Advertise on podcast: Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery

This episode explores money management across different career stages and industries. Amanda Schultz, founder of Scene Change, shares her journey from TV producer on shows like Big Brother Canada to corporate consulting, and how she's helping entertainment professionals translate their unique skills, like adaptability and project management, into other industries. Dr. Stephanie Zhou discusses her groundbreaking financial literacy curriculum for medical students at the University of Toronto, addressing the unique challenges physicians face with high debt loads (averaging $150,000), delayed earning years, and the complexities of running fee-for-service practices. Bruce Sellery also speaks with Anne Alkok, broker of record at Wahi, about maximizing your relationship with a realtor and what to look for when choosing one for buying or selling your home. The episode concludes with CPA Marlene Chiarotto discussing her book "Achieve Financial Freedom on Your Terms" and the powerful lessons she learned about money, legacy, and values after becoming a widow at age 42. From career transitions to professional-specific financial education to major life changes, this episode covers essential money topics for wherever you are in your journey. To find out more about the guests check out: Amanda Schultz: scenechange.ca | TikTok | Instagram | Facebook Dr. Stephanie Zhou: physiciansficonference.com | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube Anne Alkok: wahi.com | Instagram Marlene Chiarotto: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and best-selling author. As the founder of Moolala and the CEO of Credit Canada, Bruce is on a mission to help you get a better handle on your money so you can live the life you want. High energy & low B.S., this is Moolala: Money Made Simple. Find Bruce Sellery at Moolala.ca | X | Facebook | LinkedIn

In our increasingly digital world, financial scams are becoming frighteningly sophisticated. Larry Zelvin, head of the Financial Crimes Unit at BMO Financial Group, exposes how criminals are weaponizing AI to commit fraud through deepfakes, phishing emails, and digital pickpocketing. Discover the warning signs of AI-enabled scams, why QR codes require extra caution, and what banks are doing behind the scenes to protect customers with voice recognition and fraud detection AI. Larry shares red flags to watch for, including urgency tactics, unusual payment methods, and deals that seem too good to be true, plus practical tips for protecting yourself when traveling, vetting suspicious websites, and defending against the latest fraud tactics. Essential listening for anyone who wants to stay one step ahead of scammers. Find out more on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

When a large sum of money arrives after a traumatic event, whether from a life insurance payout, civil settlement, or class action lawsuit, the emotional complexity can be overwhelming. Trauma therapist Shannon Maroney joins us to explore the intersection of money and trauma, addressing the shame, guilt, and fear that often accompany these windfalls. Learn why you should wait at least one year before making major financial decisions, how to view settlement money as a "pay forward" rather than payback, and strategies for making emotionally congruent decisions that align with your values. Shannon shares crucial insights on building trust with advisors, understanding your relationship with money, and using these funds to create meaning and security in your life while you're still healing. Find out more at shannonmoroney.com and connect on Instagram.

What if managing money wasn't about willpower, but about working with your existing habits? Mike Michalowicz, author of The Money Habit, reveals a revolutionary approach to personal finance using multiple bank accounts as a modern envelope system. Discover how behavioral intercepts work, why debit cards are more powerful than credit card points, and how Parkinson's Law can help you spend less automatically. Mike shares his personal story of losing everything on Valentine's Day and the hard-earned wisdom that led to his transformation. Learn practical strategies for achieving cash confidence, managing debt, and navigating the financial seasons of your life, from recovery to funding to balance. Find out more at mikemichalowicz.com and connect on Instagram and LinkedIn.

What if managing money wasn't about willpower, but about working with your existing habits? Mike Michalowicz, author of The Money Habit, reveals a revolutionary approach to personal finance using multiple bank accounts as a modern envelope system. Learn how to achieve cash confidence through behavioral intercepts, why debit cards beat credit card points, and how Parkinson's Law can help you spend less automatically. Plus, trauma therapist Shannon Maroney shares crucial insights on navigating financial windfalls that arrive after traumatic events—from life insurance payouts to civil settlements—and how to make emotionally congruent decisions about money when you're still healing. In our increasingly digital world, financial scams are becoming frighteningly sophisticated. Larry Zelvin, head of the Financial Crimes Unit at BMO Financial Group, exposes how criminals are weaponizing AI to commit fraud through deepfakes, phishing emails, and digital pickpocketing. Discover the warning signs of AI-enabled scams, why QR codes require extra caution, and what banks are doing behind the scenes to protect you. From managing debt with behavioral psychology to protecting yourself from the latest fraud tactics, this episode delivers practical strategies for every stage of your financial journey. Whether you're building better money habits, processing a financial windfall, or defending against scammers, you'll find actionable advice to help you get a better handle on your money. To find out more about the guests check out: Mike Michalowicz: mikemichalowicz.com | Instagram | LinkedIn Shannon Maroney: Instagram Larry Zelvin: LinkedIn | Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and best-selling author. As the founder of Moolala and the CEO of Credit Canada, Bruce is on a mission to help you get a better handle on your money so you can live the life you want. High energy & low B.S., this is Moolala: Money Made Simple. Find Bruce Sellery at Moolala.ca | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

