Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery

In this week's episode, planning a bachelor(ette) party, golf getaway, or friends’ trip—without blowing up the budget or the friendship? Bruce talks with Melissa Leong (Happy Go Money) about stress-free ways to split bills, set expectations, and avoid money awkwardness on group travel. Then: Fractional cottage ownership in Ontario,—how it differs from a timeshare, costs, usage weeks, fees, and conflict resolution —with John Puffer of Chandler Point. Next, FIFA 2026 as a teachable moment: Karen Holland (Gifting Sense) shows parents how to use big-ticket events to build kids’ money skills and patience. Finally, turn your old phone into cash, —how ecoATM kiosks evaluate devices, wipe data, and pay on the spot —with SVP Neil Fried.

To find out more about the guests check out:

• Melissa Leong: melissaleong.com | Instagram
• John Puffer: chandlerpoint.com | Facebook
• Karen Holland: giftingsense.org | Score Money Smarts With 2026 FIFA
• Neil Fried: LinkedIn

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

Newcomers face a steep learning curve: chequing vs. savings, why credit history matters, and how to get a first credit card. On this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery, Head, Customer Growth & Segments, at BMO Sumit Sarkar walks through the earliest money moves to make—often before you land—plus digital tools that map personal goals and help establish credit. Learn why a primary bank relationship is so valuable, how to open accounts pre-arrival (with in-country verification later), and what to expect as you set up life in a cash-light, credit-heavy system. Clear steps to get stable fast, with confidence.

Find out more at bmo.com and connect on X/Twitter and LinkedIn.

CFP Owen Winkelmolen introduces Advice (with two i’s), a low-cost platform that helps do-it-yourselfers build and iterate a proper retirement plan. Input income, expenses, assets, debts, and goals—then let strategy tools explore hundreds of “what ifs” in seconds: RRSP/RRIF withdrawals, CPP/OAS timing, tax brackets, income splitting, and estate trade-offs. 

On this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery, we discuss why accumulation is simple but decumulation is where real value is created, and why you should start that plan ~5 years before retiring. Quick to set up, easy to refine—so you can spend confidently for the long run.

Find out more at adviice.ca.

Author Adam Ferguson proposes an unconventional contract: before your kid gets a smartphone, they complete 50 real-world experiences—from cooking a family meal and doing laundry to building a fire and planning a road trip. On this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery, he explains why the list is a “carrot,” not a crackdown, and how it builds resilience, connection, and competence. 

We tackle the spicy items (self-defense, “break a minor law”) and talk age & stage—why Grade 8 is a useful target while recognizing maturity varies. Parents will get practical ideas to replace infinite scroll with meaningful, confidence-building moments.

Find out more at beforethephone.com.

Career strategist Janel Abrahami joins Bruce on this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple to demystify the career pivot. From low-risk mini moves to big leaps like entrepreneurship or going back to school, she outlines six clear options and when to use each. Learn the simple test for timing a change (learning, earning, or loving), how to frame a so-called “bridge job” without saying it out loud, and why building a personal Board of Advisors speeds decisions. 

Janel’s “energy résumé” method helps you sort energizers from drainers, apply the “five whys,” and flip dislikes into must-haves—so your next role makes sense on paper and in real life.

Find out more at janelabrahami.com and connect on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

In this episode, career strategist Janel Abrahami shares a practical framework for knowing when to change lanes, the six types of pivots you can make (from mini moves to major overhauls), and how to use a personal Board of Advisors and an “energy résumé” to decide what’s next. Then, author Adam Ferguson walks through his provocative checklist for kids—50 things to do before you get a phone —and why those experiences build skills, character, and connection. For newcomers to Canada, BMO’s Sumit Sarkar explains first steps for banking, credit, and building a personalized plan with BMO’s tools. Finally, Owen Winkelmolen (Adviice—yes, with two i’s) shows how DIYers can build and iterate a retirement plan, and why decumulation strategy matters more than you think.

