Stress Test

Investing on your own has never been simpler. Trading fees are disappearing, apps are better than ever and features like fractional shares mean you can start investing with just a few dollars. But is easier always better? On today’s episode, we look at what’s changed, what’s improved and what still matters most in the investing world. We hear from two Canadians who’ve taken different paths into DIY investing, and how new tools, from mobile apps to automated features, have changed how they invest their money. Then, Rob Carrick explains what’s driving this shift, why these changes are particularly good for new investors and why easier access isn’t always a positive. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Despite a cooling housing market, home ownership still feels out of reach for many young Canadians. Now, new research suggests that when young people decide to opt out of saving for a home, their behaviour can change in surprising ways. They spend more, save less, and take bigger risks with their investments. We hear from two committed renters in their 20s about why they’re not interested in saving for a down payment. Then, Roma speaks with certified financial planner Shannon Lee Simmons about how giving up homeownership can affect everything from daily spending to building long-term wealth. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Renters in Canada are finally catching a break. In Canada’s biggest cities, rents have been falling for more than a year and vacancy rates are rising. Some landlords are even offering incentives like free months of rent and move-in bonuses to attract tenants. But the reality on the ground is more complicated. In this episode, Roma and The Globe’s consumer affairs reporter Mariya Postelnyak unpack how many deals there really are in today’s rental market. We hear from a Toronto renter who recently searched for a new apartment and discovered that while competition may be easing, securing a place still takes strategy and a little budget flexibility. Then, Mariya speaks with housing analyst Shaun Hildebrand of Urbanation about the forces behind the shifting rental market. He explains why rents have been dropping in major cities, where the deals are and what the data suggests could happen next. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After years of strong gains, the stock market’s resilience has many investors and experts wondering how much longer it can last. We hear from a 25-year-old from B.C. about her first market downturn, her reaction to the drop and how it changed her investing mindset. Then Rob talks with wealth advisor Aaron Hector, a wealth advisor at TIER Wealth in Calgary, about why the stock market has been so strong since COVID, why the tech sector seems primed for a downturn, and how to shore up your portfolio in a bear market. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's so much financial uncertainty out there right now. Stocks have soared, but global conflicts are casting a shadow. House prices are falling. The labour market is shifting. Even the things that are supposed to be getting easier, like renting, don’t quite feel that way. Welcome back for another season of Stress Test, The Globe and Mail’s personal finance podcast for millennials and Gen Z. This season, we’ll look at how to prepare for the inevitable stock market downturn, how AI is disrupting the job market, and how accessible apps and low fees have made this a golden age for DIY investors. Season 12 of Stress Test launches on March 11th. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Despite economic uncertainty, millions of Canadians continued to travel abroad and domestically in 2025. We want to know where they’re going - and how they’re doing it affordably. We hear from Stress Test producer Zahra Khozema about how she budgets for 2-3 trips a year. Then, The Globe’s consumer affairs reporter Mariya Postelnyak speaks with travel photographer Mandy Sham about her favourite affordable destinations, the trends she’s noticing among young Canadians travelling abroad and her top travel hacks for keeping costs low. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the last four years, legalized sports betting has become a massive industry in Canada. In Ontario alone, people placed bets worth a total of around $11-billion in 2024. It’s simple to do: Open an app, bet a few bucks and watch the scoreboard. At the same time, trading apps have made investing quicker and easier, and the process feels very similar. We’re not saying gambling and investing are the same, but the lines are blurring thanks to app design and the sheer amount of time we spend on our phones.Roma speaks with Shannon Lee Simmons, a certified financial planner and author based in Toronto, about how she’s seeing a gambling mentality bleed into investing, particularly among young people. Then, The Globe’s personal economics reporter Erica Alini speaks with Perry Wright and Hans Frech, behavioural researchers at the Common Cents Lab at Duke University, about the behavioural similarities between gambling and speculative investing, what tactics these apps are enforcing and how to set up guardrails to protect your finances when using these apps. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Job cuts are a growing reality. In the past month, Amazon, Canada Post, Stellantis, General Motors, and Imperial Oil have been among the companies that have let plenty of employees go. Getting fired can come as a shock. And it can leave people financially strapped as they try to find their bearings. So what do you do if you suddenly find yourself in this situation?We hear from a Toronto-based tech worker about what she learned from being let go earlier this year. Then, Rob speaks with Nicole Biros-Bolton, a human rights and employment lawyer at Bird Bolt Law in Hamilton, Ontario, about your rights after your employment is terminated, how severance is calculated and how to navigate the process of applying for employment insurance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The job market for young Canadians is terrible these days. Lots of qualified, talented people are sending out tons of resumes and getting zero replies. We hear from two recent grads who have been struggling for months to get an interview, let alone a job offer. Then Erica Alini, The Globe’s personal economics reporter, speaks with Matt Lundy, The Globe’s economics editor, about the conditions driving high unemployment for young Canadians, lessons they learned as new graduates during the global financial crisis, and how AI is changing the hiring process for both applicants and employers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More investors are turning to artificial intelligence for investing advice. But should you trust what ChatGPT tells you about ETFs, the stock market and where to put your money? We hear from two investors about how AI factors into their investing strategy. Rob Carrick also speaks with Ben Felix, portfolio manager and head of research at PWL Capital and co-host of the Rational Reminder podcast, about whether he finds AI investment advice reliable, if the technology is a threat to financial advisors and common pitfalls to watch out for. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Globe’s personal finance podcast for Gen Z and millennials is back for another season. Join host Roma Luciw, recently retired Rob Carrick and The Globe’s roster of personal finance reporters as they dig into the financial questions impacting Canadians. Up this season: timely topics like AI investing, the condo crisis, and why young Canadians are buying boring businesses. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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.

We've all seen the ads: Hip investors in their 20s, happy homeowners in their 30s, and content retirees at 65. There's a lot of pressure to reach certain financial milestones by a certain age. But these deadlines aren’t working for everyone. It’s never been harder - or more unrealistic - to hit these milestones at the same age as previous generations. In this episode, Roma speaks with Sam Lichtman, founder of Millen Wealth Advisors, about why we need to adjust our expectations and rethink the personal finance timeline. We also speak with a B.C. man who just bought his first home in his mid-40s. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.