Insights Into Wealth

Today, Randy Gunn, BULLWEALTH’s VP and Portfolio Manager, launches the first episode in a new podcast series on Artificial Intelligence with Nabil Beitinjaneh, Faculty Lecturer at McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies and Coordinator of its Data Science and Data Analytics programs. With more than 25 years of experience in systems and process engineering across both corporate and entrepreneurial settings, Nabil joins Randy for his first podcast discussion on this topic. Together, they explore how AI is not replacing professionals but reshaping how professional work is performed by increasing speed, processing power, and reach, while leaving accountability, judgment, and responsibility firmly in human hands. Their conversation also examines why human judgment becomes even more valuable in an AI-enabled world, how polished AI output can still be wrong, the risks to junior-level training and apprenticeship, the importance of governance and human oversight in high-stakes decisions, and why trust will continue to depend on context, empathy, and human understanding rather than speed alone. Overall, they offer a thoughtful and practical discussion on how AI can improve productivity and support better work when used with care, discipline, and sound judgment.

Today, Randy Gunn, BULLWEALTH’s VP and Portfolio Manager, is joined by Savva Cherdantsev, BULLWEALTH’s Managing Director, Research & Investments, to discuss our approach to oversight and due diligence of your investment managers. Due diligence has been a cornerstone of BULLWEALTH’s investment process for over 25 years, and while our approach continues to evolve, it remains grounded in a disciplined quarterly review of each investment manager’s performance, including the key drivers and attributes behind these results. In today’s discussion, Randy and Savva outline our due diligence framework, the insights generated from our ongoing oversight, and the enhanced sell discipline we have developed over the past year to better determine when a manager should be replaced. We hope today’s podcast provides greater insight into how we oversee your investment managers and enhances your transparency of your investment portfolio.

Today, BULLWEALTH brings together its portfolio management team, along with Savva Cherdantsev, Managing Director of Research & Investments, for our second annual Lessons Learned podcast. Following the strong reception to last year’s inaugural episode, where we discussed key challenges and successes from 2024, we have reconvened to reflect on the lessons learned throughout 2025. These insights span a wide range of topics, including whether market breadth is broadening or remains concentrated among mega-cap technology companies, how to construct portfolios amid strong global capital markets and slowing economic fundamentals, what clients can expect from BULLWEALTH’s enhanced Watch List process for evaluating and changing investment managers, and how we manage portfolio liquidity when certain securities cannot be readily sold. We hope this wide-ranging discussion provides useful perspective and helps inform decision-making for your portfolio in 2026 and beyond.

In today’s podcast, Kevin Van Dyk, Managing Director at BULLWEALTH, speaks with Adam Burns, Vice President of Investments at Fulcra Asset Management, to explore the firm’s distinctive approach to fixed income investing. Adam explains how Fulcra, founded in 2009, applies a bottom-up process that evaluates companies across the capital structure—from senior secured loans to subordinated debt. He highlights how Fulcra differentiates itself from traditional fixed income managers by avoiding index constraints, instead targeting mispriced securities in small to mid-sized North American companies. Adam also discusses Fulcra’s barbell strategy, combining government and investment-grade securities with tactical and special situation opportunities to enhance yield, while managing risk. Finally, Adam outlines how the investment team leverages due diligence, credit rating arbitrage, and event-driven strategies such as merger arbitrage to identify value and drive both income and capital appreciation for investors.

Today, Tammy Huitema, Managing Director at BULLWEALTH, introduces listeners to BULLWEALTH’s newest partner, Leanne Rodrigo. Leanne brings a wealth of experience from her years in the tax field, having worked at firms such as Grant Thornton and Cadesky Tax, where she advised families on a wide range of tax-related decisions. In this engaging conversation, Tammy and Leanne cover a variety of topics—from Leanne’s path to becoming an accountant, to the areas she focuses on in her daily work, to her personal life, including her two daughters and their activities.

In today’s podcast, Kevin Van Dyk, Managing Director at BULLWEALTH, speaks with Brian Kersmanc, one of GQG’s three Portfolio Managers on its Global Equity Portfolio, for an insightful discussion on their distinctive investment philosophy, process, and strategy. Brian explains that GQG evaluates each holding on a five-year basis and emphasizes the firm’s perspective advantage—rather than an information advantage—when identifying new investment opportunities, illustrated through his analogy of viewing an apple from multiple angles. He further elaborates that GQG does not adhere strictly to a value or growth investment style; instead, they view quality as dynamic, allowing the portfolio to shift across sectors and regions as opportunities evolve. In addition, Brian highlights how GQG combines traditional analysis with input from non-traditional investigative journalists to uncover unique investment ideas and proactively adjust the portfolio in anticipation of potential risks.

