Podcast · Business

Stress Test

by The Globe and Mail · English · Business

You had your best-laid plans and then COVID-19 came along and hammered the entire economy. But you’ve got this – if you have the right information. Join The Globe and Mail’s personal finance team, columnist Rob Carrick and editor Roma Luciw, as they guide you through one of the biggest stress tests

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 26 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 25 minNew

Anger vs profit: Should you sell your U.S. stocks?

Tensions between Canada and the U.S. are at an all-time high, and some young Canadians are questioning whether they still want to invest so much of their money south of the border. We hear from a millennial investor who dramatically reduced his U.S. holdings. Then Rob Carrick and financial planner Aravind Sithamparapillai discuss the risks and potential benefits of scaling back U.S. investments, and what investors should weigh before making a change to their portfolios.

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S13 · 6 Oct 2026 · 1 min
Coming soon: Season thirteen of Stress Test
When are you ready to buy a home? To have a kid? To quit your day job and become your own boss? In 2026, financial milestones look different than they used to. This season of Stress Test gets into the big money decisions Canadians are facing. We’ll look at whether the trade war is changing how people invest, why more Canadians are buying their first homes in their 40s and 50s, and how much money online influencers really make. Season thirteen of Stress Test launches October 14th wherever you get your podcasts.
S12 · E8 · 29 Apr 2026 · 28 min
No, you don’t need $1.7-million to retire
Retirement can feel overwhelming when headlines insist you need millions before you can stop working. But is that actually true? In this episode, we hear from young Canadians with very different visions of life after work. Then retirement reporter Meera Raman sits down with financial planner Moira Rose Váně to challenge some of the biggest assumptions about retirement. Together, they explore why so many younger Canadians feel behind before they’ve even begun, and what a more realistic path to retirement can look like.
S12 · E7 · 22 Apr 2026 · 29 min
Everyone wants a prenup. Very few people get one
More than half of young Canadians say they’d want a prenup if they got married or entered a common-law relationship. But only a small share have actually signed one. So what’s stopping them? In this episode, we look at the gap between interest and action and why prenups may still be harder, pricer and more emotionally charged than many expect. We hear from a Toronto woman who says getting a prenup with her husband became the most difficult part of wedding planning. Then, Aimee Schalles, lawyer and co-founder of Jointly.ca, breaks down what happens if you don’t have a prenup, why more young…
S12 · E6 · 15 Apr 2026 · 26 min
Your “starter home” might be your forever home
For decades, there was a formula for homeownership. Buy something small, maybe a condo or a townhouse, watch its value rise, and then eventually move up to something bigger. But that formula is breaking down for many young Canadians. Today, we’re looking at what happens when an idea passed down through generations stops working when it's your turn. First, we hear from a Toronto homeowner who stretched far beyond her budget to skip the starter home altogether and buy a place she hopes to stay in long-term. Then, we meet a millennial who’s decided to rent and wait rather than make the jump…
S12 · E5 · 8 Apr 2026 · 29 min
Thanks to AI, your resume is perfect. So is everyone else’s
Breaking into the job market has always been tough, but right now, it feels harder than usual. Hiring is slow. Competition is high. And at the same time, artificial intelligence is changing the kinds of tasks that once defined entry-level roles. So what’s really behind this shift? We hear from economist and professor Larry Smith, who says new technology has always shaken up the labour market, but AI is doing so at a much faster speed. He also explains why creativity and adaptability matter more than ever. Then, recruiter Travis O’Rourke joins us to explain how AI is already reshaping hiring.…
S12 · E4 · 1 Apr 2026 · 25 min
Is this the golden age of DIY investing?
Investing on your own has never been simpler. Trading fees are disappearing, apps are better than ever and features like fractional shares mean you can start investing with just a few dollars. But is easier always better? On today’s episode, we look at what’s changed, what’s improved and what still matters most in the investing world. We hear from two Canadians who’ve taken different paths into DIY investing, and how new tools, from mobile apps to automated features, have changed how they invest their money. Then, Rob Carrick explains what’s driving this shift, why these changes are…
