Moolala: Money Made Simple With Bruce Sellery

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 Farzana Damji, Senior Director at RBC Insurance, walks through the biggest pitfalls, including outdated beneficiaries, cancelling coverage too soon, and not discussing insurance during settlement conversations.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.

Pay transparency is rolling out across Canada, and it changes the job search in a big way. Bruce Sellery speaks with career coach and Mums at Work founder Allison Venditti about why posting salary ranges matters, how transparency can reduce the motherhood-driven gender pay gap, and what employers need to fix behind the scenes to avoid internal inequities. They also dig into return-to-office mandates and why they can push out top talent, especially women and caregivers, plus the biggest gaps in Canada’s parental leave system and the policy ideas Allison wants on the table next. Find out more at thisismomsatwork.com and connect on Instagram and Facebook.

Pay transparency is becoming the law across Canada, and it is reshaping how people job hunt, negotiate, and get paid. Bruce Sellery talks with career coach and Mums at Work founder Allison Venditti about why salary ranges matter, how pay transparency can help close the motherhood-driven gender pay gap, and what employers need to get right as policies roll out. Then Bruce explores AI and personal finance with fintech expert Jason Pereira, from how automation is transforming bank back offices to how smarter client-facing tools could change the way Canadians manage money. Plus, author Nick Wolny joins to discuss Money Proud and what personal finance can look like through a queer lens. To find out more about the guests check out: Allison Venditti: thisismomsatwork.com | Instagram | Facebook Nick Wolny: nickwolny.com | Instagram | X Jason Pereira: Facebook | X | 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 miss

Life doesn't always go according to plan, and Marlene Chiarotto's story is a powerful reminder of why financial preparedness matters. As a CPA, Marlene thought she had her financial life under control—until she became a widow at age 42 with two children to support. In this segment, she discusses her book "Achieve Financial Freedom on Your Terms" and the profound lessons she learned about money, legacy, and values through this life-changing experience. Marlene shares practical wisdom about setting SMART goals, the 50/30/20 budgeting rule, and how to align your financial decisions with what truly matters to you. This conversation offers both tactical financial advice and the perspective that comes from navigating real hardship. Find out more about Marlene on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make, and having the right realtor can make all the difference. Anne Alkok, broker of record at Wahi, shares expert guidance on how to select a realtor who's right for you and how to maximize that relationship. She discusses the important questions to ask potential agents, the value they provide throughout the process, and what you should expect from a professional real estate relationship. With statistics showing that only about 1 in 10 licensed realtors in the Toronto area sell at least one house per month, Anne's insights help you identify experienced professionals who can truly serve your needs. Find out more at wahi.com and connect on Instagram

Medical students face unique financial challenges that most other professionals don't encounter. With average debt loads of $150,000 (and access to lines of credit up to $400,000), delayed earning years, and the complexities of running fee-for-service practices as sole proprietors, physicians need specialized financial education. Dr. Stephanie Zhou developed a groundbreaking financial literacy curriculum for medical students at the University of Toronto to address these exact issues. In this segment, she discusses the importance of understanding debt management, business fundamentals, and financial planning for those in the medical profession. If you're a medical student, physician, or simply interested in professional-specific financial education, this conversation offers valuable insights. Find out more at physiciansficonference.com and connect on Instagram,| LinkedIn and YouTube.

Amanda Schultz, founder of Scene Change, knows firsthand how challenging it can be to pivot from the entertainment industry to corporate roles. After working as a TV producer on shows like Big Brother Canada, Amanda made the leap to corporate consulting and now helps other entertainment professionals do the same. In this conversation, she shares how skills like adaptability, project management, and storytelling are incredibly valuable in corporate settings, even if they don't appear that way on a traditional resume. Whether you're considering a career change or just curious about how to better communicate your transferable skills, this segment offers practical guidance and encouragement. Find out more at scenechange.ca and connect on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

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, le

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.

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.

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. 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

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.