Newcomer Investor – Details, episodes & analysis

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel, where we uncover the story behind great businesses and make investing accessible and fun for everyone!  

In this episode, I chat with Mahima Poddar, Senior Vice-President and Group Head, Personal Banking at EQ Bank. We explored EQ Bank’s innovative Challenger mindset, their cutting-edge products, and how they are reshaping banking to better serve Canadians with smarter, more efficient solutions.

Please note, this conversation was recorded on September 12th. As a result, any references to  specific future dates/events in the episode may refer to a time that has already passed.

Connect:

Newcomer Investor on X: https://twitter.com/NewcomerInvest

Newcomer Investor Email: iamthenewcomerinvestor@gmail.com

Follow EQ Bank on X: ⁠https://x.com/eqbank

Sign up for an EQ Bank Account using my referral: join.eqbank.ca/?code=ANTHONY5814

Sign up for a Small Business Account: https://www.eqbank.ca/business/business-banking/business-account

Episode Highlights:

(0:00) - Introduction

(1:24) - Introducing Mahima

(2:52) - The Challenger Bank Mindset

(5:00) - Building the EQ Bank Brand - early challenges and victories 

(9:37) - EQ Bank’s product differentiation compared to the Big 6

(18:45) - Who are EQ Bank’s customers? + customer acquisition/retention strategy

(22:00) - Second Chance campaign with Eugene and Dan Levy

(25:00) - The benefits of technology

(27:45) - Open banking

(30:45) - The Branch vs Branchless debate 

(34:25) - Anthony and Mahima’s bank customer experience anecdotes

(35:55) - What Mahima is excited about in the years ahead for EQ Bank

(38:35) - Post-conversation debrief

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel! The overarching goal for this channel is to share insights, learn from each other, chat about the beauty of investing and foster healthy debate by sharing various viewpoints. NOTE: This podcast should NOT be taken as financial advice, and is for entertainment purposes only. FOLLOW TheDividendGuy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDividendGuySUBSCRIBE to his Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC8aD-2lWvqnkxKiGH91X1WQ STREAM his Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4xk1mOZ05rwzMHRg3PGOp0?si=7532e53193fe419cSTREAM his second Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4W6l74AJVV5h2BJDeVJlKg?si=e31b0beb647040e0READ his blog: https://www.thedividendguyblog.com/Newcomer Investor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NewcomerInvest Subscribe on Youtube: hhttps://www.youtube.com/@newcomerinvestor/featuredEmail me at ⁠iamthenewcomerinvestor@gmail.com⁠
(0:00) - Introducing TheDividendGuy

(5:50) - Investing strategy; how it started, and evolved over time

(10:51) - The dividend triangle

(13:06) - The dividend vs anti dividend debate

(15:12) - Amazon $AMZN

(16:28) - Constellation Software $CSU

(19:37) - Benefits of sticking to one main strategy

(21:10) - Mark Leonard: one of the greatest Canadian CEOs of all time, and the importance of high quality management with integrity

(26:08) - Canadian banks’ recent earnings: what can we expect next?!

(30:26) - Thoughts on timing the market + managing expectations

(36:09) - National Bank $NA: what makes it so special!

(45:24) - CIBC $CM, Laurentian Bank $LB: suffering from lack of focused strategy

(47:21) - Canadian Western Bank $CWB

(49:20) - Alimentation Couche Tard $ATD: one of Canada’s greatest success stories

(56:06) - Alain Bouchard - passionate, down to earth, and humble leadership

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel, where we uncover the story behind great businesses and make investing accessible and fun for everyone!

In this episode, I am joined by Asheef Lalani for an in-depth analysis of Fairfax!

Please note, this conversation was recorded on November 4th. As a result, any references to specific future dates/events in the episode may refer to a time that has already passed. And remember that nothing here is financial advice

Connect:

Newcomer Investor on X:⁠ ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NewcomerInvest⁠⁠⁠

Newcomer Investor Email: ⁠⁠iamthenewcomerinvestor@gmail.com⁠⁠

Asheef on X:

https://x.com/BrownMarubozu

Episode Highlights:

(0:00) - Intro

(1:45) - Asheef’s career in finance

(5:00) - Asheef’s investing style

(7:50) - The evolution of markets

(18:45) - Fairfax - what do they do? what is a p&c business? 

Who is Prem Watsa? What is the Fairfax culture?

(27:20) - Fairfax’ largest stock: Eurobank

(29:45) - Understanding Fairfax’ valuation and some of its “hidden” components

(36:45) - Breaking down Fairfax’ insurance business

(41:55) - Downside protection

(47:27) - The float!!!

