Young Money With Tracey Bissett

With so much going on right now (pandemic, job loss, holidays, etc.), how are we supposed to become financially fit? This is a question many are asking themselves as we approach the end of 2021, a year that rivals 2020 in terms of its difficulties. So, in this episode, I will be explaining the key to financial success and how to become financially resilient in the face of adversity. Listen in as I share how to become an active participant in your financial knowledge, as well as why it is so important to be intentional with your spending. You will learn the benefit of being consistent, how to financially prepare for your future, and what you should be tracking in terms of your finances. “Scotiabank’s newly released Worry Poll reveals that Canadians between the ages of 18-34 worry an average of 12 hours per week, 2 hours higher than the Canadian average.” - Tracey Bissett This Week on Young Money: The amount of Canadians currently feeling anxious about their finances. How the pandemic has left people feeling

Today, we are celebrating four years of Young Money! Together we have created 225 episodes, we are listened to in over 40 countries, and we have surpassed 200,000 downloads. It is my privilege to create fun, educational content and to host amazing guests to inspire you along your financial fitness journey. In this episode, I will be sharing the top five things I have learned throughout my time podcasting, as well as how these findings relate to finances. Listen in to learn the importance of focusing on what matters most to you, why you should always get your information from a credible source, and how to know when is the right time to start your financial fitness journey. Whether today is the first day you are tuning in to check out the show or you have been a loyal listener since the beginning, I am so happy you are here. “I believe that financial fitness (aka financial literacy) is a fundamental life skill.” - Tracey Bissett This Week on Young Money: Why I believe financial education is a fundamental life

There are many frightening things out there, such as spiders, snakes, etc. However, there is one thing that scares many people more than anything else: having debt. Despite this, many consumers cannot find their way out of debt due to the amount of confusing and overwhelming information available. This is where today's guest, Erin Skye Kelly, steps in. Erin is an award-winning and bestselling author who has helped thousands of people pay off millions of dollars in consumer debt. In this episode, she will be sharing her best advice so that you can finally "get the hell out of debt" too. Listen in as Erin explains her proven 3-phase method that will help shift your relationship with money, as well as potential missteps she would warn any listener to avoid. You will learn the main issues that lead to debt, how to declutter your finances, and simple steps that will move you toward a less debt-filled life. “Every time you screw up, it is a learning opportunity.” - Erin Skye Kelly This Week on Young Money: What Er

You may have heard Sex and the City is rebooting the franchise with their new show called And Just Like That. If you were a fan back in the day or are watching the show now to get ready for the reboot, you are in for a treat today. In this episode, I will be shining a spotlight on the show and, in particular, who is more financially fit—Sarah Jessica Parker, the actress, or Carrie Bradshaw, the character she played. Listen in as I discuss the importance of living within your means and understanding the income that is coming in versus the money you are spending. You will learn the benefit of building up an emergency fund, why you should set goals (and save for them), and why you should never mix money with friends. “Set goals for your life, and actively work and save to achieve them.”  - Tracey Bissett This Week on Young Money: The importance of only spending money that you have. Why you should have a specific amount of money set aside in case of emergency. How to properly set money goals and achieve them. Wh

Financial literacy means having the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make responsible financial decisions. This requires small, imperfect actions each day and showing kindness to ourselves when we make a misstep. So, in today’s training, I will be sharing the three reasons why financial literacy matters at work and how to ensure you are maximizing your efforts. Listen in as I explain how you can increase productivity and relieve financial stress by becoming more financially fit. You will learn how to ensure you are taking advantage of all your employee benefits at your job, the importance of creating and following a budget, and where to begin when searching for a way to improve your financial literacy. “When you are financially literate and moreover financially fit, you are able to deal with things in your life in a planned fashion, which allows you to have greater control, freedom, and flexibility.”  - Tracey Bissett This Week on Young Money: Why financial literacy matters at work. How to ensure you ar

