Moolala: Money Made Simple With Bruce Sellery

The promise of AI is fast answers, but tax rules are personal and easy to misapply. Anita Balakrishnan shares what accountants are seeing, the types of errors that show up most often, and why complex situations still need a real professional double-check. Find out more at thelogic.co and connect with Anita on LinkedIn.

Canada’s filing system is largely voluntary, but millions of Canadians still do not file each year. Jennifer Robson explains how auto-filing could work, who it is designed to help first, and why filing is often the “gateway” to benefits like GST credits, child benefits, and other supports. Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn and Bluesky.

AI tools can be helpful, but when it comes to taxes, they can also be confidently wrong. In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, Bruce Sellery talks with Jennifer Robson, Associate Professor, Carleton University, about the federal government’s SimpleFile initiative and how automatic tax filing could help more Canadians file returns and unlock benefits. Then Anita Balakrishnan, Reporter at The Logic, breaks down why accountants are increasingly seeing AI-generated tax mistakes and what to watch for before relying on tools like ChatGPT. For a lighter take on grown-up chores, Chris Colin, Journalist at the Wall Street Journal, explains how hosting an “admin night” can make boring tasks less painful. Finally, Aled ab Iorwerth, Deputy Chief Economist at CMHC, shares key context on mortgage delinquencies and the early warning signs that a household may be heading into financial distress. To find out more about the guests check out: Jennifer Robson – Associate Professor, Carleton University: LinkedIn | Blues

Parents supporting adult children is common, but often hidden. Lindsey Stanberry reframes it as a “boomer lifestyle subsidy” and explores why people stay quiet, how childcare and education support can be as powerful as a cheque, and how being more open can reduce shame, comparison, and confusion. Find out more on thepurse.co and connect on Instagram.

Signing a lease can feel like reading fine print you’re expected to ignore, but the stakes are high. Lawyer Lisa Mackie explains the key terms renters should understand, common red flags, what landlords can and cannot ask for, and how provincial rules, municipal bylaws, and federal protections (like privacy and human rights) shape your rights. Find out more on ahbl.ca and connect on LinkedIn(ahbl) and Instagram(ahbl). Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn.

Doug Hoyes breaks down what the latest bankruptcy study shows: higher balances, more creditors, and growing strain that is increasingly structural rather than tied to one crisis event. They unpack the impact of inflation, housing costs, and why people should reach out for help early, before high-interest borrowing makes the math impossible. Find out more on hoyes.com and connect on X.

It’s never been easier to spend money, and that “one click” convenience is quietly reshaping our budgets. In this episode, Bruce explores friction maxing with certified financial planner and money psychology expert Hanna Horvath, including practical ways to slow down impulse purchases and make saving more automatic. Then, insolvency trustee Doug Hoyes breaks down what his firm is seeing in Canada’s latest bankruptcy study, from higher balances and more creditors to mounting pressure from food costs, unemployment, and housing. Next, Lindsey Stanberry (The Purse) tackles the taboo topic of parents supporting adult children, and why more transparency around the “bank of mom and dad” matters. Finally, lawyer Lisa Mackie shares what renters should know before signing a lease, including key terms, red flags, and how laws at different levels of government shape your rights. To find out more about the guests check out: Hanna Horvath: Substack | Instagram | TikTok Doug Hoyes: hoyes.com | X Lindsey Stanberry: thepurse

Online shopping, tap-to-pay, and one-click checkout remove the pause that used to protect our budgets. Hanna Horvath explains “friction maxxing” and shares practical tactics to slow impulse buys, like deleting shopping apps, removing saved payment info, using a 24 - 48 hour waiting rule, and making saving and investing automatic. Find out more on Substack and connect on Instagram and TikTok.

Wealth manager and author Geoff Saab (Low Risk Rules) makes the case for simpler, lower-cost, fully liquid investing, especially for entrepreneurs who are used to taking risks in business. They talk about the hidden cost of fees, why illiquidity can be dangerous, and why even pros cannot consistently predict market outcomes, making a disciplined long-term approach more reliable. Find out more on Substack and connect on X.

Jon Shell, Chair of Social Capital Partners and a board member at Employee Ownership Canada, explains employee ownership trusts (EOTs) and how they allow employees to collectively own a privately held business through a trust. They cover what changed in 2024, why policy and tax incentives matter, how EOTs are financed, and what research from the US and UK suggests about performance, investment, and long-term incentives. Connect with Jon on LinkedIn.

Wealthsimple’s David Mak explains how securities lending works for retail investors, including why someone would lend shares, what borrowers do with them, and how fees are set. Bruce asks the practical questions around risk, collateral, and whether lending affects your ability to sell, plus how stock lending has become more visible as retail investing grows. Find out more at wealthsimple.com and connect on X, Instagram and Facebook.

