DIY Wealth Canada Podcast

In this episode, Bob and Nelson look back at some of the lessons we learned from season 1, but we go even deeper. We talk about how important it is to write down your thoughts, so there's a record of what you were thinking when you make certain decisions.

Then we dive deep into the topic of coast FIRE, pointing out the pros and cons of this intermediate step towards financial independence. It might be just the thing you're looking for if you're on your way to full financial independence, but want to take your foot off the gas pedal a bit.

Finally we tackle Canadian banks. Are they overvalued? Should you be buying or selling today? We go through what we think of these wonderful forever stocks.

Your favourite podcast is back, baby!

In season 2 Bob and Nelson are ready to tackle everything of interest for DIY Canadian investors. This week's episode we start out with a quick recap of season 1 and what you can expect for season two.

Then we pivot to discussing what types of investments belong in which account, the perils of overoptimizing for taxes, and an interesting dividend strategy that has a history of beating the TSX over the long-term.

This week's episode was special. Not only is it our season finale, but we took your questions LIVE on Twitter. We covered all sorts of things, including what we do when a company cuts its dividend, whether currency hedging is a good idea, and, of course, some dividend stocks we think might be interesting today.

Thanks everyone for a great season 1, and we'll see you again in the fall.

"I think a life properly lived is just learn, learn, learn, all the time. And I think Berkshire's gained enormously from these investment decisions by learning through a long, long period." -- Charlie Munger

This week's episode is a special one. Bob and Nelson discuss some of the most important investing lessons we've learned recently, including the importance of growth, feelings of FOMO as seemingly everyone else embraces the AI bubble, and how some of the most important investing lessons have impacts far away from the portfolio.

There is a very good chance we're going to look stupid, but screw it. Predictions are fun!

In this episode of the pod, Nelson and Bob make all sorts of wild predictions. We opine on whether the stock market will continue to perform, what'll happen with interest rates, which companies will cut dividends, and a few *really* interesting wildcards at the end.

So-called "one decision" stocks are fantastic choices for long-term investors. You only need to make one decision -- when to buy -- and the rest takes care of itself.

But what stocks belong on such a vaunted list?

Join Bob and Nelson as we go through such stocks in our portfolios, sharing the best of the best in sectors such as Canadian banking, utilities, REITs, and even some U.S. tech. Your portfolio might never look the same again.

This week Bob and Nelson are talking bubbles. More specifically, the AI bubble.

We talk about how you might want to invest if you worry about a bubble, some other bubbles we remember, and steps you can take to protect yourself if you just can't resist speculating on something frisky.

And, as a bonus, Nelson goes off on an old-man-yells-at-cloud anti-AI rant that he's been holding inside for a long time.

Both Bob and Nelson have a simple retirement plan. We want to live off the dividends while the underlying shares continue to go up in value.

This method has a ton of advantages. It's worked well historically. It's simple. And it comes with much lower taxes than you might first assume.

But that doesn't mean it's a perfect solution for everyone. This episode we dig deep into the concept and point out not just the positives, but the negatives as well.

If you plan to retire on just the dividends, you won't want to miss this one.

What's the point of retiring early if you're not going to use that extra time to travel?

This week's episode dives into how Bob and Nelson use travel hacking to save serious money on flights, hotels, and more. Bob shares how he used points to save a ton of money on a recent trip, including ways to accumulate those points quickly in the first place.

We also look at some of the negatives, including how companies are constantly devaluing points and how it's harder than ever to get the really good deals.

Real estate investing is as old as time itself. You buy a place, rent it out, and pocket the profit after expenses. It's been a solid way to make money.

But in 2026 we're not sure we agree. In this week's episode Bob and Nelson tackle the topic. Nelson passes on his personal experience (including why he sold his physical properties in 2022), and we weigh on a way to get the same kind of exposure with a fraction of the work.

Another week, another guest!

Mark Seed joins Bob and Nelson on the pod again. This time the subject is finfluencers, folks who might have good intentions but often operate in a grey area outside of regulator control.

We debate whether finfluencers are a good or bad thing for DYI investors, how to tell if someone is worth listening to, and much more.

If you're looking for more Mark, check out My Own Advisor.

This week Bob and Nelson welcome another excellent guest to the pod. Anthony is the Newcomer Investor on X (@newcomerinvest), who absolutely loves the game of business.

After starting out as primarily a dividend growth investor, Anthony has evolved into primarily a growth investor -- but don't worry dividend lovers. He still owns a bunch of dividend stocks.

We talk about Brookfield, Thomson Reuters, and Franco Nevada, (plus more!) while Anthony also discusses things like how his research process has evolved and why he mixes individual stocks and ETFs.

Another great episode. You guys are going to enjoy this one.

It used to be that if you had one million dollars, you were rich.

But things are different today. In a world where seemingly everybody is in the seven-figure club and $1M doesn't even buy a nice house in Toronto or Vancouver anymore, is it really enough to retire on? Or do Canadians need to save more?

