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

John De Goey (a podcast covering financial literacy, financial advisors & wealth)
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business
  • Updated Semiweekly

Have you thought about how bias impacts your investing? Is your portfolio built using standard principles that might not work in a new world paradigm that features an end to the bond bull, an end to the peace dividend and the onset of tariffs and trade wars? Make Better Wealth Decisions will help you navigate investing and planning by exposing how traditional advice does not incorporate recent events. The podcast will help you: 1. Spot hidden risks in stocks due to high valuations. 2. Protect your wealth with hard assets in a stagflationary economy. 3. Adapt wisely to avoid outdated investment principles. Tune in every Thursday where you’ll hear thought leader, author and portfolio manager John De Goey interviews financial experts about industry trends and thinking. Every Tuesday thereafter, he releases a short primer episode that provides context to make sure you understand what it all means and what you can do to help yourself. If you're ready to Make Better Wealth Decisions, hit play on recent fan favorite episode #147 with Tom Czitron that deals with valuations, bubbles, and the finance industry's overall lack of preparedness in 2025.

  1. 19h ago

    #308 | Why I’m Changing the Brand—and Making Retirement Planning the Focus

    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 FinancesSTANDUP to the Financial Services IndustryThe Professional Financial Advisor IV

  2. 5d ago

    #307 | How Shannon Lee Simmons Is Changing Financial Literacy Through Financial Planning for Canadians

    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.

  3. Sep 1

    #306 | See Things As They Are - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth

    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 FinancesSTANDUP to the Financial Services IndustryThe 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

  4. Aug 27

    #305 | Did You Know That Your Biological Age Can Vary Significantly From Your Chronological Age? - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth

    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 FinancesSTANDUP to the Financial Services IndustryThe Professional Financial Advisor IV

  5. Aug 25

    #304 | Why You Shouldn’t Let the Canada-US Trade War Dictate Your Investments Despite Rising Inflation - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth

    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 FinancesSTANDUP to the Financial Services IndustryThe Professional Financial Advisor IV

  6. Aug 20

    #303 | Why Index Investing Won’t Give You Everything You Want From Diversification & Expected Returns: Factor Investing Explained - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth

    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 What if there’s a way to pursue higher expected returns without relying on concentrated stock picking or simply accepting market returns? Factor investing offers a systematic approach that sits between traditional active management and conventional indexing. In this episode, Daniel Ong of Avantis Investors explains how investors can use profitability, valuation, broad diversification, and disciplined portfolio construction to target companies with higher expected returns—while keeping fees and concentration under control. Daniel also explains why investors should think carefully about risk, tracking error, asset allocation, and the limitations of buying companies simply because they are cheap or profitable. Most importantly, he shares why making portfolio decisions based on headlines can undermine long-term investment outcomes. By listening, you’ll learn: How factor investing works and why combining profitability with attractive valuations can provide a more systematic alternative to traditional stock picking.How diversification and expected returns can work together, including why a broadly diversified portfolio may offer a more efficient way to pursue a risk premium.Why disciplined investing matters and how avoiding headline-driven portfolio changes can help you make better long-term wealth decisions. Listen to the full episode to understand how factor investing can help you build a more diversified, systematic, and potentially higher-returning investment strategy. John De Goey's Books. Grab your copy from Amazon: Bullshift: How Optimism Bias Threatens Your FinancesSTANDUP to the Financial Services IndustryThe Professional Financial Advisor IV

  7. Aug 18

    #302 | What Trump Tariffs Really Mean for Investors as Canada-U.S. Trade Talks Reach the Deadline - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth

    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. Will the August 19 deadline for Trump Tariffs and Canada-U.S. Trade actually matter to your investments? With negotiations continuing and the two sides still far apart, investors may be tempted to react to every headline surrounding Trump Tariffs and Canada-U.S. Trade. But short-term political and trade developments don't necessarily translate into long-term portfolio consequences. In this episode, you'll learn: How to put the Trump Tariffs deadline into historical perspective rather than treating it as a potentially market-defining event.Why Canada-U.S. Trade uncertainty may not warrant a change to your investment strategy despite volatile headlines.How staying the course can help you avoid making emotional investment decisions when political developments change rapidly. Listen to the full episode to learn why keeping your perspective may be more valuable than trying to predict the next move on Trump Tariffs and Canada-U.S. Trade. 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 FinancesSTANDUP to the Financial Services IndustryThe Professional Financial Advisor IV

  8. Aug 13

    #301 | Why Decision Hygiene Is Impacting Your Wealth Decisions: How Media Literacy Can Help - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth

    How do you know whether the financial information you're consuming is actually helping you make better wealth decisions—or influencing you in ways you don't recognize? With more financial content coming from banks, journalists, influencers, social media, and increasingly AI, knowing what to believe has become just as important as knowing how to invest. Bryan Borzykowski, founder and CEO of ALLCAPS Content and an experienced business journalist, shares why media literacy and decision hygiene are essential to making sound financial choices. In this episode, you'll learn: How to evaluate financial information more critically by comparing multiple credible sources instead of taking a single story at face value.How to recognize potential misinformation, influence, and AI-driven fraud before they affect your financial decisions.Why seeking out financial education and starting to save early can put you in a stronger position to achieve your long-term wealth goals. Listen to the episode to strengthen your decision hygiene, sharpen your media literacy, and make more confident wealth decisions. 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 FinancesSTANDUP to the Financial Services IndustryThe Professional Financial Advisor IV

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Have you thought about how bias impacts your investing? Is your portfolio built using standard principles that might not work in a new world paradigm that features an end to the bond bull, an end to the peace dividend and the onset of tariffs and trade wars? Make Better Wealth Decisions will help you navigate investing and planning by exposing how traditional advice does not incorporate recent events. The podcast will help you: 1. Spot hidden risks in stocks due to high valuations. 2. Protect your wealth with hard assets in a stagflationary economy. 3. Adapt wisely to avoid outdated investment principles. Tune in every Thursday where you’ll hear thought leader, author and portfolio manager John De Goey interviews financial experts about industry trends and thinking. Every Tuesday thereafter, he releases a short primer episode that provides context to make sure you understand what it all means and what you can do to help yourself. If you're ready to Make Better Wealth Decisions, hit play on recent fan favorite episode #147 with Tom Czitron that deals with valuations, bubbles, and the finance industry's overall lack of preparedness in 2025.

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