To find out more about the guests check out:

• Janel Abrahami: janelabrahami.com | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn
• Adam Ferguson: beforethephone.com
• Sumit Sarkar: bmo.com | X/Twitter | LinkedIn
• Owen Winkelmolen: adviice.ca

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

Buying your first home can feel overwhelming — from saving a down payment to understanding mortgage rules. In this segment of Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery, Bruce talks with Andrew Peker, founder and CEO of Homie, a new Canadian fintech app designed to help first-time homebuyers understand, track, and grow their buying power.

Andrew explains how Homie works:

• Pulling real financial data securely through partners like Plaid and Equifax Canada
• Showing users what they can afford based on how a mortgage underwriter would see them
• Offering habit-building nudges — from avoiding new car loans that could hurt your approval, to staying aware of interest rate impacts
• Helping users plan for hidden costs like cash reserves, land transfer taxes, and closing fees

If you’re a first-time homebuyer in Canada or helping someone become one, this segment will give you practical insight into mortgage readiness, budgeting smarter, and avoiding costly mistakes on the road to homeownership.

Find out more at meethomie.ca and connect on LinkedIn.

What if you didn’t have to wait until 65 to enjoy retirement? Bruce sits down with Jillian Johnsrud — coach, speaker, and author of Retire Often: How Anyone Can Take Multiple Career Breaks to Unlock Adventure, Advance Their Career, and Find Financial Freedom.

Jillian shares how mini retirements — intentional breaks of a month or longer — can help you reset, pursue meaningful goals, travel, or spend time with family without sacrificing your long-term financial health. She explains:

• How to budget for a mini retirement: replace one month of income and cap extra costs at ~50% of take-home pay
• Why it’s smart to front-load affordable, physically demanding adventures early in life
• Creative ways to offset costs, from renting out your home to home exchanges
• How mini retirements can actually advance your career by reducing burnout and opening new opportunities
• The mindset shifts needed to see career breaks as investments rather than setbacks

If you’ve ever dreamed of backpacking across Europe, taking a sabbatical to write a book, or just having the time to breathe between career chapters, this conversation gives you the financial planning tools, creative strategies, and inspiration to make it happen — without blowing up your future retirement plans.

Find out more at retireoften.com and connect on Instagram.

A lot of people think they have a financial plan — but do they really? Bruce is joined by Sandi Martin, a certified advice-only financial planner, to break down what a real financial plan looks like and why it matters.

You’ll also hear why a real plan is more than just an investment portfolio or a set of bank statements, how to stress-test assumptions (like inflation and market returns), and why focusing on the top three “needle-moving” actions is better than a 15-point to-do list.

Sandi explains how to avoid “straight-line” planning mistakes by considering worst-case scenarios, and why an annual review keeps your plan relevant as life changes.

If you’ve ever wondered whether the plan you got from your bank or investment advisor is actually setting you up for success, this conversation will help you tell the difference — and take steps toward a truly comprehensive, purpose-driven financial plan.

Find out more at sandimartin.ca and connect on Instagram and Bluesky

Vacant office towers could be the key to solving Canada’s housing affordability crisis. Bruce speaks with Robert Barnard, CEO of Toboggan Flats, about their innovative plan to convert underused downtown office buildings into co-living spaces for young professionals.

You’ll hear about:

• Target rents of $1,100–$1,300 all-in, aimed at roughly 30% of the average salary for 25–34-year-olds.
• How shared living can help young workers save for future home ownership.
• Landlord and investor incentives, including reduced building density, steady nighttime occupancy, and the environmental benefits of reusing existing buildings.
• The focus on curated events, roommate matching, and staff support to make co-living more than just a room — it’s about fostering a real sense of community downtown.

If you’ve wondered how Canada can create affordable housing without years-long construction timelines, this conversation is full of practical insights on office-to-residential conversions, co-living trends, and the future of urban housing.

Find out more at tobogganflats.com and connect on LinkedIn.