Welcome to Your Life and Money—where financial planning is all about designing a life you love. In this episode, Brad Smith and Tim Borody talk about their Retirement Coaching Program. More than just numbers, this program helps clients explore what retirement really means—personally, emotionally, and practically.

It’s not just about saving enough—it’s about answering the bigger question: What’s next?

In this episode, we dive into three key themes:

• Planning Beyond the Financials: Why traditional retirement planning often misses the mark by focusing solely on money—and how coaching helps you define purpose, identity, and lifestyle after leaving the workforce.
• The Role of Retirement Coaching: How this program supports clients in navigating the emotional and psychological transitions that come with retirement, from redefining identity to setting new goals.
• Designing a Fulfilling Future: Strategies for creating a retirement aligned with your values, whether that means volunteering, starting a new business, spending more time with family, or traveling the world.

Don’t just retire—reimagine your future. Tune in now to learn how.

Welcome back to Your Life and Money—where financial planning is about more than just numbers; it’s about designing a life you love. In this episode, Brad Smith and Tim Borody explore a growing trend: the do-it-yourself (DIY) movement in personal finance. With the rise of AI tools and online platforms, it’s easier than ever to manage your own money—but does that mean you should?

This episode dives into the essential conversation around the value of working with professionals in an age of digital convenience. Brad and Tim share real-life stories, professional insights, and compelling research that reveal why sometimes, the best return on investment is the advice you receive—not the product you buy.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why more industries (from real estate to taxes) are pushing DIY options—and what that means for consumers.
• The hidden costs and risks of going it alone with your finances.
• Key insights from FP Canada's recent report on client confidence and peace of mind.
• What real clients say about their experience working with a financial advisor.
• How personal stories, wisdom, and experience offer more value than any AI tool or online calculator.

What’s in it for you?

You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of the real-world impact of financial advice—from avoiding costly mistakes to gaining the confidence to make life-changing decisions like retiring or relocating. Whether you’re navigating your first big financial move or rethinking your current plan, this episode will help you ask better questions, reflect on your own needs, and make more informed choices.

Welcome back to Your Life and Money — the podcast that goes beyond the numbers to help you live your best financial life. In this solo episode, host Brad Smith dives into a crucial yet often overlooked topic: the role of alternative investments in building a more resilient and aligned financial strategy.

While life-centered planning is always the foundation, Brad explores how evolving markets and investor needs are driving a shift away from traditional models like the 60/40 portfolio—and what that means for your money.

In this episode, we explore three core themes:

• The Limits of Traditional Investing: Why the classic balanced portfolio often falls short of expectations in today’s volatile markets, and how client experiences frequently diverge from projected returns.
• The Rise of Alternative Assets: How pension funds are using private investments like real estate, debt, and equity to reduce volatility and boost long-term returns—and how these strategies are now accessible to individual investors.
• The Power of Active, Integrated Management: How unified managed accounts (UMAs) combine professional management and alternative asset access to create more flexible, responsive portfolios aligned with your life goals.

Why listen?

This episode offers practical insights into how you can build a more durable, diversified portfolio—without relying solely on public stocks and bonds. It’s an essential listen for anyone seeking greater clarity, confidence, and consistency in their financial plan.

Have questions or want to learn more?

Visit our website to connect, share your feedback, or explore how life-centered planning can work for you.

Tune in today and discover how smarter investing can support the life you truly want to live.

Uncertainty may dominate the headlines—but it doesn’t have to dominate your financial decisions. In this insightful episode of Your Life and Money, hosts Brad Smith and Tim Borody dig into the real-world lessons learned from decades of market ups and downs, including recent volatility, and why life-centered planning remains the most effective tool in your financial toolkit.

Drawing from real client stories and historical market shocks—from 9/11 to 2025's tariff turbulence—they explore how patience, true diversification, and clear financial plans help investors stay grounded when the world feels anything but.

