Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery

EASE: Empowering Survivors to Rebuild Financial Independence

Becky Western-Macfadyen, Manager of Financial Coaching and Education of Credit Canada, introduces EASE (Economic Abuse Support and Empowerment), a program designed to help survivors of intimate-partner violence recover financially. She explains how economic abuse damages credit and confidence, and how trauma-informed financial coaching restores control, security, and long-term independence.

Connect with Becky on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and X/Twitter.

7 Budgeting Methods That Fit Your Life

Financial coach Alanna Abramsky, founder of Broad Money, explains seven proven ways to manage cash flow, from zero-based and 50/30/20 budgets to pay-yourself-first and the envelope system, and how to pick the one that aligns with your habits, goals, and income. Learn simple ways to track spending, plan ahead, and stay consistent so budgeting feels realistic, not restrictive.

Find out more at broadmoney.ca and connect on Instagram.

How Debt Stress Impacts Mental Health and What You Can Do

Rob Kilner from Spergel shares insights from their national Debt Load and Psychological Well-Being Study, revealing how financial pressure, social-media comparison, and stigma heighten anxiety and depression. He discusses real-world solutions, from debt management plans to professional credit counselling, that help Canadians reduce stress, rebuild stability, and regain peace of mind.

Connect with Rob on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Credit Score Myths Debunked: What Really Affects Your Rating

Becca Mintz, Vice-President of Credit & Data at Capital One Canada, clears up the biggest misconceptions about credit scores, like whether checking your score hurts it, if income matters, and how “soft” versus “hard” inquiries work. She offers practical tips for building and repairing credit responsibly, managing utilization, and spotting reporting errors before they cost you points.

Connect with Becca on Instagram and Facebook.

7 Smart Budgeting Methods + Debunking Credit Myths and the Hidden Link Between Debt and Mental Health | Full Episode

This episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple with host Bruce Sellery dives into the practical, the psychological, and the empowering side of money management.

First, financial coach Alanna Abramsky, founder of Broad Money, outlines seven proven approaches to budgeting, from zero-based and goals-based methods to the envelope system, showing how to find a money plan that fits your lifestyle. Then, Becca Mintz, Vice President of Credit and Data at Capital One Canada, joins Bruce to bust common credit myths, including whether checking your score hurts it, how income affects credit, and what “hard hits” and “soft hits” really mean.

Plus, Rob Kilner from Spergel shares insights from their annual Debt Load and Psychological Well-Being Study, revealing how debt stress, social media pressures, and stigma intersect and what truly helps people move toward financial recovery. Finally, Becky Western-Macfadyen from Credit Canada introduces EASE, a groundbreaking program that helps survivors of intimate partner violence regain financial stability and confidence.

To find out more about the guests check out:

• Becca Mintz: Instagram | Facebook
• Rob Kilner: X/Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
• Alanna Abramsky: broadmoney.ca | Instagram
• Becky Western-Macfadyen: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

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

Courageous Money Talks: Estate Planning, Checklists & Family Readiness

Author Jane Blaufus shares hard-won lessons on having courageous conversations about money and estate planning. She outlines where to start (with yourself), how to bring in family without escalating conflict, and the four pro “legs” to consult: financial advisor, lawyer, accountant, and funeral pre-planning. Jane also stresses writing everything down from wishes to contacts and key documents so loved ones aren’t making 90+ decisions in crisis. Gentle, practical steps to protect the people you care about.

Find out more at janeblaufus.com and connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.

AI for Better Credit: Inside Equifax Canada’s “Optimal Path”

Rebecca Oakes, VP of Analytics at Equifax Canada, introduces Optimal Path, an AI-driven tool that translates your credit data into realistic, step-by-step actions to raise your credit score. Think concrete guidance on utilization, payment consistency, and balances, plus estimated point gains over the next ~3 months. Rebecca explains how the model personalizes advice (not one-size-fits-all), where consumers will access it via banks/fintechs, and how AI can both improve coaching and combat fraud. Clear, actionable insights for Canadians looking to build stronger credit.

Find out more at equifax.ca and connect on X/Twitter and LinkedIn.

Paying People to Quit Meth? The Data Behind Contingency Management

Psychiatrist Dr. Sally Satel, medical director of a methadone clinic, explains contingency management - a harm-reduction approach where clients receive small, escalating rewards (e.g., gift cards) for clean tests. She covers why this behavioural nudge works especially for stimulant addictions (where no gold-standard meds exist), typical program structures, cost/benefit logic, and how incentives can jump-start a virtuous cycle toward work, relationships, and stability. A nuanced, evidence-informed look at an approach that’s effective yet often misunderstood.

Find out more on Substack and connect on X/Twitter.

Rob Carrick’s Biggest Money Lessons: ETFs, Dividends, Bonds & Buying the Dip

Bruce talks with retired Globe and Mail personal-finance columnist Rob Carrick about 30 years of investor wisdom. Rob explains why low-cost ETFs win for most Canadians, the hidden risks of high-yield dividend stocks, and why bonds are helpful, but not perfect, shock absorbers. He also breaks down how to think about market crashes (buying when it feels worst), the danger of chasing trends like private credit/equity for retail investors, and why money you’ll need within five years doesn’t belong in stocks. Practical, time-tested guidance for building a calmer, smarter portfolio.

 

Practical Canadian Money Tips: AI Credit Tools, Smart Investing, and Estate Planning Advice | Full Episode

This episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple digs into real-world tools and timeless lessons to help you manage your money with more confidence. We start with Equifax Canada’s Rebecca Oakes on “Optimal Path,” an AI-driven feature that translates your own credit data into clear, realistic steps - think concrete targets for utilization, payment consistency, and score impact over the next three months. Then psychiatrist Dr. Sally Satel explains “contingency management,” a harm-reduction approach where clinics pay meth users small, escalating rewards to sustain abstinence and why the data shows it works for tough clinical cases.

Veteran personal-finance columnist Rob Carrick joins Bruce to unpack 30 years of lessons, from ETF simplicity and diversification to the traps of trend-chasing, dividend myths, imperfect bond hedges, and why market crashes are buying opportunities (if your timeline is long enough). We close with author Jane Blaufus on having courageous conversations about money and estate planning - what to discuss, how to persist, and why writing it down matters when life gets hard. Practical, candid, and Canadian: this episode helps you take the next step, wherever you’re starting.

To find out more about the guests check out:

• Dr. Sally Satel: Substack | X/Twitter
• Rebecca Oakes: equifax.ca | X/Twitter | LinkedIn
• Jane Blaufus: janeblaufus.com | Facebook | 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