Bob and Nelson tackle these questions on the pod this week, taking a math-based approach to the whole situation. We argue that you may not need as much as you first think, and there are additional variables to consider. There's no easy solution to the question, which is what makes it so much fun.

We had so much fun talking dividends last week that we decided to do it again.

We cover some of our favourite stocks in the energy sector, pipelines, gold, REITs, and a whole lot more. Plus, a little look at a company that has quietly become a pretty interesting buy.

For more on REITs, visit Bob's look at 5 of the best REITs in Canada

In this week's episode we talk stocks. Dividend stocks, of course.

We cover a bunch of different names, including Telus, Canadian banks, Capital Power, Brookfield, and more. A great show for anyone looking for stock ideas.

For more research on Brookfield Asset Management, visit Canadian Dividend Investing.

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson welcome a very special guest, Mike the Dividend Guy. He's one of the best dividend investors out there, so we're extra excited about this one.

We discuss Mike's specific version of dividend investing, including why he places more of an emphasis on growth than most, the importance of what Mike calls the dividend triangle, and a whole lot more.

Plus we answer the question so many of you are asking... do we wear pants while we record these pods?

For everything Mike, make sure you visit The Dividend Guy Blog.

"Why don't y'all use a financial advisor?"

This week's episode of the pod is a little more reflective than most.

Bob and Nelson spend a lot of time talking about the 'how' part of DIY investing, helping to educate y'all on just exactly what we do and how we do it. This week's episode focuses more on the why, and why Canadians might distrust the financial advice industry.

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson tackle one of the toughest questions in the investing world.

Just when should you sell a stock, anyway?

The short answer is this. It's complicated and most investors suck at it. They sell when a stock gets back to break even, or when it hits some target price they've pulled out of the sky.

We share some thinking that has worked for us. Maybe it'll work for you, too.

Just what should you do with your cash, anyway?

We're not talking about investments here, but cash. That is money in your emergency fund, or that's been put aside for a big purchase in the next 6-12 months, or perhaps a reserve waiting to be invested.

Most folks will default to the highest yield possible, or put their money into an asset that might appear safe but actually has hidden risks.

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson dive deep into the world of cash, including a trick Nelson uses to maximize the yield on his cash without taking any additional risk.

One of the most common questions we get involves online brokerages. Which one should I use? Which ones stink?

This week on the show Bob and Nelson attempt to answer this question once and for all, but the conclusion isn't necessarily the same for every investor. Some will want a lot of features, while others are just looking for free trades.

We go through each and list the pros/cons, plus we each choose the one that we think is best overall.

This week's episode is one y'all won't want to miss. We turn things around a little bit with Bob interviewing Nelson. About what exactly?

About how Nelson has officially failed at early retirement. He has a real job again.

Nelson talks about everything that went into the decision, talking about the hardest parts of his early retirement, how it wasn't really what he expected, and the reasons why he embraced work instead of the many other hobbies he could've picked up.

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson reach into the mailbag and answer your questions. We cover such things as whether Telus can maintain that generous dividend, how to invest cash you might need 12 months from now, and we tackle the question that we both get the most, by far.

Leave a comment to ask a question we'll use for our next Ask Us Anything episode.

Both Bob and Nelson are lucky that we've gotten a lot of good financial advice from trusted people right when it was needed most. But we've also gotten a fair bit of advice that's downright terrible.

This week's episode talks about the worst of the worst as we go over some of the most damaging advice we've ever been given.

The most interesting part is that one man's bad financial advice is often helpful for others...

"You can't have the majority of your portfolio in Canadian stocks. Don't you know that Canada is only 3% of the world's market?!?!?"

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson tackle this question from a more contrarian perspective. We argue that the TSX is actually much more diversified than it first appears, and that some of the advantages to concentrating in one country outweigh some of the disadvantages.

Agree with us? Think we're crazy? Let us know on the Twitter. Find Bob here, and Nelson is here.

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson discuss the death of the 60/40 portfolio, and how so many investors just don't hold bonds altogether. Is this a smart strategy, or are investors who move into 100% equity portfolios taking on too much risk?

As always, you can get more Bob in your life by visiting Tawcan, and Nelson can be found at Canadian Dividend Investing.

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson dive into what is always a fascinating topic, just how useful is social media for investors? We go over the numerous pros and almost as many cons and end up at a conclusion that might surprise some of you.

Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you never miss another episode. As well, check out Nelson's post about the pitfalls of social media here.

Bob was traveling when we recorded this one, so forgive any poor audio quality.

They say defense wins championships in most sports, and we believe the same is true in investing. Those who worry about the downside ensure they live to see another day, and investing is all about survival.

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson discuss risk management by pointing out the various things that mostly new investors are doing to try and maximize returns, get rich in a hurry, or to maximize their dividends. Playing defense isn't nearly as sexy as going for the gusto, but it's an important tool for any investor.

