Build Wealth Canada Podcast

Kornel Szrejber: Investor
  • 4.6 (9)
  • Investing
  • Updated Bimonthly

Kornel interviews the top financial experts in Canada to help you optimize your investments, reduce your taxes, and help you accelerate your journey towards financial independence and early retirement. He also shares his own experiences and lessons learned in investing and as an early retiree and member of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement to help you optimize your finances, specifically here in Canada.

  1. May 21

    What Every DIY Investor Should Know Before Buying ETFs in Canada

    Today's episode is going to be especially useful if you're a Canadian DIY investor and you want to build an optimized, passive, low-cost portfolio, but you still have questions about some of the practical details. For example, should you just buy one all-in-one asset allocation ETF, or is there a benefit to buying the underlying ETFs individually? How much should you care about ETF trading volume? What does liquidity actually mean when we're talking about ETFs? Should you use market orders or limit orders when buying ETFs? And if you're an income-focused investor, what are the pros and cons of building your portfolio around dividends? We also get into the active versus passive investing debate, why it's so difficult for stock pickers and active managers to consistently beat the market over the long term, and how investors can think about risk when comparing traditional bonds with things like low-volatility ETFs. Also as a Build Wealth Canada listener, we have a brand new free issue of Canadian MoneySaver magazine for you. The issue focuses specifically on ETFs here in Canada, I wrote an article for it as well, and you can get the digital version of the entire magazine for free by going to buildwealthcanada.ca/magazine. Our Guests: To help answer these questions, we have two great guests joining us. First, we have Chris White from Canadian MoneySaver Magazine. Chris is also the Head of Research at 5i Research, and you may have heard him on CBC Radio or BNN Bloomberg. We're also joined by popular returning guest Danielle Neziol, who is a very experienced and passionate educator when it comes to DIY investing here in Canada, especially index investing using low-cost ETFs, which, by the way, is literally how I invest all of my own money. Danielle is one of the hosts of the ETF Market Insights YouTube channel, she's a frequent speaker at industry events across Canada, and she works at BMO ETFs, one of the largest ETF providers in Canada so she incredible access to some of the best education, best practices, and resources when it comes to DIY investing here in Canada. Disclaimer: This content is sponsored by BMO Exchange Traded Funds. This content is intended for information purposes only. Build Wealth Canada is compensated under this arrangement by BMO Exchange Traded Funds. The views expressed herein are subject to change without notice. The content contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment advice to any party. Particular investments and/or trading strategies should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. BMO Global Asset Management is a brand name under which BMO Asset Management Inc. and BMO Investments Inc. operate. This podcast is for information purposes only. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Particular investments and/or trading strategies should be evaluated and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. ETF and Mutual Fund portfolio holdings are subject to change without notice at any time. Index returns do not reflect transactions costs or the deduction of other fees and expenses and it is not possible to invest directly in an Index. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Any statement that necessarily depends on future events may be a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although such statements are based on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from expectations. Investors are cautioned not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. In connection with any forward-looking statements, investors should carefully consider the areas of risk described in the most recent prospectus. Commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with investments in exchange-traded funds. Please read the ETF Facts or prospectus of the BMO ETFs before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in unit value and reinvestment of all dividends or distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any unitholder that would have reduced returns. Exchange-traded funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. For a summary of the risks of an investment in the BMO ETFs, please see the specific risks set out in the BMO ETF's prospectus. BMO ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at a discount to their net asset value, which may increase the risk of loss. Distributions are not guaranteed and are subject to change and/or elimination. BMO ETFs are managed and administered by BMO Asset Management Inc., an investment fund manager and a portfolio manager, and a separate legal entity from Bank of Montreal. BMO Global Asset Management is a brand name under which BMO Asset Management Inc. and BMO Investments Inc. operate. "BMO" is a registered trademark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence..

