The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: Building Credit as a Newcomer to Canada with Bruce Sellery

Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert and the CEO of Credit Canada, the longest-standing non-profit credit counselling agency in the country. He appears regularly on Cityline and Breakfast Television, has a national money column for CBC Radio, hosts a radio show on SiriusXM, and speaks at events from coast to coast. He is also the author of the Globe & Mail bestseller, “Moolala: Why smart people do dumb things with money (and what you can do about it).”

Credit Canada recently launched a free, multi-lingual online learning program about credit, developed specifically for newcomers to Canada. While there are many resources to support newcomers when they arrive, Credit Canada identified a gap in helping newcomers build their new life - education about credit that reflects a newcomer’s experience, presented in their preferred language.

In my interview with Bruce, we discuss:

1. The unique barriers newcomers face when arriving in Canada
2. Essentials of credit in Canada
3. How to build your credit history in Canada
4. How to improve your credit score
5. What to do if you run into problems with credit

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: How Failing to Consult with a Mortgage Broker is Borderline Personal Finance Negligence with Rob Carrick

Not all journalists get to live their beat, but Rob Carrick does. His personal finance column in The Globe and Mail is one regular guy’s attempt to make sense of the world of money. He’s married with two 20-something kids and constantly figuring out ways to spend and invest intelligently. He asks the same questions you would and applies his experience and contacts to get answers.

He got his start in financial writing back in the early 1990s when he covered the Bay Street business scene for The Canadian Press wire service. A few years later, he was transferred to CP’s parliamentary bureau in Ottawa to cover consumer affairs and, later, the federal Department of Finance.

He left CP and joined The Globe and Mail as investment reporter in 1996. He mentioned to his boss at the time that we didn’t do much personal finance coverage at The Globe. The paper’s Personal Finance column was launched shortly afterwards, with him at the wheel.

What a trip it’s been for Rob covering personal finance over the years. Rob’s seen three bull markets for stocks, a couple of recessions and stock market crashes, one global financial crisis, the incredible rise of the housing market, soaring personal debt loads and an ever-present worry that Canadians aren’t saving enough for retirement.

Rob knows there’s infinite personal finance content available these days online, in print and on TV and radio. Come to Rob for his experience, his willingness to challenge stale consensus thinking and, most of all, his ability to make you say after finishing one of my columns: “Now I understand.”

In my interview with Rob, we discuss:

1. His book "How Not to Move Back in With Your Parents”
2. The Bank of Mom and Dad
3. Top mortgage tips for first-time homebuyers
4. Expenses that may surprise first-time homebuyers
5. Why you shouldn’t judge a bank by its hyped-up rate
6. The First Home Savings Account (FHSA)

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: Homeownership, the Foundation of Financial Independence with Jonathan Chevreau

Jonathan Chevreau is a veteran financial columnist, blogger and author based in Toronto. 

He was the Financial Post’s personal finance columnist between 1993 and 2012 and editor-in-chief for MoneySense Magazine from 2012 to 2014.  He still writes the Retired Money column for MoneySense.

In 2014, he launched the Financial Independence Hub, which usually publishes four blogs every week.

Jon has authored several books with traditional book publishers like McGraw Hill and Key Porter books, including The Wealthy Boomer, and a series of mutual fund guides called Smart Funds. In 2016, he co-authored Victory Lap Retirement, a Globe & Mail bestseller.

In my interview with Jon, we discuss:

1. Housing affordability
2. His 32-year-old daughter Helen saving in a FHSA
3. General thoughts on Findependence
4. What he’s now doing in semi-retirement now he’s turned 70

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: Taking Control of Your Time as a Busy Landlord through Technology with Tomas Ronis

Tomas Ronis is the founder and CEO of Rhenti. Being both a landlord and a renter, Tomas has a unique perspective of the residential rental industry that enables the Rhenti team to build digital leasing tools for landlords in a way that shifts renters to the forefront of the experience.

Rhenti is the busy landlord's trusted leasing platform, connecting them with more renters, faster. Rhenti helps busy landlords to protect their time and free themselves from menial and tedious tasks by reducing their overall time to lease.

In my interview with Tomas, we discuss:

1. What is Rhenti and how does it work
2. What kind of property owners would get the most out of Rhenti
3. Something we wish property owners and landlords understood more about the leasing process
4. What we are seeing in the market right now

As a listener of the Burn Your Mortgage Podcast, Rhenti is happy to offer listeners $60 Off on your first listing (for new clients only). To get this exclusive offer, email me at sean@burnyourmortgage.ca.

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: Beat the Bank with Larry Bates

Larry Bates is an independent investor advocate, author of Beat the Bank: The Canadian Guide to Simply Successful Investing, consultant and speaker. Larry enjoyed a 35-year banking career with several major financial institutions in both Canada and the U.K. including as Global Head of Debt Capital Markets for RBC. Over the course of his career, Larry both collaborated with and advised many of the world’s most sophisticated investors and financial institutions.

Larry is currently on the board of FAIR Canada and is an Ambassador of the Transparency Task Force. He is a graduate of Dalhousie University.

