Make Better Wealth Decisions: How Financial Advisor's Blind Spots Can Hurt Your Investments in a Rapidly Changing World

What happens when you stop trying to say everything in a few minutes and instead go deeper on what matters most?
This episode marks a major change in the podcast. Instead of continuing with short Tuesday commentary, John is ending the Tuesday episodes and putting more time and attention into longer, more actionable conversations and standalone episodes.
The podcast will also be rebranded with a stronger focus on retirement planning, wealth, pensions, and the decisions that can help you prepare for retirement. Going forward, Thursday episodes will feature a mix of John's standalone discussions and conversations with guests, while Saturday videos will continue providing visual explanations of important financial topics.
By listening, you'll learn:
Why the podcast is shifting its focus toward retirement planning and what that means for future episodes.
How deeper, standalone episodes can provide more actionable financial guidance than brief weekly commentary.
What to expect from the new podcast format, including the balance between solo episodes, guest conversations, and Saturday videos.

Listen to the episode to understand why the podcast is changing—and how the new focus on retirement planning can give you more practical, in-depth guidance.
Worried about the current investment climate and your money?
Click the link below and book a call for personalized advice to help you feel secure and protected about your retirement:
https://makebetterwealthdecisions.s.gy/podcast
John De Goey's Books. Grab your copy from Amazon:
Bullshift: How Optimism Bias Threatens Your Finances
STANDUP to the Financial Services Industry
The Professional Financial Advisor IV

How confident are you when it comes to making decisions about your money?
For many Canadians, the problem isn't a lack of information—it's having too much information, not knowing which sources to trust, and feeling embarrassed to ask basic financial questions. Financial literacy is about more than knowing the difference between a TFSA and an RRSP; it's about developing the confidence and habits to make sound financial decisions, even when the future feels uncertain.
In this episode of Make Better Wealth Decisions, John speaks with Shannon Lee Simmons, financial planner and founder of New School Finance, about the state of financial literacy in Canada and the practical financial planning questions Canadians should be asking.
You'll learn:
How to build financial confidence by turning financial knowledge into practical habits and decisions.
How to think about CPP, investment returns, TFSAs and RRSPs without falling into common assumptions and misconceptions.
How to manage financial uncertainty with realistic expectations and smaller, actionable “micro financial plans” that keep you moving forward.

Listen to the episode to build the financial literacy and confidence you need to make better wealth decisions—one small plan at a time.

Weekly Wealth Update: A Make Better Wealth Decisions podcast dedicated to explaining how current events impact your portfolio and the wealth decisions you make. Tune in every Monday for commentary on how the news of the week affects your portfolio and your thinking.
What happens when the optimistic story you’re being told isn’t the same as the reality you’re facing?
From Canada’s looming tariff pressures to the way financial advisors frame market risk, there’s a common theme: optimism bias can influence how you think, act, and prepare. When governments and financial professionals have incentives to maintain confidence, it can become difficult to distinguish between a plausible story and what’s actually likely to happen.
This episode explores why seeing things as they are is becoming increasingly important for making responsible financial decisions—without falling into panic or knee-jerk reactions.
You’ll learn:
How optimism bias can distort your perception of financial risk and leave you less prepared for difficult outcomes.
Why traditional approaches to portfolio risk are changing and what the shift toward low-, medium-, and high-risk classifications means for investors.
How to build greater resilience into your financial decisions while remaining prudent rather than reactive.

Listen to the episode to learn how seeing things as they are can help you make clearer, more resilient financial decisions in an uncertain world.
John De Goey's Books. Grab your copy from Amazon:
Bullshift: How Optimism Bias Threatens Your Finances
STANDUP to the Financial Services Industry
The Professional Financial Advisor IV

Worried about the current investment climate and your money?
Click the link below and book a call for personalized advice to help you feel secure and protected about your retirement:
https://makebetterwealthdecisions.s.gy/podcast

How much does your chronological age really tell you about how long you’re likely to live—and whether your retirement plan is built to last?
Traditional retirement planning relies heavily on population averages and mortality tables. But as longevity science advances, biological age and the aging patterns captured by everyday devices such as phones, watches, and rings may provide a more personalized view of longevity risk.
In this episode, Evgeny Yakushev, founder and CEO of Life & Health Metrics, explains how biological age can differ significantly from chronological age and why that difference could matter when making retirement and wealth decisions.
You’ll learn:
How your biological age can reveal a different longevity trajectory than your chronological age alone.
Why personalized aging data could influence decisions around Social Security, annuities, investing, liquidity, and retirement income.
How wearable and smartphone data could become a new input for financial planning, helping advisors move beyond population averages toward more personalized retirement strategies.

Listen to the episode to discover how understanding your biological age could help you make more informed decisions about your wealth, retirement, and longevity.
Worried about the current investment climate and your money?
Click the link below and book a call for personalized advice to help you feel secure and protected about your retirement:
https://makebetterwealthdecisions.s.gy/podcast
John De Goey's Books. Grab your copy from Amazon:
Bullshift: How Optimism Bias Threatens Your Finances
STANDUP to the Financial Services Industry
The Professional Financial Advisor IV

Weekly Wealth Update: A Make Better Wealth Decisions podcast dedicated to explaining how current events impact your portfolio and the wealth decisions you make. Tune in every Monday for commentary on how the news of the week affects your portfolio and your thinking.
What should you do with your money when the Canada-US trade war is pushing prices higher and creating even more uncertainty?
The Canada-US trade war is adding to an already inflationary environment, and its effects won’t be felt equally. Some people may face job losses or reduced incomes, while others may simply see higher prices for groceries, electronics, and other consumer goods.
The key is understanding what you can control. Rather than making emotional portfolio changes, this episode looks at practical ways to navigate the financial pressure ahead and prepare for what could be a prolonged period of uncertainty.
You’ll learn:
How the Canada-US trade war and inflation could affect your income, expenses, and investments differently.
Why paying down non-deductible debt and reducing discretionary spending can strengthen your personal finance position.
How staying disciplined with your investment strategy can help you avoid costly decisions during economic uncertainty.

Listen to the episode to learn how to protect your personal finance, stay disciplined with your investments, and navigate the inflationary pressure ahead.
Worried about the current investment climate and your money?
Click the link below and book a call for personalized advice to help you feel secure and protected about your retirement:
https://makebetterwealthdecisions.s.gy/podcast
John De Goey's Books. Grab your copy from Amazon:
Bullshift: How Optimism Bias Threatens Your Finances
STANDUP to the Financial Services Industry
The Professional Financial Advisor IV