As always you can find more Nelson at Canadian Dividend Investing, and Bob's finance-related thoughts live at Tawcan. Bob was traveling when we recorded this one, so we apologize for his end of the recording being a little lower quality.

This is the one y'all have been waiting for.

One of the most common questions we get are about our top portfolio holdings. Readers and listeners want to know what we own and why we own it. This week we pull back the curtain and discuss our top holdings, including detailed analysis on why we've chosen these names.

Don't miss this one and while you're here, hit that subscribe button so you don't miss another episode.

This week on the pod Bob and Nelson tackle one of the biggest financial mysteries for parents, RESPs. We tackle the ins and outs of the accounts, what you can do if your kids don't end up going to university, some more basic RESP strategies, and a whole lot more.

For more on RESPs, check out Bob's massive guide to the account. It'll tell you everything you need to know.

Bob was traveling when we recorded this episode, so his audio quality might not be quite as good as normal.

And, as always, if you'd like more Bob in your life, checkout http://tawcan.com. Nelson's writing can be found at http://CanadianDividendInvesting.com

Dream of throwing off the shackles of your crummy job?

Want to know how much it'll take to never have to work forever?

In this week's episode Bob and Nelson talk about early retirement -- including just how much you'll need (spoiler alert: this question has no simple answer) and the pitfalls of a potential retirement that lasts longer than your working career. A must-listen for any potential early retiree in Canada.

Looking for monthly dividend income? This this episode is for you. Bob and Nelson discuss the pros and cons of monthly dividend stocks, helping listeners decide whether they belong in their portfolio. We then discuss a few of our favourite monthly dividend payers.

If you're interested in a list of monthly dividend paying stocks, Nelson maintains one you can find here:

https://www.canadiandividendinvesting.com/c/monthly-dividend-stocks

This week's episode is for the dividend investors out there! Bob and Nelson discuss a few of their favourite Canadian dividend stocks, but with the important caveat that different investors will have their own favourites based on what they're looking for.

Make sure to give DIY Wealth Canada a follow so you never miss another episode, and check out both http://tawcan.com and http://CanadianDividendInvesting.com for more Bob and Nelson.

This week Bob and Nelson tackle a big mistake we see investors do all the time -- when they take simple ETF portfolios and feel the need to tinker with them, and how the financial industry enables this by creating so many similar products. The result? Portfolios with overlap, extra fees, and just plain underperformance. A must-listen for any ETF investor.

Make sure to give DIY Wealth Canada a follow so you never miss another episode, and check out both http://tawcan.com and http://CanadianDividendInvesting.com for more Bob and Nelson.

This week's episode looks at some of the biggest mistakes both Bob and Nelson have made in their investing journeys. Nelson talks about his past as a (terrible) deep value investor, while Bob's biggest mistake was putting his hard-earned cash into high MER mutual funds. We go over those mistakes, plus many more.

This week on the pod Nelson and Bob talk about the powerful concept of hedging your consumption -- the practice of investing in the things you consume. Examples might be buying shares in your telecom provider, local utility, or bank.

But more importantly, such a strategy really helps mentally. Tune in to hear what we mean about that.

This week Bob and Nelson tackle one of Nelson's biggest pet peeves: income investing. We discuss the differences between income investing and dividend investing, two very different things that many think are quite similar. We dive deep into how income investing works, and how many of the enticing yields offered come with some pretty big red flags.

This week Bob and Nelson are joined by Mark Seed, who is closing in on early retirement. We ask Mark about the FIWOOT concept, how he plans to withdraw from his retirement funds, cash cushions for the early retiree, and a ton more.

You can find more of Mark at http://myownadvisor.ca.

In this episode, Bob and Nelson tackle the question that will always elicit an opinion -- should you invest with dividends in mind, or should you always aim for the best total returns?

Bob explains how he invests in indexes to go for total returns and dividend stocks for income, while Nelson raises some eyebrows with his dividend-only style. If it doesn't pay a dividend, he won't invest. Yet he's still confident a dividend strategy can deliver good total returns over time.

What are your thoughts on this classic debate? Find us on Twitter/X (Nelson is @CDINewsletter, while Bob is @Tawcan) and let us know.

This week on the show Bob and Nelson discuss Canadian REITs. Topics covered include how they fit into our overall strategies, how Nelson looks at which REITs to own, and discussion of a few of our favourites in the sector.

This week on the show Bob and Nelson discuss the various strategies they've used to build wealth over the years. We talk about budgeting, maximizing your savings rate, and how we both embraced frugality. Bob points out how important it is to maximize your earnings at work, while Nelson explains why your savings rate is so important -- especially when you start.

In the inaugural edition of the DIY Wealth Canada Podcast, Bob and Nelson talk about their financial journeys. We touch on how we got interested in finance, why we invest the way we do, the importance of financial plans , and much more.

For more on Bob's journey, check out http://tawcan.com, where he writes about all things finance, with an emphasis on investing and his personal journey.

And for more on Nelson, check out http://CanadianDividendInvesting.com, where he writes about everything Canadian dividend investing related.