    46 min

  2. Apr 21

    Is Your Portfolio Safe? The Security Checklist Every Canadian Investor Needs

    As the markets hit all-time highs again, one of the things that has become top of mind for me personally is how to make sure that our investments are actually secure. If you're a long-term passive, total market index investor like me, then you've definitely seen your portfolio grow quite substantially over the years. With this, one begins to wonder: What can be done to ensure the security of those investments? In this case, I'm not talking about the volatility of the investments themselves, but rather how to ensure that our investment and other financial accounts do not get hacked, that someone doesn't destroy our credit score, and that we don't become victims of identity theft, among the many other security threats that exist.  This is especially prevalent in this age of AI, where it is easier than ever for someone to replicate our voice, or have AI crawl the internet to pull personal information about us that can be used to access our sensitive accounts, steal our money, or make critical changes that can cripple our net worth. Especially since it's tax season right now, where we have to be extra diligent due to things like CRA scams, I thought it would be a good idea to do a deep dive on the bases we need to cover from a security standpoint when it comes to our finances. With that, I wanted to bring on an expert who literally works in the security industry day in and day out, to take us through the bases we need to have covered, as well as provide us with some practical solutions, including free and paid tools that we can use to ensure we are not being negligent on the security side of our finances. My guest today is Leigh Tynan. She's been the Director of Online Security at TELUS here in Canada for the past six years. My goal was to have her come on almost like a personal security consultant for you and me, to teach us what bases we need to cover when it comes to our online security here in Canada, and also how and when we should actually use the different security tools out there. I figured in this world of online security, it's one of those cases where we don't know what we don't know. So, it would be valuable to have someone in Canada from the actual security industry come on to give us a checklist of sorts, along with an explanation, so that we can ensure there isn't some component we forgot about, or didn't even know about, that ends up being the avenue through which our private information is leaked or our sensitive financial accounts are compromised. Alright, let's get into the interview. Resources from the Episode: TELUS Online Security (what I've been using) Free Digital Literacy Education Resources from TELUS Wise

    43 min

  3. Mar 5

    4 Mortgage Rule Changes That Give You More Power in 2026: Fixed vs Variable, Stress Test Changes, Should You Break Your Mortgage?

    In 2026, it is estimated that nearly half of all Canadian mortgages will be up for renewal. This involves over 1 million households here in Canada. Because of the change in interest rates, some of these households could see their monthly payments jump by 15% to 20% on average—and in extreme cases, even higher. That's the bad news. The good news is that if your mortgage is coming up for renewal, the stress test requirements have likely changed since the last time you took out a mortgage years ago. You actually have more power than ever to leave your current mortgage provider if you find a better mortgage elsewhere, and this is because the stress test has been removed in certain cases. Homeowners who were previously "trapped" with their current mortgage provider can now freely move to a competitor offering a lower rate. This forces the lenders to actually compete for your business. In this episode, we're going to cover exactly how you can navigate all of these changes so you can keep more of your hard-earned money invested in your portfolio, rather than handing over an excessive amount to your mortgage provider. Specifically, we're going to cover: What Canadian mortgage holders need to know about these changes to the stress test to avoid "payment shock" and take advantage of the new switching flexibility. How to choose between a fixed-rate vs. variable-rate mortgage with everything that is going on in Canada right now, based on the latest rates. How to execute an advanced hybrid strategy using a re-advanceable mortgage if you have a lump sum of cash to invest, but are nervous about putting it all into the market at once with valuations at all-time highs. To help us dive into all of this, I invited Sean Cooper back onto the show. Sean is the resident mortgage expert for this podcast, he's the bestselling author of the book "Burn Your Mortgage," and he's a fully licensed mortgage broker. He is who I go to and send all friends, family, and listeners of the show to for any mortgage-related questions and research. Because he actually does this as a full-time job, he is up to date on all the latest mortgage rules, changes, and the best interest rates currently available here in Canada. If you have any mortgage-related questions, or if you just want to see Sean's up-to-date research on the best mortgages that he's been able to find across the dozens of lenders that he's constantly monitoring all over Canada, you can send him a message, or book a free call with him over at buildwealthcanada.ca/sean.  Alright, let's get into the show!

    1h 6m

  4. Feb 3

    Inside My Financial Plan: Safe Withdrawal Rates & Strategies

    One of the most common questions I get, and honestly one of the biggest sources of anxiety for anyone nearing financial independence is: "How much can I spend without running out of money once I quit my job and start living off my investments?" It's one thing to see a big number in your investment account; it's another thing entirely to hit the "withdraw" button and start taking money out. Research, and my own experience shows that many Canadians end up underspending. They live a smaller life than they need to simply because they don't have a structured process they can trust. Some blindly follow the "4% rule," while others just live off dividends, pensions, and/or government benefits, never touching their principal. This often results in a massive amount of money left over when they pass away. That is money that could have been spent enjoying life, creating memories with family, or donating to charity, rather than leaving a giant inheritance, and a giant tax bill to the government. So, how do we find that balance? How do we calculate a spending number that is safe, but still lets us enjoy our lives? To answer this, I invited Thuy Lam back on the show. Thuy is a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years in the industry who recently built my personal financial plan. We discuss the specific cashflow plan she created for us, and the relevant insights and best practices you can apply to your own situation. We dig into four critical areas: First, the "Safe Withdrawal" question: We move past the 4% rule and discuss how to determine a sustainable spending rate that factors in current market conditions. Second, the "Bucketing Strategy.": Thuy breaks down how to allocate your portfolio for short-term spending versus long-term growth. This is huge for keeping anxiety low when the market drops. "Stress Testing" your plan: We talk about why using a simple average rate of return (like 8%) is a dangerous mistake, and how Monte Carlo simulations can help you see if your plan survives extreme scenarios. Dynamic Spending Adjustments: We cover exactly when to tighten the belt if markets underperform, and how to safely increase spending if returns are high, so you don't die with a giant portfolio you never got to enjoy. We're going to cover all that and more. Enjoy the Episode! Links from the episode: Meet with Thuy: Free Introductory Meeting & Discount Link  Free Access to my investing guide: What I Invest In and Why? (Kornel's Portfolio)

