Inside BMO’s Indigenous Bond: Investing in Communities with Purpose
Jonathan Hackett, Head of Sustainable Finance at BMO, explains how the bank’s Indigenous Bond channels capital to Indigenous-owned businesses, community infrastructure, and on-reserve lending while meeting institutional investor demand for measurable social impact. We dig into how these bonds differ from “plain vanilla” debt, why supply and long-term holding matter, and what retail investors can realistically do (think sustainable bond funds). Plus: a candid look at risk management, data, and why doing the homework often leads to lower loan losses and better long-term outcomes.
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13:07
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13:07
Should You Help Family with Money? Boundaries, Trade-Offs, and a Safer Plan
PWL Capital Portfolio manager, Dan Bartolotti, walks through how to support parents or relatives in financial trouble without sinking your own plan. We discuss assessing whether you can help via a real financial plan (not back-of-the-envelope), setting clear boundaries to avoid enabling overspending, and deciding when “strings attached” make sense. You’ll hear best practices for sibling coordination, navigating incomplete info or embarrassment, and preparing for cognitive decline with tools like trusted contacts and powers of attorney.
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11:24
The Emergency Fund “Lightbulb”: How Much to Save and Why It Matters
Fee-only planner and author Shannon Lee Simmons shares the formative experience that shaped her approach to rainy-day money and why the act of saving beats chasing a perfect number. We cover how to size an emergency fund based on your income risk (entrepreneur vs. salaried), the psychology of having cash on hand to avoid debt, and a pragmatic target: cover core bills and groceries for at least one cycle. You’ll learn how to protect your sleep at 3 a.m., keep “mad money” untouchable, and build a buffer that fits your real life, not someone else’s rule of thumb.
Connect with New School of Finance on Instagram and connect with Shannon on Instagram.
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14:57
Money Clarity: Emergency Funds, Family Boundaries, and End-of-Life Planning
In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, host Bruce Sellery explores the “lightbulb moments” that change how we handle money. Fee-only planner and author Shannon Lee Simmons shares the personal story that shaped her approach to emergency funds, why the act of saving matters more than a magic number, how to tailor the size of your fund to your risk and income, and practical ways to avoid sliding into debt when life throws a curveball. Then, portfolio manager Dan Bartolotti of PWL Capital tackles a thorny topic: helping parents or loved ones financially. He lays out clear steps to decide if and how you can help without jeopardizing your own retirement, set healthy boundaries, and navigate family dynamics with transparency.
Plus, Jonathan Hackett, Head of Sustainable Finance at BMO, explains the bank’s Indigenous Bond - how sustainable debt can channel capital to Indigenous businesses and communities. Finally, certified death doula Michelle Leray demystifies end-of-life support and connects it to estate planning and family conversations you should start now.
Subscribe, review, and share to help more Canadians get confident about their money.
To find out more about the guests check out:
Shannon Lee Simmons: Instagram
New School of Finance: 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
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51:26
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.
About Moolala: Money Made Simple with Bruce Sellery
Bruce Sellery is a personal finance expert on a mission to help you get a handle on your money so you can live the life you want. He is high energy and low B.S.
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