Many of you, like me, watched the Adele special with Oprah Winfrey. If you didn’t watch it, you probably heard about it, as reports put viewership at over 10 million viewers. I am a huge fan of Adele and would put her concert in my top 5 shows of all time. However, I am not only a fan of her music. I also recognize that we can learn a few key financial lessons from this amazing singer, as well. So, in this episode, I will be diving into three major financial lessons we can take away from Adele, as her net worth is now reportedly over $190 million. Listen in as I explain the importance of celebrating your progress or advancements while also holding yourself accountable for your own actions. You will learn the benefit of focusing on your strengths and not allowing your past to dictate your future. You have the ability the change your future—make a commitment to yourself and create the future that you want! “No matter your goal, if it is important to you, it is important.” - Tracey Bissett This Week on Young Mo

Rishi Vamdatt is the 12-year-old creator of Easy Peasy Finance, an award-winning resource that spreads financial literacy by breaking down complex financial concepts. Having been featured on CBS New York and many radio shows and podcasts, Rishi has touched the lives of over half a million kids, parents, and teachers, and he joins me today to discuss the importance of learning about personal finance for everyone—but especially for kids. Listen in as he shares why he first started Easy Peasy Finance, how he has tailored his content to appeal to kids, and how he keeps up with creating content while also being a kid himself. We also talk about the many ways that learning about personal finance can benefit kids and parents alike, as well as what Rishi believes everyone should avoid when it comes to personal finance. “Finance is a key life skill.” - Rishi Vamdatt This Week on Young Money: How Rishi first became interested in personal finance. What he believes people should learn about personal finance. How Easy Pe

D'Arcy McDonald is the Senior Vice President, Retail Deposits, Investments & Payments of Scotiabank, where his goal is to help customers become better off through convenient everyday banking, payment, and investment advice experiences. As we continue our celebration of Financial Literacy month, D’Arcy joins the show to discuss the recently released survey from Scotiabank detailing how Canadians are thinking about spending as they progress forward out of the pandemic. Listen in as he shares how the pandemic has changed people’s saving habits and what the younger generation seems to be most concerned about financially moving forward. You will learn how to deal with financial anxiety, how to prepare for unexpected expenses, and why you shouldn’t have to go through financial stress alone. “About 2 in 3 Canadians say they will not return to pre-pandemic spending habits.”  -D’Arcy McDonald This Week on Young Money: What D’Arcy’s day-to-day life looks like. How to manage expenses to keep up with bills and cred

November is Financial Literacy Month in Canada, and there is no better time to talk about financial fitness and why it is so important to be financially fit all year round. It is increasingly crucial that Canadians have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make informed decisions about their finances as the financial marketplace grows increasingly complex. In this episode, I'm breaking down what it means to be financially fit and diving into where Canadians see themselves in terms of financial ambitions as a result of the pandemic. Listen in as I discuss high-interest rate credit products, including why you should avoid them and what you can turn to instead if you find yourself in need of some quick cash. “Find out the answers to the questions before you take any action and borrow any funds.” - Tracey Bissett This Week on Young Money: The themes of this year’s Financial Literacy Month. How the pandemic has affected Canadians’ financial fitness. Why you should avoid high-interest rate credit products. The

Happy small business month! We are celebrating all of our small business owners in Canada this month, and what year it has been. As the pandemic continues, small businesses have had to navigate an ever-fluctuating market and get really creative as they come up with solutions to keep their businesses running. So, in this episode, I want to take some time to celebrate these brilliant business owners and highlight the amazing work they’re doing. Listen in as I explain what I have witnessed to be the most important processes to have in place for companies as they have to continue to work through uncertain times. You will learn why you should always have an emergency fund, how to appropriately budget your finances, and how to proactively plan for your future. “Companies that proactively plan are able to be more successful.”  - Tracey Bissett This Week on Young Money: How to be successful in the event of a market downturn. The importance of planning for the unexpected. Why you should always have a cash reserve fo