    1h 22m

  5. Jan 13

    Top Investing Mistakes: Common Analytical Errors Canadian DIY Investors Make

    With the new year kicking off, investing is top of mind for many of us, especially with all the new contribution room that many of us just received in our different registered accounts here in Canada (TFSA, RRSP, RESP, FHSA). Now before we decide what to invest in with our contributions this year, I thought it would be wise to look into: -What are some of the major and common mistakes that Canadian investors make when they do their own analysis on which investment to buy? -When we are looking to compare two investments, whether it's a mutual fund, or an ETF, what is the process that we should follow to make sure that we are doing appropriate and thorough due diligence? -Are we paying near the low-end vs the top-end of the spectrum when it comes to fees? What would be considered a "high" fee vs a "low" fee for the Canadian investor? -Are there other charges or fees that we should be mindful of in addition to just looking at the MER for an ETF or mutual fund? -How to properly compare investments that we are considering? We go into all that and more in this episode. Enjoy! Resources Mentioned: ETF Comparison Tool ETF Guide: What I Invest In and Why? Disclaimer: This podcast is sponsored by BMO Exchange Traded Funds. Build Wealth Canada is compensated under this arrangement by BMO ETFs. This communication is intended for information purposes only. This update has been prepared by Build Wealth Canada and represents their assessment at the time of publication. The comments contained do not necessarily represent the views of BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). The views expressed by the host and the interviewee are subject to change without notice as markets change over time. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. Views expressed regarding a particular company, security, industry or market sector should not be considered an indication of trading intent of any investment funds managed by BMO GAM. Any reference to a particular company is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell nor should it be considered as an indication of how the portfolio of any investment fund managed by BMO GAM is or will be invested. This social media network is an independent organization and is not affiliated with BMO GAM.

    40 min

  6. 12/03/2025

    David Chilton: Safe Withdrawal Rates, ETFs, & Finding Purpose Before and After Financial Independence

    One of my favourite types of interviews is when I get to interview someone who has hit their financial independence or retirement number early, and then picking their brain on how they got there, what worked well for them, what didn't, what mistakes they could have avoided, and learning what makes them feel happy and fulfilled both before and after hitting financial independence. Well this time, I got to do this with one of the most famous personal finance experts in Canada, David Chilton, who, as you may know, was also one of the dragons on Dragon's Den. Dave's bestselling book, The Wealthy Barber, was actually the first personal finance book that I ever read. I read it decades ago in high school, and in a way, it actually started me down this path of early financial independence. Dave has recently released a massive update to the book, so we cover what has changed in personal finance and investing in Canada over the years, and what Canadians need to know about now when it comes to personal finance and investing in Canada.  I'm incredibly grateful that Dave has chosen to spend so much of his time educating Canadians and trying to improve financial literacy here in Canada. You can definitely tell that he's not doing it for some massive financial gain, and is genuinely trying to help. Let's get into the interview.

    45 min

  7. 10/20/2025

    Lessons From 400+ Interviews on Canadian Financial Independence & How to Achieve and Protect Your Early Retirement