Here’s what we unpack in this episode:

• How to stay steady during market volatility by sticking to a values-driven financial plan
• Real examples of past crises (like 9/11 and the 2008 financial crash) and what they teach us today
• The danger of “recency bias” and why emotional investing rarely ends well
• What true diversification looks like—and why most investors aren’t as diversified as they think
• The power of incorporating private investments (real estate, credit, equity) for stability and consistent returns
• Questions to ask yourself and your advisor about your actual risk tolerance
• How pension-style investing provides both peace of mind and performance in uncertain times

Why it matters:

This episode is packed with practical insights that can help you rethink not just how you invest, but why you invest the way you do. Whether you’re nearing retirement or just trying to make smarter decisions in volatile times, you’ll walk away with tools to help you plan with purpose and confidence.

Planning for retirement isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building a life you love. In this episode, hosts Brad Smith and Tim Borody explore how financial scorecards can help you gain clarity and confidence in your future.

They break down two key tools:

• The Retirement & Investment Scorecard – A powerful tool to measure financial confidence and identify gaps in understanding.
• Uses a 1-10 scale to assess confidence in retirement readiness.
• Helps identify areas where more clarity is needed on investments, risks, and cash flow.
• Reveals blind spots—many advisors assume clients grasp financial details, but scorecards often highlight knowledge gaps.
• Provides a structured way to ask better questions and make informed decisions about financial security.
• The Lifestyle Scorecard – Retirement isn’t just about money; it’s about quality of life.
• Evaluates non-financial aspects such as work, relationships, health, and sense of purpose.
• Uncovers hidden concerns—like work dissatisfaction or uncertainty about post-retirement purpose.
• Helps align financial plans with personal goals to create a more fulfilling retirement.
• Encourages deeper conversations about what truly matters in life after work.

Many people assume they have all the answers, but these scorecards reveal crucial knowledge gaps and open up deeper conversations. Brad and Tim discuss how using these tools can replace uncertainty with confidence, helping you craft a retirement that’s both financially and personally rewarding.

Welcome to Your Life and Money, where financial planning goes beyond numbers to help you reach your Financial Finish Line—the point where your money serves your life, not the other way around. Join hosts Brad Smith and Tim Borody as they dive into powerful stories of people who have achieved true financial fulfillment by defining their goals and aligning their finances with their values.

In this episode, Brad and Tim discuss how financial success isn’t just about wealth—it's about clarity, purpose, and using your money as a tool to achieve what matters most. You’ll hear inspirational stories from real people who found their Financial Finish Lines and learn practical ways to start your own journey.

At Advice First Wealth, we believe everyone has a unique financial finish line. It’s time to discover yours. Whether you’re at the beginning of your financial journey or refining your approach, this episode offers insights to help you move forward with confidence and purpose.

Got thoughts or questions? We’d love to hear from you! Join the conversation and connect with us.

Tune in and get inspired to reach your Financial Finish Line!

It’s that time of year again—tax season! But instead of just scrambling to file your return, what if you could take a proactive approach and use tax planning to your advantage? In this episode of Your Life and Money, host Tim Borody dives into the importance of tax planning as a key pillar of financial success.

We’ll cover:

• The difference between tax season and tax planning—and why it matters
• How to align your tax strategy with your overall financial plan
• Smart ways to reduce your tax burden, including RRSP contributions and capital gains strategies
• Real-life examples of how tax planning helped clients save thousands
• The impact of investment fees and how to structure your accounts for tax efficiency

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a better understanding of how to make tax planning work for you—not just this year, but for years to come. Got questions or want to share your own tax-saving strategies? Reach out to us—we’d love to hear from you!

What if generosity isn’t just about giving—but about gaining something even greater? In this episode of Your Life and Money, Brad Smith explores how generosity can transform your financial outlook and your life. With co-host Tim Brody under the weather, Brad takes the opportunity for a one-on-one conversation about how aligning your money with your values leads to true financial contentment.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why generosity is more than just a good deed—it’s a financial strategy.
• The three fundamental questions everyone must answer about money.
• The five key financial habits that lead to success (and why giving generously is at the top).
• Real-life stories of people who embraced generosity and saw unexpected rewards.
• Practical ways to start giving—no matter where you are on your financial journey.
• The tax and estate planning benefits of charitable giving.

Generosity isn’t just for the wealthy—it’s for everyone. Whether you're just starting or looking to increase your impact, this episode will inspire you to rethink the role of money in your life.