Linda Stern is a Senior Manager and Licensed Insolvency Trustee at Crowe Soberman Inc. With over twenty-five years of experience working in Canada, primarily in consumer insolvency matters consulting with individuals overwhelmed with debt, Linda helps people find solutions that work best for their financial and personal situations. In this episode, she joins the show to share her advice on what to do if you find yourself in debt, as well as how not to get overloaded with debt as you move forward in life. Listen in as Linda explains the importance of patience within her profession and why it is essential to understand the advice you are receiving from your Insolvency Trustee. (If you are unsure, ask questions!) You will learn the current landscape of debt and bankruptcy in Canada, why creating a budget for your spending is important, and success tips for managing your finances. “Providing information clearly and with patience is key.” - Linda Stern This Week on Young Money: What a licensed insolvency trustee

Lena Sisco is a former Department of Defense (DoD) certified Military Interrogator and Naval Intelligence Officer who served in the Global War on Terror. In 2013, Lena started her own company called The Congruency Group to offer specialized consulting and training services. Today Lena joins the show to discuss body language and the power of being able to detect deception, as well as some helpful tips for us to use in our personal and professional lives. Listen in as Lena shares several examples of how to build trust with someone in order to get the truth. You will learn how to set the tone of a meeting simply through your body language, how to make a stronger connection with someone, and why we should never jump to conclusions. “When you can connect with people, that’s when they start to trust you. That’s when the guard goes down.” - Lena Sisco This Week on Young Money: What we can learn from others' body language. How to tell if someone is lying. How to build trust with someone in order to get the truth. Th

Stephanie Koonar is a marketing professional, academic, career coach, and workshop facilitator. Stephanie offers “Meaningful Career” private coaching and online courses supporting young people and those in mid-career transitions. Today she joins the show to discuss the importance of finding your reason for living—or ikigai—in order to live a more purpose-driven and fulfilled life. Listen in as she shares her advice for building practical skills, as well as growing your network so you can broaden your knowledge. You will learn the benefit of learning about other cultures, why it is important to be open to different world views, and tips for any job-seekers looking to make their way into a long-term career. “It’s really about applying your gifts and strengths to a career that’s meaningful to you.” - Stephanie Koonar This Week on Young Money: Stephanie’s background and how she became involved in her career. The inspiration that led Stephanie to write her book. What the ikigai framework is and why we should care

Anjali Pradhan, CFA, is an investment coach to women through her business Dahlia Wealth. She teaches women to invest their money so that they can grow their wealth and live a life filled with opportunity, and her services are offered through a unique online program called “Investing for Boss Ladies.” In this episode, Anjali will be joining the show to share her expertise on investments and explain how you can start getting involved in investing today. Listen in as she describes how to get diversification in your money and why you should always start investing at an early age rather than waiting. You will learn the benefit of hiring a professional or asking for help when you start thinking about investing, as well as several mistakes to avoid in the process. “When you are a business owner, you set the hours.” - Anjali Pradhan    This Week on Young Money: Anjali’s background and how she got involved in finances. The challenges she faced as a woman in finances. How she has found a work-life balance. Success ti

Deciding on a purchase can be harder than it seems. As a society, we are bombarded with choices and advertisements are everywhere fighting for our attention. People go about the buying process in many different ways, from researching everything to making a split-second decision on what to spend their hard-earned dollars on. So, in this episode, I am going to walk you through my purchasing pro tips to give you confidence the next time you are thinking about making a purchase. Listen in as I share the importance of contemplating whether you actually need an item before you spend money on it and how to decipher if you can actually afford it. There is nothing worse than buying something and then never using it. Not only did you waste your money, but you deprive yourself of something else you could have had instead. But if you follow these tips, they'll help you avoid this issue moving forward. “The first thing we should be thinking about is: do we need what we are contemplating buying?” - Tracey Bissett     This