    Today, we have a Canadian guest who has literally done over 400 interviews with different personal finance experts over the years, many of which were specifically for Canadians. Today, I pick his brain on the common conclusions, best practices, and recurring advice he's heard after interviewing so many personal finance experts. My guest, Kyle Prevost, is also part of the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) movement and was able to hit his financial independence number at a very early age. I pick his brain on what safe withdrawal rate he has settled on and why, based on his extensive research, so that he doesn't run out of money in his early retirement and is able to live off his portfolio permanently. I also ask him what has really moved the needle for him in terms of growing his net worth to reach financial independence so quickly, and what he does now to help ensure that he stays financially independent and doesn't have to go back to work, when we have the next major stock market crash. Free tickets to the Canadian Financial Summit:  https://buildwealthcanada.ca/summit The Summit is from October 22-25 this year so be sure to grab your free tickets at the link above. You can also see all the speakers and talks at that link too. Questions Covered: After interviewing well over 400 personal finance experts over the years, what are some of the most impactful lessons or recurring pieces of advice that you've heard? A few years ago, you created a retirement course where I remember my favourite section being your findings on the safe withdrawal rate - in other words, how much can we all withdraw from our investment portfolio to be able to live off it long-term? What are your current thoughts on a safe withdrawal rate, based on the research that you've seen, and have your views changed over time? I know living abroad and travelling is something that you and your wife have done a lot of. When it comes to saving money on travel, can you give us 3 to 5 pieces of advice that you found really moved the needle for you when it comes to either not overpaying, or where you were able to really maximize the value that you received per dollar spent? Now that you've hit FI years ago, do you still find earning more money to be a motivating factor for you? The last time you were on the show, you mentioned that it was as it lets you experience more when it comes to travel (among other things). Now that you've been FI for even longer, and since the markets have done so well over that time, do you find accumulating more money is still the motivator it once was? Or do you now get motivation and fulfillment from other things? If both you and your wife were to stop generating any additional income through part-time work or side projects, how would you approach your cash position and asset allocation? Follow up: Since you are still generating some income as a household post FI, how does that change how much you keep in cash and how you structure your asset allocation?  With the markets at all time highs again, there are definitely those that are getting nervous and worrying about a drop in the markets in the near future. What do you personally do to ensure you don't run out of money and are forced to return to 9-5 work if we were to have another 2008 scenario? Over the decades, what factors have truly moved the needle for you in terms of net worth generation? Tell us where we can hear more from you and about the Canadian Financial Summit.

    57 min

  8. 09/29/2025

    The Canadian Guide to Index Investing & Rethinking Your "Safe" Money

    In this episode, my goal was to make it relevant for both types of listeners: First, for those who are just getting started in do-it-yourself investing or are looking to transition to becoming passive index investors instead of trying to beat the market by stock picking or owning expensive actively managed funds. We're going to build a strong foundation for you here to help you get started, such as discussing what it actually means to be a total market index investor, and what the research says about passive index investing versus actively trying to pick investments that will beat the market. We'll also talk about the different ways you can be a DIY passive index investor here in Canada and the pros and cons of each. Next, we're going to tackle something that's a bit more intermediate level and something that I've personally been deliberating and have been curious about for quite some time: When it comes to the more stable, fixed-income portion of our investment portfolio (often called the bond portion), what are some of the options available to us here in Canada, and what are the pros and cons of each? We've all heard of high-interest savings accounts, GICs, and all-in-one bond ETFs that capture the aggregate bond index and have an assortment of bond types in them. But what if we only want a specific type of bond in our portfolio because of the degree of volatility and income that it provides? What are these different types of bond ETFs that we can buy, and what's the trade-off that we incur by choosing one over another? In the past, we have had both stocks and bonds fall at the same time (2022), so what are our options and tradeoffs when it comes to specific types of bonds that we can choose, so that we can avoid or mitigate the large drops in the "safe/less volatile" portion of our portfolio? Links from the Episode ETF Comparison Tool. This is especially useful for comparing fees (the management fee and MER) among similar ETFs. At this link, I've already included some comparisons for you. Here is the episode on fixed-income choices that I mentioned during the episode: Fixed Income ETFs Episode ETF Market Insights YouTube Channel Investor Profile Questionnaire (to help you determine your asset allocation) Disclaimer This podcast is sponsored by BMO Exchange Traded Funds. Build Wealth Canada is compensated under this arrangement by BMO ETFs. This communication is intended for information purposes only. This update has been prepared by Build Wealth Canada and represents their assessment at the time of publication. The comments contained do not necessarily represent the views of BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). The views expressed by the host and the interviewee are subject to change without notice as markets change over time. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual's investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance. Views expressed regarding a particular company, security, industry or market sector should not be considered an indication of trading intent of any investment funds managed by BMO GAM. Any reference to a particular company is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell nor should it be considered as an indication of how the portfolio of any investment fund managed by BMO GAM is or will be invested. This social media network is an independent organization and is not affiliated with BMO GAM.

    57 min
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4.6
out of 5
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About

Kornel interviews the top financial experts in Canada to help you optimize your investments, reduce your taxes, and help you accelerate your journey towards financial independence and early retirement. He also shares his own experiences and lessons learned in investing and as an early retiree and member of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement to help you optimize your finances, specifically here in Canada.

Information

  • Creator
    Kornel Szrejber: Investor
  • Years Active
    2014 - 2026
  • Episodes
    144
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 - Build Wealth Canada Inc. - All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Build Wealth Canada Podcast

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