Stress Test

During the pandemic, record-low interest rates meant cheap mortgages. These days? Rates are higher. And worries about where they’re headed next mean tough decisions for homeowners. We hear from a Toronto-based millennial about how she’ll manage her finances when her mortgage rate potentially doubles in the new year. Then, Rob speaks with Victor Tran, a licensed mortgage agent and real estate sales representative, about how higher rates are impacting housing affordability, and what your options are if you’re renewing at a much higher rate than before.

Adulthood is a never-ending parade of chores. Clothes to clean, cars to wash, appliances to fix. Businesses that serve these needs, like laundromats, car washes, and vending machines, are honestly a bit, well, boring. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t making good money. And financially savvy Canadians are taking note. This week, we’ll hear from two 20-somethings who bought so-called “boring” businesses from boomers looking to retire. Then, The Globe’s new personal finance reporter, Meera Raman, speaks with Blake Corey, a certified financial planner and the president of Venn Wealth Partners, about why some are drawn to these boring businesses and what people should consider before they buy in.

You might be familiar with this home ownership journey: save for a down payment, buy a condo, live in it for a few years, sell it at a profit, then use that money to buy a bigger home with multiple bedrooms and a backyard. It was the standard home-owning playbook for older millennials. But with high interest rates and an oversaturated condo market, that formula has unravelled. In this episode, we’ll hear from a Calgary-based Gen Z who said buying a condo in 2022 was the worst financial decision of her life. Then, Roma speaks with John Pasalis, president and broker at Realosophy Realty, about just how bad the condo market is and what Gen Z and millennials should consider as they navigate the changing landscape.

It’s been five years since the pandemic lockdowns began. As they dragged on, people working in cramped condos began craving more space – and began relocating to smaller cities, towns or rural areas, where housing was cheaper. So how did it work out for them? In this episode, we check in with guests from previous seasons to discuss their moves, whether it was good for their financial situation and if they’d ever think about moving back. We reconnect with a former pro hockey player who we met in Season 3. He relocated from Toronto to St. John, New Brunswick in the first year of the pandemic. We also hear from a B.C. woman who we spoke with in Season 9. She left her life in Vancouver for the coast of Spain. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The news cycle hasn’t stopped since U.S. President Donald Trump was reelected. The past month has seen big ups and downs in the stock market, crypto, and the dollar. Whether you’re a novice investor or have lots of money in the stock market, you’re probably wondering what the second Trump presidency will mean for your finances. In this episode, Rob speaks with Aravind Sithamparapillai, an associate at Ironwood Wealth Management Group, to get his advice on investing during turbulent times. They talk about how tariffs could impact the market, the growing fascination with crypto, and whether now’s a good time to invest in the first place. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We live in a society that glorifies overworking. But some people are tired of girl-bossing and rise-and-grinding. Instead of working harder for what can feel like less, they’re ready to lean out and embrace what some people call the “soft life.” It means prioritizing your rest and well-being over the corporate rat race. We’ll hear from a millennial who slowed down to the extreme - she quit her job and bought a farm. Then, Rob speaks with Chantaie Allick, the co-founder of Rework, an organization that helps people unlearn grind culture, heal from burnout and build their careers in more sustainable ways. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A post-secondary degree is commonly seen as the best way to get ahead. But the cost of university and college is rising - and it’s rising faster than the salary you can earn with a degree. As the math changes, is a post-secondary degree still a no-brainer? We speak with two recent grads about their job prospects after finishing their bachelor's and master's degrees, respectively. And Roma speaks with Jermaine L. Murray, a recruiter and the founder of JupiterHR, about how much employers value higher education in today’s job market. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.