Today I’m going to be sharing how to maximize your employee benefits package. You’ve heard me talk about the importance of reading through legal agreements before, and the same is true when it comes to this area. Read everything related to your benefits, make notes, ask questions, and ask for a guide. To help you understand the important parts to be looking at, I’m going to break down the benefits into two groups: money for you and money savings for you. Listen in as I explain what an Employee Stock Plan is, as well as why you should always take advantage of employee matching through RRSP or TFSAs. You will learn the importance of reassessing your benefits annually and after any major life event, why you must understand what comes with naming a beneficiary, and how to utilize your Employee Assistance Plans. “Reassess your benefits if you have a life change, typically a marriage, divorce, or new dependent like a baby.” - Tracey Bissett     This Week on Young Money: How to make the most of your employee benef

Sabita Singh is the President of Trivetta Consulting Inc, which she formed in 2018. After recognizing the power of LinkedIn, Sabita specialized in becoming a strategic LinkedIn coach, trainer and speaker. She is now known for writing all-star LinkedIn profiles for her clients to improve their visibility. Today she joins the show to discuss how to build an ACTIVE presence on LinkedIn to attract new career and business opportunities. Listen in as Sabita shares the importance of staying in contact with your network regardless of how busy you may be with your career. You will learn the importance of having an emergency fund, how to add the right individuals to your network and how to write the perfect LinkedIn profile. “No matter how busy you get in your corporate job, take time to engage with your network because you never know when you’re going to need help from someone.” - Sabita Singh This Week on Young Money: How to use LinkedIn to build a professional brand. If you can use LinkedIn to grow a business. The

I am passionate about helping young millionaires in the making accomplish their goals by becoming financially fit, and a key part of this equation is education. Unfortunately, paying for school can be stressful, but it is possible for you to reduce the financial burden with scholarships. So why not make use of other people’s money? In today’s episode, I am going to share secrets to scholarship success to make it easier for you to secure scholarships. Listen in as I explain the benefit of taking the time to apply for a scholarship—even if you are not in serious financial need or there are many other applicants. You will learn the best time to apply for a scholarship (hint: you can apply at any time!), why you should not solely rely on school-provided scholarships, and how to stand out from the crowd of applicants. “Use the opportunities that don’t cost you anything and are going to give you opportunities to build your resume and make you stand out.” - Shelley Clayton This Week on Young Money: Why your grades

We are all in different places in our financial fitness journey. Similar to physical fitness, we could be taking our first step off the couch to walk around the block, or we could be further along and training for a marathon. It is the same when we talk about financial fitness—we could be simply learning about credit cards, or we could be learning to become sophisticated investors. So, in this episode,  I want to go back to basics and talk about financial literacy, specifically what you are doing to advance yours.  Listen in as I explain what financial literacy and financial resilience are, and share several steps you can take to increase both of these areas in your life. You will learn the importance of consistently moving toward your goals, how to ensure your finances match your goals, and the benefit of seeking professional advice when you are unsure. “Everyone’s pace on the journey looks different.” -  Tracey Bissett This Week on Young Money: The importance of taking small actions every day to move towar

We have been fortunate to have so many amazing guests on the show over the years, sharing their stories and knowledge with us. From children as young as seven to young adults making waves in the investment space, these millionaires in the making have so much wisdom to give. So, in this episode, I want to provide you with some of my favorite clips from several of these incredible young folks. Listen in to hear what inspired and motivated these young investors to begin investing, as well as the lessons they have learned throughout their journey. You'll learn about the strategies they use to build their wealth and their portfolios and more. “Think of money as a tool. You have to learn how to use it, make it, and make it grow.” -  Leanna Haakons This Week on Young Money: How many people have graduated with student debt. Why it is essential to be aware of the costs of your education. Why you must have an understanding of what credit card debt can lead to. Common misinformation around investing. How much money yo