Raising Standards

Ilan Dexter
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  • Self-Improvement

Raising Standards is a show about what it actually takes to live well. Each week, we sit down with people who've done the work. Financial advisors, mentors, builders of character and discipline to break down the real, practical wisdom behind money, mindset, and meaning. No fluff, no theory for theory's sake. Just honest conversations designed to leave you with something you can use the same day you hear it. If you're trying to raise your own standards, this is where you start.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    $7,000 Growing to $3.3+ Million? Here's How (TFSA vs RRSP vs FHSA) | Raising Standards Ep. 2

    Your mortgage could be quietly costing you thousands and most first-time buyers in Canada don't realize it until renewal time. In this episode of Raising Standards, Ilan Dexter sits down with mortgage and financial services expert David to break down exactly how mortgages, down payments, and insurance actually work, plus the budgeting, credit score, and investing fundamentals (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA) that build real financial security before you ever buy a home. If you're planning to buy in Canada, refinance, or just want to stop overpaying on debt, this conversation covers the emergency fund math, the debt snowball method, compound interest numbers most people never see, and the exact mortgage rate traps to watch for. 🎯 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:• How to build a 6-month emergency fund and pay off debt faster with consolidation or the debt snowball method• The real differences between TFSA, RRSP, and FHSA and how $7,000 can grow into $3.3 million• What actually goes into your mortgage rate, down payment, and why you should always shop around• The insurance mistake that can cost your family everything (a true story from this episode)• Cash vs financing vs leasing when buying a car 🐦 SOCIAL:Newsletter: https://buildwithdex.com/Instagram ➔ https://www.instagram.com/buildwithdexTwitter/X ➔ https://x.com/BuildWithDex ⏱ TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Intro & Meet David1:04 Why Budgeting Matters2:24 Building Your Emergency Fund5:16 Pay Yourself First & Paying Off Debt7:50 Debt Snowball Method10:38 Building & Improving Your Credit Score15:00 Free Credit Score Tools16:00 Short-Term Savings & How Many Accounts You Need18:22 TFSA vs RRSP vs FHSA Basics21:02 Compound Interest Example (TFSA to $3.3M)26:04 RRSP & Home Buyers' Plan30:42 FHSA Explained32:37 Investment Options: Stocks, Mutual Funds, ETFs, GICs40:00 Higher Returns Example (TFSA to $11.4M)43:00 Mortgage Down Payments (5% vs 20%)47:37 Mortgage Rates, Shopping Around & Fixed vs Variable54:00 Mortgage Terms, Amortization & Renewals59:39 COVID Rates, Home Buying Traps & Inspections1:01:56 Mortgage Insurance: Real Stories1:06:39 Life & Disability Insurance1:09:19 Buying vs Leasing a Car1:15:00 Repair or Replace Your Car?1:16:33 Recap: Budget, Debt & Investing1:23:24 Outro & Subscribe 🔗 LINKS:Free Credit Check: https://www.creditkarma.ca/CRA to check contribution limits: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html  #PersonalFinance #MortgageTips #CanadianFinance

    $7,000 Growing to $3.3+ Million? Here's How (TFSA vs RRSP vs FHSA) | Raising Standards Ep. 2

  2. 3d ago

    How Jewish Wisdom Turns Hustle, Health, And Relationships Into A Life You Can Carry | Raising Standards Ep. 1

    What if being “high value” wasn’t about volume or status, but about carrying real weight with calm, steady hands? We kick off Raising Standards with the creator behind the Torah channel to explore how Jewish wisdom reframes strength: serve more than you shine, take responsibility before you take credit, and build the kind of character that makes a home feel safe. We start with the foundations—why a man who doesn’t burden others becomes the pillar everyone trusts. From there, we map growth by life stage. At 18, you have time to invest: study deeply, train your body, and form habits that survive adult chaos. Later, when marriage, kids, and career collide, those early reps help you choose well—bedtime over busywork when it matters, focus over scrolling when you’re tired, and consistency over comparison when social media waves Lamborghinis at teenagers. Health gets a clear framework: rise like a lion to act, rest like Shabbat to reset. We talk laziness as heaviness, not harmlessness, and the underrated power of weekly withdrawal from screens to strengthen your mind, family bonds, and long-term output. On impulse control, we offer simple tools: pause and ask why desire spiked, check intent, write down intrusive thoughts during dinner instead of losing the night to stress, and use a gain-loss check to stay aligned with your main goal. Emotions are fuel; the mind must steer. Relationships bring it together: masculine leadership as chesed—giving, providing, and staying composed under pressure. We call out common pre-marriage pitfalls and share ways to train patience, respect, and generosity now, before you need them every day. Finally, we anchor it all in faith with a practical mantra—think good and it will be good. Do your part, then choose trust over panic, step back from heated moments, and let positivity shape not just your mood, but your outcomes. If this sparked something for you, tap follow, share it with a friend who’s building themselves, and leave a review with the one habit you’re committing to this week.

    How Jewish Wisdom Turns Hustle, Health, And Relationships Into A Life You Can Carry | Raising Standards Ep. 1
  • 2 Episodes

About

Raising Standards is a show about what it actually takes to live well. Each week, we sit down with people who've done the work. Financial advisors, mentors, builders of character and discipline to break down the real, practical wisdom behind money, mindset, and meaning. No fluff, no theory for theory's sake. Just honest conversations designed to leave you with something you can use the same day you hear it. If you're trying to raise your own standards, this is where you start.

Information

  • Creator
    Ilan Dexter
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Raising Standards
  • Show Website
    Raising Standards