Should kids start investing as early as possible or are we putting the cart before the horse?

I sits down with Robb Engen, the personal finance expert behind Boomer & Echo, to challenge the push to turn kids into early investors. We talk about why spending habits, delayed gratification, saving for short-term goals, and avoiding debt may matter more than building a portfolio at 16.

It’s a conversation about what kids really need to learn about money and when investing should actually come into the picture.

Show Notes:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbengen/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/BoomerandEcho/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/BoomerEcho
Website: https://boomerandecho.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Financial Literacy for Kids
02:23 The Balance Between Teaching and Over-Optimizing
04:35 Essential Money Management Skills
07:18 The Impact of Social Media on Financial Expectations
09:43 Navigating Parental Pressures and Financial Education
11:29 Investment Accounts and Long-Term Financial Planning
14:28 Kickstarting Financial Literacy for Kids
15:59 Just-in-Time Education in Personal Finance
17:45 The Case for Index Funds
20:01 Introducing Investing to Curious Teens
21:24 Navigating Tax Implications for Young Investors
23:48 Teaching Spending and Saving Habits
26:30 Rethinking Financial Strategies for the Next Generation

You’ve heard about the S&P 500 but what exactly is it, and why should Canadian investors care?

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Bernard, finance professional and author of The Index of America, to break down one of the world’s most important stock market indexes.

Tom explains what the S&P 500 actually represents, how companies make the cut, and how Canadians can invest in it through low-cost ETFs and index funds. They also explore why investing doesn’t need to be complicated, how to think about risk and market downturns, and why sometimes the best strategy is simply one you can stick with.

Because when it comes to investing and teaching our kids about it, understanding the basics and getting started can matter more than getting everything perfect.

Show Notes:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-bernard/
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@indexofamerica
Website: https://indexofamerica.com/
Book: The Index of America

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Investing Simplified
02:54 Understanding the S&P 500
05:36 The Importance of the S&P 500 for Canadians
08:18 Investing in the S&P 500: ETFs and Mutual Funds
10:56 Overcoming Investment Hesitations
13:57 The Case for Simplicity in Investing
16:45 Finding Your Personal Investment Strategy

Stocks. ETFs. Mutual funds. Bonds.

These are words we hear all the time when people talk about investing, but do you actually know what you’re buying or how these investments fit together?

In this episode, Christi sits down with Mark McGrath, a Certified Financial Planner, co-founder of Finance (an advice-only financial planning firm for Canadian physicians), and co-author of Wealthier: The Investing Field Guide for Millennials, to break down the investing basics every parent should understand before teaching their kids.

You’ll also learn:

• What you are actually buying when you purchase a stock
• Why owning individual companies is different from owning the market
• How ETFs and index funds work
• Why lower fees matter when investing
• What bonds are and why they still have a role in a portfolio
• Why bond ETFs can go up and down in value
• How to think about building a simple first investment portfolio for your kids

Whether you’re opening your first investment account, managing an RESP, or simply want to feel more confident talking to your kids about money, this episode will help you build the foundation you need.

Because before we can teach our kids about investing, we need to understand it ourselves.

Show Notes:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmcgrathcfp/

IG:https://www.instagram.com/markmcgrathcfp/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/mark.mcgrath.3597

Website: https://www.phynance.ca/

Book: Wealthier: The Investing Field Guide for Canadian Millennials

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding Stocks and Ownership

02:15 The Allure of Individual Stocks

03:42 The Case for Diversification

06:33 Exploring ETFs and Index Funds

09:10 The Rise of ETFs

12:02 Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

12:29 The Impact of Fees on Investments

18:45 Understanding Fees and Financial Products

21:12 Demystifying Bonds: A Complex Investment

24:01 Bonds vs. Bank Loans: The Strategic Choice

27:01 Bond ETFs: Understanding Volatility

31:25 The Current State of Bonds: Are They Dead?

32:33 Building a Balanced Portfolio: Stocks, Bonds, and More

33:45 Investment Advice for Beginners: Starting Young

36:33 The Importance of Diversification in Investing