Today, Randy Gunn, BULLWEALTH’s VP & Portfolio Manager, speaks with Nathan Wright, Managing Partner at Spectrum Tax & Estate Planning. Their discussion begins with an overview of what a trust is and the various types of trusts available. Then they explore the tax savings and tax deferral opportunities, which depend on when the trust is established and the individual's proximity to the assets. Finally, Nathan dives into the tax implications of transferring assets into or out of a trust. As you can imagine, Randy and Nathan’s conversation is both thoughtful and insightful, offering valuable guidance for those navigating trust and estate planning decisions.

In today’s podcast, Randy Gunn, BULLWEALTH’s VP & Portfolio Manager, speaks with Nicole D’Aoust, a Partner at Miller Thomson specializing in charity and not-for-profit law, focusing on governance, compliance and mission-related investments for these organizations. Randy and Nicole begin by exploring the role of a not-for-profit director and the importance of a strong governance framework, followed by a discussion on the onboarding process and ways to better prepare before joining such boards. Nicole also highlights understanding potential liabilities and how to protect oneself from these risks, finishing with tips on becoming an effective director, including practical examples. Randy and Nicole’s thoughtful and insightful conversation is designed to aid listeners in preparing to join not-for-profit organizations.

Randy Gunn, BULLWEALTH’s Vice President & Portfolio Manager, speaks with Jordan Matters, a Partner at Leyland & Matters Private Client Insurance Advisors. Jordan and his team advise successful business owners and entrepreneurs and high net worth families in helping them to protect and transition their wealth to the next generation, while also enhancing their legacies. During Randy and Jordan’s discussion, they explore how Canadians are using life insurance to retain more wealth within their family and reduce the taxes owing on their estates. Plus, they review some strategies that you may want to consider and best practices when speaking with your life insurance advisor.

Today, Randy Gunn, BULLWEALTH’s VP & Portfolio Manager, speaks with Walid Hejazi, a Professor of International Business, and Economic Analysis at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Walid has been published in the Globe & Mail, the Financial Post and the Toronto Star, along with other globally recognizable publications. And, most recently, Walid and his co-author published a book called Everybody’s Business: How to Ensure Canadian Prosperity Through the Twenty-First Century. Over the years, Walid’s research has focused on the development of strategies that enhance the ability of companies to compete domestically and internationally, and his book focuses on Canada’s lost productivity. Walid and Randy discuss some of the reasons for Canada’s decline in productivity and some strategies to help us return to the upper levels of the world’s richest countries.

Today, Randy Gunn, BULLWEALTH’s Vice President & Portfolio Manager, speaks with Scott Armstrong, an author, speaker and coach to business professionals and athletes who are in the process of transitioning to retirement. Scott has a passion to redefine the word retirement by helping people recognize that the next stage of our lives is an unparalleled opportunity. He believes that once we retire, we can then aspire to uncover hidden adventures and social connections that leave us all wondering why we did not do this sooner. Randy and Scott discuss Work Optional Life, another word for Retirement, and how our transition can be a microstep to what is next. Scott also gives Randy some ideas of how to enact these microsteps. As you can imagine, Randy and Scott’s conversation is both thoughtful and insightful.

Kevin Van Dyk and Randy Gunn, two of BULLWEALTH’s Portfolio Managers, and Julian Smith, BULLWEALTH’s CEO, share some of our observations from 2023. Our discussion will be joined by Savva Cherdantsev, BULLWEALTH’s Director of Research & Investments. Our discussion will focus on how shifting interest rates have impacted the fixed income markets, why education is a key focus of BULLWEALTH’s interactions with our clients, why select global equities outperformed others, how to reallocate to equities if you are underweight, and why due diligence is critical to understanding an investment manager’s performance. Each of us will discuss our thoughts and insights into why these observations were key to some of our decision making throughout 2023.

Kevin Van Dyk, one of BULLWEALTH’s Managing Director’s, and two members of Fiera’s Canadian Equity investment team, Tony Rizzi and Nick Trottier discuss how the team implements a high quality, strong valuation philosophy that has resulted in long-term outperformance and excellent downside protection when volatility rises throughout the global capital markets. Tony and Nick describe why their team’s extreme focus on companies with excellent management teams, low debt, strong earnings and continuous cash flows leads to long-term success.