Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery

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.

Housing costs keep climbing, but smart ideas (and smarter planning) can help you move forward. In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery, we explore four timely topics: turning empty office towers into co-living spaces for young professionals, what a real financial plan actually includes, how to design mini retirements without derailing your future, and a first-time homebuyer app that helps you understand and grow buying power.

First, Robert Barnard of Toboggan Flats explains how co-living office conversions in Canada can deliver private rooms with shared amenities, stronger communities, and faster timelines by reusing office infrastructure. It’s an affordable housing approach that leverages existing buildings instead of starting from scratch.

Then, advice-only financial planner Sandi Martin walks through the seven pillars of a real financial plan—purpose & goals, cash flow, debt, risk/insurance, investments, retirement/financial independence, and estate & lifetime tax—plus how to stress-test assumptions and focus on the three actions that move the needle most.

Next, author Jillian Johnsrud shares how a mini retirement (a month or more) can fit real life. You’ll get practical budgeting rules of thumb, ideas for front-loading affordable adventures, and tips to offset costs by renting out or exchanging your home.

Finally, Andrew Peker introduces Homie, a first-time homebuyer app in Canada that models mortgage readiness like an underwriter. Learn how daily habits affect approval, why car leases can hurt more than you think, and how the app nudges you to build buying power over time.

Whether you’re chasing cheaper rent, real planning clarity, more meaningful breaks, or your first set of keys, this episode delivers practical steps you can act on today.

To find out more about the guests check out:

• Robert Barnard: tobogganflats.com | LinkedIn
• Sandi Martin: sandimartin.ca | Instagram | Bluesky
• Jillian Johnsrud: retireoften.com | Instagram
• Andrew Peker: meethomie.ca | 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

Would you buy your next home through a platform that gives you cash back — thousands of dollars after closing? Bruce Sellery speaks with Benjy Katchen, CEO of Wahi, about their innovative approach to real estate. Learn how Wahi’s digital-first platform combines technology with expert guidance to create efficiencies — and passes those savings back to buyers. Plus, discover what kind of homebuyer is best suited for this model and how it fits into Canada’s evolving housing market.

You’ll learn

• Cashback for Homebuyers: Wahi gives buyers 1% of the buyer-agent commission back — often thousands of dollars — just days after closing.
• Tech + Realtors: The platform uses a "Netflix-meets-Tinder" app experience combined with desk-based realtors to cut costs while still providing expert guidance.
• Who It’s For: Ideal for tech-savvy homebuyers who prefer an efficient, data-driven process without sacrificing support during negotiations.

This episode is packed full of ideas on how to look at real estate as a way to stretch your dollar and get some savings passed back to you, the buyer.

Find out more on wahi.com and connect with Benjy on X/Twitter and Instagram.

Divorce isn’t just an ending — it’s a beginning. Bruce Sellery speaks with Olivia Howell, co-founder and CEO of Fresh Starts Registry, about how divorce registries are helping people rebuild their homes, routines, and lives after a separation. Discover how these registries work, why they reduce the overwhelm of starting over, and how they help friends and family show meaningful support.

You’ll Learn

• From Wedding Registry to Divorce Registry: Olivia shares how her own divorce inspired the creation of Fresh Starts Registry — a platform to help people rebuild their homes after a breakup.
• Practical Support, Not Just Gifts: Registries include vetted bundles for every room and budget — from $7 shower curtains to full kitchen sets — to make starting over easier.
• More Than Divorce: Fresh Starts Registry also supports other life transitions, like coming out, job loss, moving, and post-illness recovery.

If you are feeling overwhelmed going through a divorce this conversation is packed with ways of learning that you are a the beginning of your new life.

Find out more at freshstartregistry.com and connect with Olivia on Threads, Facebook and Instagram.

Feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of today's world? You're not alone — but uncertainty might actually be your secret weapon. In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery sits down with Scott Stirrett, author of The Uncertainty Advantage and founder of Venture for Canada, to explore how uncertainty can be transformed from a source of anxiety into a catalyst for growth.

Scott shares his personal journey — leaving Goldman Sachs at 22, navigating OCD during the pandemic, and building a national nonprofit — to illustrate how confronting the unknown can lead to resilience, purpose, and opportunity.

You’ll learn:

• What “uncertainty” really means and why today’s world is four times more uncertain than in 2008
• Six pillars for building your “uncertainty muscle” including adaptability, antifragility, and entrepreneurial thinking
• How young professionals (and anyone, at any career stage) can thrive during disruptive times
• Why cultivating both strong and weak professional ties is essential for opportunity and resilience

If you’re facing career uncertainty, worried about AI disruption, or just want to feel more confident about the future, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

Connect with Scott on X/Twitter and LinkedIn and sign up to his Substack.

This week Bruce Sellery explores three timely money topics to help you navigate today’s changing financial landscape.

 

First, we look at the state of the labour market during uncertain times with Scott Stirrett, author of The Uncertainty Advantage. Learn how to adapt your career strategy, build resilience, and strengthen your professional network when the job market feels unpredictable.

 

Next, Olivia Howell, co-founder and CEO of Fresh Starts Registry, joins us to talk about divorce registries — an innovative way for individuals to get the essential items they need as they begin a new chapter after separation.

 

Finally, Benjy Katchen, CEO of Wahi, explains how their cashback program from a digital real estate platform and brokerage can put thousands of dollars back in your pocket after buying a home.

 

If you’re facing a big life transition, worried about your job security, or curious about how to save money on your next home purchase, this episode is packed with practical insights you can act on right away.

 

To find out more about the guests check out:

• Scott Stirrett: Substack | X/Twitter | LinkedIn
• Benjy Katchen: wahi.com | X/Twitter | Instagram
• Olivia Howell: freshstartregistry.com | Threads | Facebook | 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 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