S12 · E3 · 25 Mar 2026 · 23 min
Big spender, risky investor: Today's committed Gen Z renter
Despite a cooling housing market, home ownership still feels out of reach for many young Canadians. Now, new research suggests that when young people decide to opt out of saving for a home, their behaviour can change in surprising ways. They spend more, save less, and take bigger risks with their investments. We hear from two committed renters in their 20s about why they’re not interested in saving for a down payment. Then, Roma speaks with certified financial planner Shannon Lee Simmons about how giving up homeownership can affect everything from daily spending to building long-term wealth.
S12 · E2 · 18 Mar 2026 · 23 min
Rents are falling, so why does it still feel so expensive?
Renters in Canada are finally catching a break. In Canada’s biggest cities, rents have been falling for more than a year and vacancy rates are rising. Some landlords are even offering incentives like free months of rent and move-in bonuses to attract tenants. But the reality on the ground is more complicated.
S12 · E1 · 11 Mar 2026 · 25 min
Yes, the stock market will crash. Are you ready?
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.
S12 · 4 Mar 2026 · 1 min
Coming soon: Season twelve of Stress Test
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…
S11 · E8 · 3 Dec 2025 · 26 min
A big-travel, small-budget blueprint for 2026
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.
S11 · E7 · 26 Nov 2025 · 24 min
Casinos in your pocket: The blurring line between investing and gambling
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…
S11 · E6 · 19 Nov 2025 · 26 min
You’ve just been let go. Now what?
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…
S11 · E5 · 12 Nov 2025 · 26 min
Your next mortgage renewal could be a shocker. Here’s what to do
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.
S11 · E4 · 5 Nov 2025 · 28 min
No jobs in this economy: Why the labour market is so brutal right now
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.
S11 · E3 · 29 Oct 2025 · 27 min
She left school to buy a laundromat: The appeal of ‘boring businesses’
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,…
S11 · E2 · 22 Oct 2025 · 27 min
Is it time to check out AI for investing advice?
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.
S11 · E1 · 15 Oct 2025 · 28 min
Condo hate is real. What's the new path to homeownership?
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…
S11 · 8 Oct 2025 · 1 min
Coming soon: Season eleven of Stress Test
The Globe’s personal finance podcast for Gen Z and millennials is back for another season. Join host Roma Luciw, recently retired Rob Carrick and The Globe’s roster of personal finance reporters as they dig into the financial questions impacting Canadians. Up this season: timely topics like AI investing, the condo crisis, and why young Canadians are buying boring businesses.
S10 · E8 · 26 Feb 2025 · 23 min
They ditched Canada's big cities for a cheaper lifestyle. How did it work out?
It’s been five years since the pandemic lockdowns began. As they dragged on, people working in cramped condos began craving more space – and began relocating to smaller cities, towns or rural areas, where housing was cheaper. So how did it work out for them? In this episode, we check in with guests from previous seasons to discuss their moves, whether it was good for their financial situation and if they’d ever think about moving back. We reconnect with a former pro hockey player who we met in Season 3. He relocated from Toronto to St. John, New Brunswick in the first year of the pandemic.…
S10 · E7 · 19 Feb 2025 · 27 min
Feeling behind? Why your parent’s financial timeline won’t work for you
We've all seen the ads: Hip investors in their 20s, happy homeowners in their 30s, and content retirees at 65. There's a lot of pressure to reach certain financial milestones by a certain age. But these deadlines aren’t working for everyone. It’s never been harder - or more unrealistic - to hit these milestones at the same age as previous generations. In this episode, Roma speaks with Sam Lichtman, founder of Millen Wealth Advisors, about why we need to adjust our expectations and rethink the personal finance timeline. We also speak with a B.C. man who just bought his first home in his…
S10 · E6 · 12 Feb 2025 · 25 min
From tariffs to crypto: A survival guide to investing in the Trump era
The news cycle hasn’t stopped since U.S. President Donald Trump was reelected. The past month has seen big ups and downs in the stock market, crypto, and the dollar. Whether you’re a novice investor or have lots of money in the stock market, you’re probably wondering what the second Trump presidency will mean for your finances. In this episode, Rob speaks with Aravind Sithamparapillai, an associate at Ironwood Wealth Management Group, to get his advice on investing during turbulent times. They talk about how tariffs could impact the market, the growing fascination with crypto, and whether…