Claudia Hepburn, CEO of Windmill Microlending, explains how her national charity helps skilled immigrants overcome financial barriers to professional accreditation in Canada. Windmill provides affordable micro-loans of up to $15,000 at just below prime rates, along with financial literacy training, career coaching, and mentorship to help newcomers challenge exams and get re-accredited in their fields. With the average client more than tripling their income after receiving support, Windmill is proving that removing financial obstacles can unlock tremendous potential for Canada's economy. Connect on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Writer, editor, and critic David Berry explores the complex relationship between art and money, revealing that less than 15% of artists throughout history have ever made a full-time living from their creative work. He discusses the importance of artists viewing themselves as their own patrons, finding sustainable day jobs that leave time for creativity, and overcoming the cultural stigma that thinking about money somehow poisons artistic expression. Berry emphasizes that passion alone won't sustain you when you go to bed hungry—managing money is essential to honoring your creative gift. Find out more at thedavidberry.com and connect on Instagram.

Financial journalist and author Renée Sylvestre-Williams reveals the hidden financial penalties that single Canadians face, from shouldering housing costs alone to missing out on tax benefits like income splitting in retirement. She explains why building a strong support team—including lawyers, financial advisors, and friends—is critical for solo earners, and emphasizes the importance of estate planning and powers of attorney when you don't have a spouse to automatically inherit your assets or make decisions on your behalf. Connect on Instagram and find out more on Substack and pick up The Singles Tax: No-Nonsense Financial Advice for Solo Earners

Financial educator and behavioral finance expert Preet Banerjee explains how artificial intelligence is transforming the financial services industry, from chatbots handling customer service to the promise of democratizing quality financial advice for everyday Canadians. He warns about the dark side of AI, including sophisticated hyper-personalized phishing scams targeting new employees, and shares practical strategies to protect yourself while using AI to fact-check financial advice and make smarter money decisions. Connect on Instagram.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how Canadians manage their money, but is it helping or hurting? Financial educator and behavioural finance expert Preet Banerjee reveals how AI is transforming financial services, from chatbots providing 24/7 customer support to the promise of democratizing quality financial advice for everyday Canadians. But there's a dark side: scammers are using AI to create sophisticated, hyper-personalized phishing attacks that can drain your bank account before you realize what's happened. Preet shares practical strategies to protect yourself while leveraging AI's benefits, and explains why adding friction to your spending decisions might be the smartest financial move you can make. Then, financial journalist Renée Sylvestre-Williams tackles the hidden costs of being single in Canada, from higher housing costs to retirement anxiety, and why building a strong support team is more critical than ever for solo earners. The episode continues with writer David Berry discussing his book on how artists navigate the often-contradictory relationship between creative expression and financial survival, revealing why most successful artists throughout history never made a full-time living from their art alone. Finally, Claudia Hepburn, CEO of Windmill Microlending, explains how her national charity is helping skilled immigrants overcome the financial barriers to professional accreditation in Canada through affordable micro-loans of up to $15,000. With the average client more than tripling their income after receiving support, Windmill is proving that small financial interventions can create life-changing opportunities for newcomers ready to contribute their skills to the Canadian economy. To find out more about the guests check out: Preet Banerjee: Instagram Renée Sylvester-Williams: Instagram | Substack | The Singles Tax: No-Nonsense Financial Advice for Solo Earners David Berry: thedavidberry.com | Instagram Claudia Hepburn: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and best-selling author. As the founder of Moolala and the CEO of Credit Canada, Bruce is on a mission to help you get a better handle on your money so you can live the life you want. High energy & low B.S., this is Moolala: Money Made Simple. Find Bruce Sellery at Moolala.ca | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