In my interview with Larry, we discuss:

1. The high cost of investment fees
2. How to better investment your down payment and keep more of your hard earned money
3. The RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan
4. The First Home Savings Account (FHSA)

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: Funding Your Retirement with Your Home with Pattie Lovett-Reid

Pattie Lovett-Reid is a highly respected Canadian financial expert known for her expertise in personal finance. Starting as a bank teller right out of high school, she climbed the ranks in the investment world, eventually serving as Senior Vice-President at TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.

In 2012, Lovett-Reid became the Chief Financial Commentator at CTV News, providing valuable financial insights on various platforms. Her ability to simplify complex financial concepts into practical advice quickly made her a respected figure in the industry. She continues to be a sought-after commentator and currently serves as the Chief Financial Commentator at HomeEquity Bank.

Lovett-Reid is a Certified Financial Planner and co-author of national bestselling books. Her contributions to financial planning in Canada have earned her prestigious awards, including the Donald J. Johnston Award and the Financial Planning Canada Fellow of Distinction. Pattie Lovett-Reid splits her time between Toronto and Muskoka, Canada, where she resides with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

In my interview with Pattie, we discuss:

1. The challenges of being house rich and cash poor
2. Reverse mortgages
3. The importance of applying for a mortgage before retirement
4. Downsizing not happening with as many baby boomers

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: Paths to Homeownership and How to Soften Mortgage Renewal Shock with Erica Alini

Erica Alini is a personal finance reporter at the Globe and Mail and the author of the bestselling book "Money Like You Mean It, Personal Finance Tactics for the Real World." Erica started out her career in journalism as an economics reporter, chronicling the ripple effects of the financial crisis of 2007-2008 for the Wall Street Journal in New York. That background is why she's always exploring how larger trends -- from the housing affordability crisis to the impact of climate change on insurance -- affect Canadians' money struggles.

Her book argues that economic, social and technological changes have complicated personal finance for everybody, but especially for Millennials and Gen Z. She then provides practical tips on how young Canadians can achieve middle-class financial goals despite the challenges they face.

In my interview with Erica, we discuss:

1. Creative ways the dream of homeownership can still be achieved.
2. The money-bucket system and how it can help manage the cost of homeownership.
3. Four powerful strategies to reduce the financial pain of mortgage renewal.

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: How to Achieve Your Home Ownership Dream with Alex Rascanu

Alex Rascanu held senior marketing and senior policy advisory roles before entering the real estate industry, where he provides buy and sell-side real estate advisory services: suitable acquisitions analysis with portfolio and development strategy, and direct sales and digital marketing strategy development and execution to help you achieve the highest sale price in the current market. Alex completed a bachelor of business administration from the University of Toronto and a masters of public administration (management) from Dalhousie University, and is a registered real estate sales representative with Right at Home Realty.

In my interview with Alex, we discuss why Alex became a real estate agent, what is the process of owning a home and what are some creative ways to get your foot into the door of the real estate market.

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: Planning Ahead to Avoid Mortgage Payment and Cash Flow Surprises with Owen Winkelmolen

On today’s show I’ll be talking to Owen Winkelmolen.

Owen Winkelmolen is an Advice-Only Financial Planner and CFP. He founded PlanEasy, an advice-only financial planning practice that makes financial planning easy, accessible, and inexpensive. As an advice-only planner, Owen does not sell products or manage investments. He works collaboratively with clients to build a detailed financial plan and make the most of their money. Through their innovative online platform Owen and his team at PlanEasy help average Canadian households maximize their cash flow by focusing on the right opportunities and help them feel great about their financial future.

In my interview with Owen, we discuss how to best prepare for your mortgage renewal, making lump sum payments vs investing (with higher interest rates this is a hot topic) and how to handle carrying a mortgage into retirement.

The Burn Your Mortgage Podcast: Rent to Own – Making the Dream of Homeownership Come True in Today’s Real Estate Market with Alfonso Salemi

Welcome to the Burn Your Mortgage Podcast. I’m Sean Cooper and it’s great to be back for another episode. On today’s show I’ll be talking to Alfonso Salemi.

Alfonso Salemi is the co-owner, co-founder of JAAG Properties. JAAG specializes in Rent to Home solutions and have helped over 250 families on the road to homeownership. Alfonso loves sharing his passion for Rent to Home and the benefits it brings to people’s lives. He thrives on these interactions and enjoys helping others with their largest purchase or investment of their lives.

He is the conduit to Joint-Venture Partners, Investors, Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Tenant Buyer Clients, as well as other Real Estate Professionals. As a true ‘people person,’ Alfonso enjoys presenting the benefits of JAAG's Rent to Home program and how it enables those who have experienced roadblocks to become homeowners. Bringing these entities together is one of the things that Alfonso values most about his role.

Alfonso also serves as the President of C.A.R.O.P. (Canadian Association of Rent To Own Professionals)

In my interview with Alfonso, we discuss what is Rent to Own (Rent to Home), why Rent to Own is more relevant now than ever before, and how to earn a great ROI by investing in Rent to Own.

If you’re interested in learning more about Rent to Own and to see if you’re a good fit as a Tenant Buyer or Investor, please email me at sean@burnyourmortgage.ca to learn more.