory industry—both positive and negative—and the qualities she looks for when hiring the next generation of financial advisors. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the first episode of season two, Brenda speaks with John De Goey, a well-known advisor and author who isn't afraid to question industry norms. John's bold ideas and critical perspective have set him apart from most of his peers in the financial services world. With books like "The Professional Financial Advisor" and "Stand Up to the Financial Services Industry," he pushes for changes that better serve investors. John talks about his upbringing on a southwestern Ontario farm, explains why he thinks advisors paint an overly optimistic picture of the market, and outlines what red flags to look out for when choosing your advisor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Adrienne Power is an Olympic sprinter turned financial advisor from East Jeddore, N.S. Raised by a family that fostered a love of competition, Adrienne excelled at sports from a young age and starred for the Dalhousie University track and field team while she pursued her commerce degree. Following university, Adrienne focused on track and field full-time, representing Canada at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. She also competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, winning bronze medals in the 200 metres and 4 x 400 metres relay. After retiring from track at age 35, she returned to finance and now works as an advisor at Edward Jones in Bedford, N.S.Adrienne talks about dreaming of the Olympics from a young age, a life-altering event in her teens that shaped her views around money, and the qualities that she carried over from professional athlete to financial advisor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kent Manderville is a former NHL hockey player who played over 700 career games for teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Philidelphia Flyers. But while some of his teammates enjoyed multi-million annual salaries, that certainly wasn’t Kent’s experience. Mostly a 4th line grinder, he strung together several short-term contracts with a salary closer to the league minimum. After hanging up his skates, Kent, who studied business while playing hockey at Cornell University, obtained his CFP and CFA designations. He now works as a wealth advisor in Ottawa, where his clients are current and retired professional hockey players. Kent talks about how he balanced sports and education in his early years, what he learned from being one of the lower-paid players in the league and the unique challenges of advising professional athletes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.