ADHD coach and former CFO Leanne Gawley joins Credit Canada facilitator Kelly Cowan to explore how ADHD affects financial management. She explains how ADHD brains are wired for immediate dopamine hits versus delayed gratification, leading to impulse buying driven by instant gratification, lack of impulse control, and FOMO (fear of missing out). Leanne discusses "time blindness"—where the future doesn't feel like now—and why deadline-driven completion is so common. She shares practical strategies including breaking budgets into 10-minute segments, implementing waiting periods (2-24 hours) before purchases, and asking support partners the key question: "How can I best support you?" Resources available through the Canada ADHD Society can provide additional support. Find out more at leannegawley.ca and connect on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Simon Brascoupe introduces "Braiding Mind, Body, and Spirit," a culturally relevant financial wellness resource developed with Prosper Canada and the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of Canada. Using the braiding metaphor, the resource addresses Mind (financial tools and knowledge), Body (protection strategies), and Spirit (holistic teachings). Simon discusses how the resource helps address "sudden wealth syndrome" when receiving lump sum payments, and includes activities like "Coloring My Dreams" for visualization, "My Money is Medicine" for reframing money as a positive force, and financial wellness journaling. He also highlights the challenge of limited bank access in Indigenous communities, with only three to four First Nations in Ontario having banks. Connect with Simon on Instagram.

Lisa MacIntyre-Smith, CEO of Furble, explains why veterinary care costs are rising faster than standard inflation due to staffing shortages, medication supply issues, and advanced diagnostic equipment. With 50% of pet parents now skipping vet visits due to costs, Lisa introduces a solution: prescription medications delivered directly to homes at reduced costs compared to veterinary clinics. Many pet owners don't even realize their vet has written prescriptions for medications like flea and tick prevention, which can be filled through pharmacy partners at significant savings. Find out more at furble.com and connect on Instagram and X/Twitter.

Personal finance columnist Lesley-Anne Scorgie shares the three key indicators that it's time to break up with your financial advisor: poor communication, underperformance against benchmarks over seven years, and an inability to think holistically about your finances. She explains how to request a "total household rollup performance report" to evaluate your advisor's true performance, how fee structures like 2%+ MERs make it harder to meet benchmarks, and why many advisors are now lowering fees to compete with robo-advisors. Lesley-Anne also walks through the surprisingly simple logistics of transferring assets to a new advisor and provides scripts for having that difficult conversation. Find out more at mevest.ca and connect on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter.  

Sometimes breaking up is the right thing to do, even with your financial advisor. Lesley-Anne Scorgie, personal finance columnist at the Toronto Star and founder of MeVest, shares the red flags that signal it's time to move on, from poor communication and underperformance to misaligned fees. She explains how to evaluate your advisor using a "total household rollup performance report," compare results against seven-year benchmarks, and navigate the surprisingly simple logistics of switching advisors. Plus, Lisa MacIntyre-Smith, CEO of Furble, discusses why pet care costs are outpacing inflation and how Canadians can access more affordable veterinary medications through pharmacy partners instead of clinic dispensing. Simon Brascoupe introduces "Braiding Mind, Body, and Spirit," a culturally relevant financial wellness resource for Indigenous communities that addresses sudden wealth syndrome, protective planning, and holistic money management through teachings and journaling. Then, ADHD coach Leanne Gawley joins Credit Canada facilitator Kelly Cowan to explore how ADHD affects financial management, from dopamine-driven impulse buying and time blindness to budget overwhelm. Leanne shares practical strategies like breaking tasks into 10-minute segments, using accountability buddies, and implementing waiting periods before purchases to help neurodivergent individuals build healthier money habits. To find out more about the guests check out: Lesley-Anne Scorgie: mevest.ca | Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter Lisa MacIntyre-Smith: furble.com | Instagram | X/Twitter Simon Brascoupe: Instagram Leanne Gawley: leannegawley.ca | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and best-selling author. As the founder of Moolala and the CEO of Credit Canada, Bruce is on a mission to help you get a better handle on your money so you can live the life you want. High energy & low B.S., this is Moolala: Money Made Simple. Find Bruce Sellery at Moolala.ca | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn