Free Lunch

The "RRIF meltdown" strategy is everywhere online right now, but the advice rarely accounts for your actual situation.In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Blair break down what a meltdown strategy actually is, when it might make sense, and why doing it just because someone told you to can quietly cost you more in tax than you ever saved. The math matters more than the marketing.

In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Blair walk through a real conversation many investors are having right now: “Should we get out before it gets worse?”The instinct is understandable. But the plan often becomes selling when markets are down, waiting, and then buying back in when things feel better.That’s not strategy, it's emotion, and it’s one of the fastest ways to derail long-term returns.

In reality, fear shows up in every market cycle.In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Greg talk about why even seasoned investors feel unsettled during downturns, and why that doesn’t mean you should act on it.Because volatility isn’t new. It’s expected. And the investors who succeed aren’t the ones who avoid fear, they’re the ones who don’t let it drive their decisions.

With St. Patrick’s Day behind us, it’s a good time to separate myth from reality.In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Greg explore why chasing the next big winner, timing the market, or relying on “being early” rarely works and why those ideas persist anyway.They break down the difference between luck and skill, the cost of missing just a handful of market days, and why the real “pot of gold” is built through patience and compounding over time.

Each year, the World Happiness Report ranks nations based on factors like social support, health, freedom, trust, and economic security.In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Greg dig into the patterns behind the rankings, why Nordic countries dominate the list, where Canada and the U.S. fall, and what the research reveals about the connection between policy, prosperity, and well-being.A thoughtful conversation about what truly drives happiness in modern societies.

In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, we explore how even high-earning households can feel “house poor” and why lifestyle inflation, low savings rates, and heavy debt can quietly erode financial flexibility.

In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Blair walk through a case study of “Linda,” a 55-year-old investor with a $780,000 balanced portfolio.When markets fell 18%, she panicked and sold half her equities, only to miss the 22% rebound that followed.It’s a powerful reminder that the hardest part of investing isn’t picking the right fund. It’s sticking to the financial plan when headlines, social media, and fear tell you to do the opposite.Markets recover but emotional decisions can be permanent.

In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Blair continue their financial planning series by examining the Canadian macro environment, from housing and household debt to interest rates and inflation.Using a real-life style case study, they explore how someone can have strong net worth on paper while still feeling monthly cash flow pressure.It’s a reminder that financial planning isn’t just about assets. It’s about context, options, and clarity.

In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin is joined by Blair, Director of Financial Planning at Canvas Wealth, to kick off a new series focused on the role planning plays in long-term financial success.They explore how financial planning turns money into a life tool, replaces guesswork with clarity, and helps people navigate major life transitions with confidence, not just better returns.A conversation about outcomes, behaviour, and building freedom over time.

From wars and sanctions to trade disruptions and surprise political events, global markets react quickly to uncertainty.In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Greg and Colin walk through decades of data on geopolitical shocks, what typically drives market drawdowns, how long recoveries tend to take, and why most sell-offs fade faster than headlines suggest.They also explore what these events mean specifically for Canadian investors, including impacts on oil, the dollar, and global portfolios.

Every January, investment firms release their top picks and bold projections for the year ahead.In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Greg and Colin look back at the stock lists published in early 2025 and ask the question most people forget to ask: how did they actually perform?By comparing forecasts to real-world outcomes, they unpack why confidence doesn’t equal accuracy, why benchmarks matter more than opinions, and what investors can learn from hindsight.

In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Greg and Jacob reflect on how the reality of wealth advising differs from what’s taught early on.Technical knowledge matters, but it isn’t what ultimately sets wealth advisors apart. Listening, understanding, and guiding people through uncertainty are what define the work.Throughout the episode, they explore the lessons that only experience teaches, and what it really takes to build a career that lasts.

If there’s one lesson that kept showing up over nearly 300 episodes, it’s this:being reasonable beats being brilliant.In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin reflects on five themes that have shaped the show over the years, starting with why behaviour matters more than intelligence, forecasts, or clever strategies.It’s a reminder that long-term success rarely comes from bold moves. It comes from consistent, disciplined decisions made over time.

When markets move, our instincts kick in fast. ⏱️In this episode, Colin and Greg share a real example of a new investor reacting to a small short-term loss, and use it to explain why checking your portfolio too often can do more harm than good.They break down volatility, time horizons, and why investing isn’t meant to feel like watching a savings account.

We’ve become far more comfortable with debt than we used to be.In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Rob Carrick, one of Canada’s most trusted personal finance journalists and longtime columnist at The Globe and Mail joins Greg and Colin to talk about how consumer culture has reshaped our relationship with money.They discuss frictionless spending, social media pressure, and why debt often builds quietly, without a clear moment where things go wrong.

We procrastinate on taxes for the same reason we avoid the dentist. We know it’s important, it just feels uncomfortable.In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Blair talk about tax optimization, early planning, and why contributing sooner to your TFSA or RRSP can be one of the most underrated financial habits.It’s step four in their “12 Steps to Greatness in 2026” list, and they cover all 12 to help you start the year with clarity.

Is there really a free lunch when it comes to investing?According to Greg and Colin, there is one: diversification.It’s not exciting. It doesn’t make headlines. But it’s one of the few strategies that has improved outcomes while helping reduce risk over time.In this episode, they explain why diversification works, why investors resist it, and why it matters right now.

Where would modern thinking about markets be without the people who pushed it forward?This week on the Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Greg reflect on the thinkers and researchers who reshaped the way we understand economic behaviour. From evidence-based approaches to frameworks that bring discipline and clarity to decision-making, the way we view the world today exists because a few pioneers were willing to challenge old assumptions.

We buy everything else on sale, but with stocks we do the opposite?In this episode, Colin and Greg talk with Mark Eibel about the strange way human behaviour shows up around money. The market rises more than 70% of the time, yet fear in the 30% often pushes people out at exactly the wrong moment.It is one of the few areas of life where people get more interested as prices rise and more nervous as prices fall, even though history shows that downturns are usually shorter than they feel.

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Most clients don’t actually want a stock tip. They want reassurance, they want clarity.They want to know, “will I be okay?”This week, Colin and Greg explore the emotional side of money with financial therapist Ashley Quamme as they unpack the real drivers behind our financial behaviour.The beliefs we inherit, the patterns we repeat, and the questions we are truly asking when we think we are asking about markets.🎧 A powerful conversation for anyone curious about why they think, feel, and behave the way they do with money.

🏡 Have a kid who’ll buy their first home one day?The First Home Savings Account (FHSA), part RRSP, part TFSA, all opportunity.In this week's episode of the Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Greg explain how the FHSA works, the benefits and the deadline you can't afford to miss.They explain why making a small contribution before year-end could mean more room and more opportunity down the road.

In 2008, one client went all in on silver.Convinced inflation would soar, governments would lose control, and precious metals were the only safe bet, he put everything into silver. And technically, he was right. It hit $50 an ounce… 17 years later.On this week’s Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Greg revisit that story to explore what it teaches about timing, behaviour, and the bigger truth: time in the market beats timing the market every time.

If the Canada Pension Plan were a mutual fund, would you still buy it? 🤔Greg and Colin dig into the real costs behind Canada’s national pension, how it stacks up against low-fee investing, and what it teaches us about simplicity, transparency, and discipline in your own portfolio.It sounds cheap at 0.26%, but that’s just the tip of a $7 billion iceberg once you factor in performance fees, transaction costs, and operating expenses.

What are smart investors doing right now?According to Greg and Colin on this week of the Free Lunch Podcast they are: staying diversified, staying disciplined, and staying calm.They unpack how to think about:💰 Bonds & cash in your portfolio.🏠 Mortgage renewals & rate holds.🧾 End-of-year tax moves.😴 Retirement “sleep-at-night” planning.

Jonathan’s style was to blend practical financial advice with human behaviour and life lessons.This week, Colin and Greg reflect on the life and legacy of Jonathan Clements, the longtime Wall Street Journal columnist whose insights helped redefine how we think about money, happiness, and simplicity.Jonathan’s approach really aligns with what we try to do here, cutting through the noise, finding clarity in uncertainty, and reminding people that even if the market’s at an all-time high… so is milk production. 🥛

AI was everywhere at Future Proof Festival.From Google searches to client service, every conversation circled back to how artificial intelligence is reshaping the industry.On this week’s episode of the Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Greg reflect on Colin’s time at Future Proof, and why, despite AI’s power, nothing can replace human trust and behavioural coaching.🎧 A must-listen for anyone curious about what AI means for the future of advice.

🎓💰 Sending kids off to college or university? The sticker shock is real. Tuition, books, housing, can quickly add up to $20,000+ per year.In this week’s episode, Colin and Greg break down the real costs of post-secondary education and explore smart ways to fund it, including:✅ Student loans, grants & bursaries✅ RESPs (and how to make the most of government grants)✅ What happens if your child doesn’t go to school✅ Why TFSAs can be a hidden funding tool

True or False:❓ Diversification increases expected stock returns.❓ Owning Canadian banks, pipelines, and utilities is enough diversification.❓ Most active fund managers outperform their benchmarks over time.If you hesitated on any of these, this week’s episode is for you. Colin and Greg break down why diversification is really about protecting against risk, how home bias trips Canadians up, and why global exposure makes all the difference.

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Tariffs go up. Inflation lingers. Politics heat up.And the cost of everyday life feels it.On this episode of the Free Lunch Podcast, Colin and Greg explore how U.S. policy shifts ripple through interest rates, inflation, and portfolios around the world. They discuss... 🌎💼 ✔️ The hidden inflation driver no one talks about.✔️ Why Fed decisions matter beyond the U.S.✔️ How to position portfolios when volatility returns. 🎧 A must-listen for anyone trying to make sense of today’s economic headlines.

Is one will enough if you own property in more than one province?This week on the Free Lunch Podcast, Canvas Wealth sits down with Jonathan Ng to unpack the complexities of wills, probate, and property across provinces (and even outside of Canada).From cabins in B.C. to bank accounts in Ontario, they explore what executors and families need to know, and when a “skeleton key” will is enough, or when a second will might save time, money, and stress.🎧 This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about how provincial laws can affect their legacy.

Money isn’t just math. It’s feelings.In this episode of the Free Lunch Podcast, Greg and Colin sit down with special guest Carl Richards, author, and creator of The Behavior Gap, to talk about his new book Your Money.They explore why financial planning is less about spreadsheets and more about meaning, values, and the conversations we have never been taught to have.🎧 If money conversations have ever left you feeling stressed, uncertain, or even frustrated, this episode is for you.

Most people have never heard of an IPP.But for incorporated business owners, it can be one of the most effective ways to build retirement wealth.In this episode of the Free Lunch Podcast, Canvas Wealth welcomes Tatenda Maywoyo of GBL Inc., to explain what IPPs are, who they’re for, and why they’re a hidden gem in Canadian retirement planning. 🎧 If you’ve ever wondered whether an IPP could work for you, this episode explains it all.

If you had $1 million, what would you actually do with it?Would you buy a house? Travel the world? Or maybe just stock up on Kraft Dinner like the Barenaked Ladies sing about? In this episode of the Free Lunch Podcast, Canvas Wealth explores the playful lyrics of If I Had $1,000,000 alongside the deep insights from Dr. Daniel Crosby’s book The Soul of Wealth.They unpack the four core purposes of money:1️⃣ safety, 2️⃣ autonomy, 3️⃣ mastery, and 4️⃣ purpose. 

