The Clear Money Mindset

EP 34 A Very Davies Christmas Special Version 2.0

Oh-ho-ho my, it’s that time of the year again.  
The Davies Financial Team is at it again, bringing on the holiday season with our Christmas Special Podcast Version 2.0. Ben, Andrea and Victoria get in the holiday spirit with some holiday trivia, fun festive facts, nostalgia, laughs and we’ve even thrown in some facts on how to stay safe when buying online (after all, it is a financial wellness podcast).  
To all of our listeners and clients, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, see you in 2023! 

EP 33 - Sebastian Schmoranz - Planning for the Future Challenges for those with Disabilities

When planning for the future there are so many things to consider, planning for a person with a disability creates a unique set of challenges, we want to make sure that our loved ones are provided for and that their needs continue to be met. Today on the Podcast we welcome back Sebastian Schmoranz from McGregor, Sims, Schmoranz Law Office. Sebastian and Ben discuss some of the things that you can do from a legal standpoint to help and create peace of mind. They will touch on things like saving for the future, RDSP (Registered Disability Savings Program), setting up wills, estate considerations, appointing caregivers, disability planning in your business and more.  

EP 32 - Mortgages & Markets - Update with Rasha Ingratta, Mortgage Expert

What is happening in the housing market? - Interest, Inflation, and Investment, oh my!
 
With an eventful 2022 slowly winding down but interest rates on the rise we knew it was time to have a professional come on the podcast and talk about the current state of the housing market. Rasha Ingratta, a mortgage expert with Mortgage Intelligence offers her expert opinions and insights on the unusual real estate situation. Being local to the Windsor/Essex area she has a great deal of experience in the unusual real estate pocket of the city south of Detroit. 🎸
 
On this informative podcast, Ben and Rasha discuss:
➡ The current inflation rate and how it impacts the rate
➡ Reflection on house values in the past 2 years
➡ When to think about refinancing
➡ How to qualify for a mortgage
➡ Information about the stress test
➡ Home equity line of credits
➡ Purchase Price and appraisal price
➡ Fixed or variable rate, past present and future
 

EP 31 - Think Outside the Budget - Jason Leong Co-Founder & CEO of Pocketsmith

A podcast and a giveaway, what a beaut! 
When we think of a budget, we don’t always jump up and down with excitement. It can seem daunting and make us feel restricted. What good is a budget if it is too rigid to stick with? 
Enter PocketSmith, a New Zealand based budgeting app company, this app is as unique and individual as the person using it, it can help create flexible and sustainable budgets. When a client recommended this to us, Ben contacted the company, and they were an absolute joy to deal with. Ben was able to chat with Jason Leong, CEO and Co-Founder and the rest...well, you can listen to in this episode.  
Whether this is your first-time using budgeting software or you are a seasoned veteran, this app has it all: integrations from your bank account, customized and flexible budgeting options, future forecasting and even  allows budget sharing with your financial advisor. This podcast is highly informative and as an added bonus, we are teaming up with PocketSmith to give away a couple of one-year subscriptions so you can see what is under the hood and really get to know the app.  
To enter, send us a screenshot of a 5 star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts of your favourite podcast (The Clear Money Mindset 😉). Good luck to all of our listeners and happy budgeting! 
 
Want to know more about Pocketsmith?
PocketSmith – The Best Budgeting & Personal Finance Software

EP 30 - Saving Snippets - RESP’s

Wanted to learn about RESP's but have not had time to do the research?
 
On this episode of "The Clear Money Mindset" we will walk you through the basics of the Registered Education Savings Plan.
 
Who can open an RESP?
What does the government contribute?
What kind of school can I use the funds for?
All these questions and more on the first of our "Savings Snippets" episodes!

EP 29 - What to do when a loved one passes away - Josie Hope & Ashley Harmon

Losing a loved one is a stressful event; between emotions, finances, family, and final wishes it can be a challenging time to navigate this unfamiliar terrain. There are many things to consider from both a financial and legal perspective - there are at least 87 decisions to make, pieces of information to gather or things to do when someone dies. Today on our podcast Ben is fortunate to be joined by Josie Hope, an accountant with LJ Business Solutions, as well as Ashley Harmon, a lawyer with Hogarth Hermiston Severs LLP, they will be discussing steps you can take before someone passes away, what needs to be done after, as well as tips to help ease the burden that you can put on your loved ones in the event of death. If you have ever had to act as an executor, you know the importance of an accountant and lawyer as you work to settle a final estate. 

EP 28 - Lending Dollars & Savings Percent’s - Rob Zanet Axiom Mortgage Solutions Pt. 2

Lending Dollars & Saving Percents - Part 2  
Rob Zanet of Axiom Mortgages continues his conversation with Ben as he provides more professional insight into the mortgage world. In the second part of this 2 part podcast Rob discusses his experiences with re-financing (this may be a big trend over the next few years), private mortgages, stress tests, and much more including variable versus fixed mortgages. 

EP 27 - Lending Dollars & Savings Percent’s - Rob Zanet Axiom Mortgage Solutions

A podcast that really hits home (owners). 
With the cost of housing going up, those who are looking to buy a home (or refinancing your current home) must work hard to save money. This is where the mortgage broker – a professional whose job is to find you the best mortgage rate, enters the conversation. Rob Zanet of Axiom mortgage walks you through what you need to know in part one of this 2-part podcast including: 
The benefits of using a Broker. 
Sources that Brokers can use. 
What are the types of lenders and should you be concerned about “lesser known” lenders. 
How Brokers are compensated. 
Tips and Advice that could save you thousands in interest. 
Rob Zanet and his wife Sandra have collectively over 50 years of mortgage experience in Windsor & Essex Country and currently operate Axiom Mortgages that locally has 2 offices located in both Tecumseh and Leamington.  

EP 26 - The Bottom Line - How Biases Affect Your Behavior - Alex Nguyen

Investor emotions have a big impact on investor behavior. That can often lead to making the wrong decisions a the wrong time. This can affect how we react in both up and down markets. Our first podcast in 2020 was about navigating our emotions in investing. We want to revisit that today. 2022 continues to be a tough year. We want to look into how the right mindset can have an impact on our investments.

EP 25 - Chris Martin - Cyber Security - Part 2 - Protect Yourself

What would you do if we told you that your “Very Strong” password could be figured out within an hour with no other information about you and if small amounts of information are known it can be minutes or seconds? Many people are unaware of seemingly innocent ways you give your information and how that may make you very susceptible to online hackers. You may be at risk if: 
Any of y0ur p@$$w0rd$ l00k l!k3 Th!S. 
You have used any password or part of a password more than once. 
You use words, patterns, or personal information in your password.
You use verification questions that are easy.
We also discuss: 
Are call phone biometrics safe/secure? 
How to protect your account and information. 
Why 2-way authentication is so important (tip, you can set this up in your Sterling portal) . 
In the second and final part of this two part podcast Ben continues his talk with Chris Martin – Staff Software Engineer with Mozilla Firefox as they discuss the password debacle and gives some suggestions on how you can increase your security in the online world.