Coming soon: Season twelve of Stress Test

After years of strong gains, the stock market’s resilience has many investors and experts wondering how much longer it can last. We hear from a 25-year-old from B.C. about her first market downturn, her reaction to the drop and how it changed her investing mindset.  Then Rob talks with wealth advisor Aaron Hector, a wealth advisor at TIER Wealth in Calgary, about why the stock market has been so strong since COVID, why the tech sector seems primed for a downturn, and how to shore up your portfolio in a bear market.      Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There's so much financial uncertainty out there right now. Stocks have soared, but global conflicts are casting a shadow. House prices are falling. The labour market is shifting. Even the things that are supposed to be getting easier, like renting, don’t quite feel that way. Welcome back for another season of Stress Test, The Globe and Mail’s personal finance podcast for millennials and Gen Z. This season, we’ll look at how to prepare for the inevitable stock market downturn, how AI is disrupting the job market, and how accessible apps and low fees have made this a golden age for DIY investors.  Season 12 of Stress Test launches on March 11th.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Despite economic uncertainty, millions of Canadians continued to travel abroad and domestically in 2025. We want to know where they’re going - and how they’re doing it affordably. We hear from Stress Test producer Zahra Khozema about how she budgets for 2-3 trips a year. Then, The Globe’s consumer affairs reporter Mariya Postelnyak speaks with travel photographer Mandy Sham about her favourite affordable destinations, the trends she’s noticing among young Canadians travelling abroad and her top travel hacks for keeping costs low.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the last four years, legalized sports betting has become a massive industry in Canada. In Ontario alone, people placed bets worth a total of around $11-billion in 2024. It’s simple to do: Open an app, bet a few bucks and watch the scoreboard.  At the same time, trading apps have made investing quicker and easier, and the process feels very similar. We’re not saying gambling and investing are the same, but the lines are blurring thanks to app design and the sheer amount of time we spend on our phones.Roma speaks with Shannon Lee Simmons, a certified financial planner and author based in Toronto, about how she’s seeing a gambling mentality bleed into investing, particularly among young people. Then, The Globe’s personal economics reporter Erica Alini speaks with Perry Wright and Hans Frech, behavioural researchers at the Common Cents Lab at Duke University, about the behavioural similarities between gambling and speculative investing, what tactics these apps are enforcing and how to set up guardrails to protect your finances when using these apps.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Job cuts are a growing reality. In the past month, Amazon, Canada Post, Stellantis, General Motors, and Imperial Oil have been among the companies that have let plenty of employees go. Getting fired can come as a shock. And it can leave people financially strapped as they try to find their bearings. So what do you do if you suddenly find yourself in this situation?We hear from a Toronto-based tech worker about what she learned from being let go earlier this year. Then, Rob speaks with Nicole Biros-Bolton, a human rights and employment lawyer at Bird Bolt Law in Hamilton, Ontario, about your rights after your employment is terminated, how severance is calculated and how to navigate the process of applying for employment insurance.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During the pandemic, record-low interest rates meant cheap mortgages. These days? Rates are higher. And worries about where they’re headed next mean tough decisions for homeowners. We hear from a Toronto-based millennial about how she’ll manage her finances when her mortgage rate potentially doubles in the new year. Then, Rob speaks with Victor Tran, a licensed mortgage agent and real estate sales representative, about how higher rates are impacting housing affordability, and what your options are if you’re renewing at a much higher rate than before.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The job market for young Canadians is terrible these days. Lots of qualified, talented people are sending out tons of resumes and getting zero replies. We hear from two recent grads who have been struggling for months to get an interview, let alone a job offer. Then Erica Alini, The Globe’s personal economics reporter, speaks with Matt Lundy, The Globe’s economics editor, about the conditions driving high unemployment for young Canadians, lessons they learned as new graduates during the global financial crisis, and how AI is changing the hiring process for both applicants and employers.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Adulthood is a never-ending parade of chores. Clothes to clean, cars to wash, appliances to fix. Businesses that serve these needs, like laundromats, car washes, and vending machines, are honestly a bit, well, boring. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t making good money. And financially savvy Canadians are taking note. This week, we’ll hear from two 20-somethings who bought so-called “boring” businesses from boomers looking to retire. Then, The Globe’s new personal finance reporter, Meera Raman, speaks with Blake Corey, a certified financial planner and the president of Venn Wealth Partners, about why some are drawn to these boring businesses and what people should consider before they buy in.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More investors are turning to artificial intelligence for investing advice. But should you trust what ChatGPT tells you about ETFs, the stock market and where to put your money? We hear from two investors about how AI factors into their investing strategy. Rob Carrick also speaks with Ben Felix, portfolio manager and head of research at PWL Capital and co-host of the Rational Reminder podcast, about whether he finds AI investment advice reliable, if the technology is a threat to financial advisors and common pitfalls to watch out for.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You might be familiar with this home ownership journey: save for a down payment, buy a condo, live in it for a few years, sell it at a profit, then use that money to buy a bigger home with multiple bedrooms and a backyard. It was the standard home-owning playbook for older millennials. But with high interest rates and an oversaturated condo market, that formula has unravelled. In this episode, we’ll hear from a Calgary-based Gen Z who said buying a condo in 2022 was the worst financial decision of her life. Then, Roma speaks with John Pasalis, president and broker at Realosophy Realty, about just how bad the condo market is and what Gen Z and millennials should consider as they navigate the changing landscape.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.