Glassdoor career pivot strategist Janel Abrahami joins Bruce Sellery to unpack “career minimalism,” the trend of doing the bare minimum at work to make room for life outside the office. They discuss why it resonates with Gen Z and beyond, how it can be a seasonal strategy rather than a forever mindset, and what employees should understand about trade-offs like performance reviews, advancement, and income. Find out more at janelabrahami.com and connect on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

What does career minimalism really mean, and why is it showing up in Gen Z work culture? Bruce Sellery speaks with Glassdoor career pivot strategist Janel Abrahami about the idea of doing the minimum at work to create space for health, family, and life outside the office, plus what this trend can look like for employees and employers. Then, Wealthsimple’s David Mak breaks down securities lending (stock lending), including how investors can potentially earn extra income by lending shares, what borrowers use those shares for, and how risk and collateral work. Next, Jon Shell from Social Capital Partners explains employee ownership trusts in Canada, how EOTs can help business owners transition succession to employees, and why employee ownership could strengthen communities and the Canadian economy. Plus, wealth manager and author Geoff Saab (Low Risk Rules: A Wealth Preservation Manifesto) shares why simple, low-fee, liquid investing can beat “prestige” products over the long run. Listen for practical takeaways

Divorce is emotionally and logistically overwhelming, which is exactly why insurance details can get missed. Farzana Damji, Senior Director at RBC Insurance, walks through the biggest pitfalls, including outdated beneficiaries, cancelling coverage too soon, and not discussing insurance during settlement conversations. They cover life insurance, disability, and critical illness, and the key questions newly single people should ask to protect financial stability. Find out more at rbcinsurance.com and connect on LinkedIn (RBC) and Facebook (RBC). Connect with Farzana on LinkedIn.

Financial educator and author Kelley Keehn shares the core message of her book Save Yourself and why changing money outcomes often starts with changing your money story. Kelley and Bruce explore identity, shame, and the brain-based patterns that trip people up, plus how AI can help people get more honest, build awareness, and start rewriting the narrative that keeps them stuck. Find out more at kelleykeehn.com and connect on Instagram, Facebook and check out Save Yourself.

Willpower is unreliable, especially in a world where spending is frictionless. CPA and author Robin Taub explains “situational agency,” the idea of designing your environment to make good money choices easier. Bruce and Robin dig into practical levers like paying yourself first, automating bills, and removing spending triggers so you can spend less, save more, and stick with habits that support your long-term goals. Find out more at Substack and connect on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Tuition can be a major barrier for international students pursuing Canadian graduate programs. Shawn Good, President and CEO of Libro Credit Union, explains how Libro partners with leading business schools, including the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University, to offer financing and support. Shawn and Bruce discuss access, inclusion, and what it means to evaluate borrowers when traditional credit history is limited. Find out more at libro.ca and connect on LinkedIn (Libro), Instagram (Libro) and Facebook (Libro). Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Willpower is a great idea, but it rarely holds up when money decisions get real. In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, Bruce Sellery explores situational agency with CPA and author Robin Taub, breaking down how to design your environment so saving becomes easier and impulsive spending gets harder, from “pay yourself first” automation to removing digital spending triggers. Then, Farzana Damji (Senior Director, RBC Insurance) shares what divorcing couples need to know about life insurance, beneficiaries, and timing, including common mistakes that can create costly consequences. Plus, Shawn Good (President and CEO, Libro Credit Union) explains a financing option aimed at helping international students access high-cost Canadian business programs, and financial educator Kelley Keehn discusses Save Yourself and how identity, psychology, and even AI tools can help people change their relationship with money. To find out more about the guests check out: Robin Taub: Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram Kelley Kee

Artificial intelligence is reshaping financial services, and the biggest changes may be happening where you cannot see them. Bruce speaks with financial planner and fintech expert Jason Pereira about how AI can automate back-office work, improve self-serve tools, and help advisors spend less time on paperwork and more time coaching clients. Jason also explains why AI answers can still be wrong, what “good enough” tech adoption looks like inside massive institutions, and why open banking in Canada keeps lagging. If consumers ever get real control over their financial data, Jason says underwriting for mortgages, loans, and credit could become faster, more personal, and far less frustrating. Connect with Jason on Facebook,  X, and Instagram.

What’s different about money for queer people, and what can everyone learn from that perspective? Bruce talks with author Nick Wolny about Money Proud: The Queer Guide to Generate Wealth, Slay Debt, and Build Good Habits to Secure Your Future. They unpack how stress, identity, and life priorities shape financial decisions, why “minority stress” can affect everything from saving to emotional regulation, and how allies can show up with small check-ins that matter. Nick also shares the idea of the “golden cage,” where lifestyle inflation traps people in jobs they do not even like, and why building a sustainable, joyful life is a real personal finance strategy. Find out more at nickwolny.com and connect on Instagram and X.