S10 · E5 · 5 Feb 2025 · 28 min
You broke up, but can you afford to move out?
When relationships fall apart, the financial pressure of finding a new place to live can hit hard. All of a sudden, both partners need to adjust to covering the cost of rent or mortgage, utilities, and grocery bills - on one income. These financial strains are forcing some couples to live together for months - or years - after a breakup. We hear from a millennial who lived with his ex-wife and children for 8 months after they separated. And Roma chats with Shannon Lee Simmons, founder of the New School of Finance, about how couples are navigating high housing costs when they want to split.
S10 · E4 · 29 Jan 2025 · 22 min
Hustle culture draining you? Say hello to the soft life
We live in a society that glorifies overworking. But some people are tired of girl-bossing and rise-and-grinding. Instead of working harder for what can feel like less, they’re ready to lean out and embrace what some people call the “soft life.” It means prioritizing your rest and well-being over the corporate rat race. We’ll hear from a millennial who slowed down to the extreme - she quit her job and bought a farm. Then, Rob speaks with Chantaie Allick, the co-founder of Rework, an organization that helps people unlearn grind culture, heal from burnout and build their careers in more…
S10 · E3 · 22 Jan 2025 · 24 min
More young adults are buying homes alone. How are they pulling it off?
Buying a home with a partner is hard enough. But a growing number of Canadians aren’t waiting for love - or marriage - before they jump into real estate. About 20 percent of homes sold in Canada are purchased by solo buyers. Single-person households are the fastest-growing type of household in the country, according to census data. Still, it can be surprising to see people make such a huge investment, given the rising price of real estate. We’ll hear from three Canadian solo buyers about how they’ve managed to pull it off. They hustled. They made sacrifices. Two even lived with their parents…
S10 · E2 · 15 Jan 2025 · 27 min
Is a university or college degree still worth the money?
A post-secondary degree is commonly seen as the best way to get ahead. But the cost of university and college is rising - and it’s rising faster than the salary you can earn with a degree. As the math changes, is a post-secondary degree still a no-brainer? We speak with two recent grads about their job prospects after finishing their bachelor's and master's degrees, respectively. And Roma speaks with Jermaine L. Murray, a recruiter and the founder of JupiterHR, about how much employers value higher education in today’s job market.
S10 · E1 · 8 Jan 2025 · 30 min
No, you’re not throwing your money away on rent
We’ve all heard the adage, “renting is throwing your money away,” but when you factor in the rising cost of homeownership, is that actually the case? In this episode, Rob chats with Ben Felix, the chief investment officer at PWL Capital, about his financial model that shows renters can accumulate just as much wealth as homeowners. Plus, two millennials who can afford to buy homes but choose to remain renters share why and how they spend and invest their money to account for the absence of home equity.
S10 · 2 Jan 2025 · 1 min
Coming soon: Season ten of Stress Test
Rob Carrick and Roma Luciw are back for another season of Stress Test, The Globe’s personal finance podcast for Gen Z and millennials. This season, they’ll question some long-held personal finance beliefs - that you need to buy a house, get a university degree, and lean into hustle culture to have healthy finances. Also up this season: a look at solo homebuyers, the rise of “inflationships” and h
S9 · E8 · 24 Jul 2024 · 32 min
Here’s what young Canadians are putting in their TFSAs
We’re taking a peek into the TFSAs of regular Canadians to give you ideas of how to better use yours. In this episode, Rob chats with Aravind Sithamparapillai of Ironwood Wealth Management to break down TFSAs, FHSAs and RRSPs. Aravind is not an accredited planner. We’re also joined by two guests with very different investment strategies: a tech entrepreneur in the midst of launching his own business, and a millennial whose investment journey started somewhat unintentionally.

About Stress Test

Stress Test is a English business podcast from The Globe and Mail. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The Globe and Mail
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 26 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1515539724

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