What happens when classroom theory meets the reality of working in finance?In this special episode, Canvas sits down with Jacob and special guest Èmile, two finance students balancing bartending, trading, and navigating their first steps into the industry.They talk markets, mentorship, behavioural bias, bonds (yes, bonds), and the biggest surprises that come with going from spreadsheets to real people and real portfolios.🎧 Whether you're seasoned or just starting out, this one’s a candid, energetic look at what it really means to build a career in finance.

Advisors once lived by the phone, a notepad, and a stack of prospecting lists.Now? AI, CRM systems, and customized pools are shaping the way advice is delivered, and relationships are built.This week, Colin continues his conversation with Greg Kraminsky in part two of their reflection on 30+ years of change in the investment world. They unpack the real evolution: not just in products and technology, but in purpose, relationships, and trust.🎧 From regulatory shifts and tech revolutions to the human side of advice, this episode is a candid look at how far the industry has come, and where it’s heading next.

“We got to revisit what works and what doesn't work... and we came up with a solution in 2009 that we still follow today” – Greg KraminskyThis week, Colin sits down with Greg to revisit what the world of advice looked like in the 90s and how it has evolved over the past three decades.From the days of paper forms and product pitches to purpose-driven conversations and personalized planning, it’s a look at how far the profession and expectations have come.

Ever feel like your money decisions are on a hype cycle?This week, Colin and Karyn share 12 steps to help cut through the noise and bring some calmness back into your financial mindset.From tuning out market headlines to trusting your process, they explore what has helped people stay on track, and what creates distraction.🎧If you’ve ever wondered whether “timing the market” is a real thing (spoiler: it's not), or why some approaches just feel safer, this one’s worth a listen.

What do baseball, patience, and a big annual payday have in common? Colin and Greg break down the story of Bobby Bonilla, a retired MLB player who still collects a cheque every July 1st thanks to one clever contract that turned into decades of steady income. They unpack why consistency and patience often outperform perfect timing, and how you can apply these lessons to your own financial plans. 

In this episode, Colin and Steve sit down with longtime friend and former partner Greg Kraminsky to reflect on their transition to independence, why they made the move, how it's going, and what it’s meant for the people they work with.They share what it’s like to step away from the familiar and what they have gained in the process.

𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.Colin sits down with Greg Kraminsky, longtime advisor, recent retiree, and returning voice to the podcast, to talk about the shift from planning retirement for clients… to living it himself.From navigating long, unstructured days, to finding purpose beyond work, and to why financial peace of mind isn’t the only thing that matters, this episode is full of real talk on what retirement actually looks like.Whether you're already retired or just thinking ahead, it’s a conversation worth listening to.  

Saving for retirement doesn't come with a one-size fits all plan.Colin and Karyn sit down with Ryan Ackers, Senior Vice President at Growth and Corporate development with GBL, to unpack the Supplemental Executive Retirement plan. What it is, how it works, and why more companies are using it to support long-term planning for key talent.From compensation design to funding mechanics and flexibility, they explore how SERPs fit into a broader strategy for employers and executives alike.Whether you're a business owner, executive, advisor, or just SERP curious this conversation is one to listen to.

Being a dad doesn’t come with a playbook. Colin and Karyn get candid about what it really means to be a dad in today’s world and why mental health needs to be part of the conversation. From financial stress and parenting pressures to societal expectations and silent burnout, they unpack 10 major challenges men face, especially fathers and offer practical, compassionate tools to help lighten the load.Whether you're a dad, love a dad, or support one, this conversation matters.

Colin and Blair are joined by special guest Marty Birky for a candid conversation about one of the toughest topics to discuss: divorce. From navigating asset division and child support to avoiding common legal missteps, Marty shares real-world insights from his experience helping families through major transitions - especially when emotions run high. Whether you're planning, separating, or simply curious, this one’s worth the listen.