(49:20) - Global diversification

(53:25) - Fairfax India

(1:05:20) - Book value - comparison with Intact

(1:08:00) - genius move: Fairfax’ Total Return Swaps

(1:12:50) - catalyst: Fairfax’ potential inclusion into the TSX 60

(1:19:00) - How all Fairfax segments come together 

(1:20:30) - Brookfield & Fairfax similarities

(1:22:00) - Fairfax vs Fairfax India

(1:26:00) - Fairfax Stock: Strathcona Resources

(1:43:00) - Mako Mining and execution risks

(1:47:00) - Fairfax recent acquisitions: Sleep Country Canada and Peak Achievement

(1:58:45) - Fairfax stock’s exceptional return

(2:00:00) - Stock splits

(2:08:45) - Why some people choose to avoid Fairfax (and Brookfield!)

(2:12:30) - How Prem treats people

(2:17:00) - Asheef’s advice to investors

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel, where we uncover the story behind great businesses and make investing accessible and fun for everyone!  

In this episode, I chat with Aria, a brilliant investing Youtuber. We discuss his investing strategy and his perspective on a range of stocks. Please note, this conversation was recorded on October 19th. As a result, any references to specific future dates/events in the episode may refer to a time that has already passed.

Connect:

Newcomer Investor on X: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NewcomerInvest⁠⁠

Newcomer Investor Email: ⁠⁠iamthenewcomerinvestor@gmail.com⁠⁠

Aria on X:

https://x.com/QualityInvest5

Aria on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@QualityInvest5

ASML Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=FX-MEIr05aOR9Nc4&v=fK9cEhR07-c&feature=youtu.be

Salesforce Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=Kp2Tv6KxAyQ0QuoF&v=WKYZV3gOyeU&feature=youtu.be

Episode Highlights:

(0:00) - Intro

(1:00) - Who is Aria + his beginnings in investing

(3:00) - Mastercard

(13:15) - ASML

(30:00) - Salesforce

(44:20) - Amazon

(53:20) - Google

(1:01:45) - Uber

(1:06:00) - Rapid fire questions

(1:10:00) - Newcomer elevator pitch on Brookfield

(1:23:00) - Amazon (again) - sum of parts valuation

(1:25:00) - Aria’s advice for new investors

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel, where we uncover the story behind great businesses and make investing accessible and fun for everyone!  

In this episode, I chat with Nelson Smith, founder of the Canadian Dividend Investing Newsletter, and one of my favourite people in the FinTwit space! We discuss his investing strategy and his perspective on a range of stocks.

Please note, this conversation was recorded on October 16th. As a result, any references to  specific future dates/events in the episode may refer to a time that has already passed.

Connect:

Newcomer Investor on X: ⁠https://twitter.com/NewcomerInvest⁠

Newcomer Investor Email: ⁠iamthenewcomerinvestor@gmail.com⁠

Nelson on X:

https://x.com/CDInewsletter

Subscribe to the Canadian Dividend Investing Newsletter: https://canadiandividendinvesting.beehiiv.com/

Episode Highlights:

(0:00) - Intro

(1:00) - Who is Nelson? 

(4:30) - Nelson’s investing style

(6:22) - TD’s $3B fine and asset cap

(13:20) - Canadian Big 6 Banks

(17:50) - EQB

(26:05) - American banks

(28:25) - A&W

(38:50) - Restaurant Brands International (Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes, Firehouse Subs)

(46:30) - McDonald’s

(51:30) - Yum Brands

(54:20) - Alimentation Couche-Tard

(1:00:00) - Parkland Fuels

(1:06:50) - How will EVs affect the convenience industry???

(1:09:00) - Nutrien

(1:14:00) - Dollarama

(1:20:00) - Rogers Sugar

(1:23:00) - Grupo Aeroportuario

(1:26:00) - Polaris Infrastructure

(1:31:00) - Why no Asia/Europe stocks? Why so many holdings? Why no ETFs? Favourite/best stock ever?

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel, where we uncover the story behind great businesses and make investing accessible and fun for everyone! Please note: this podcast is not financial advice. I’m not telling you what to do… just sharing what I do! Connect: Newcomer Investor on X: ⁠https://twitter.com/NewcomerInvest⁠ Newcomer Investor Email: ⁠iamthenewcomerinvestor@gmail.com⁠

Timestamps:

(0:00) - Intro

(0:28) - Market

(2:10) - Portfolio strategy changes over the years

(14:14) - Plans for 2025

(18:10) - 5 stocks to watch in 2025

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel! In this episode, I chat once again with Asheef Lalani, an incredible Toronto-based investor. Please note, this conversation was recorded on July 8th and on July 14th 2025. As a result, any references to specific future dates/events in the episode may refer to a time that has already passed. 

Connect:

Newcomer Investor on X:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NewcomerInvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Asheef on X: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/BrownMarubozu

Fiscal AI: my favourite research tool: ⁠⁠https://fiscal.ai/?via=anthony⁠⁠

Episode Highlights:

(0:00) - Intro

(2:18) - Market structure

(8:25) - Fairfax

(42:41) - Strathcona Resources & MEG takeover attempt

(01:22:10) - E-L Financial

(01:43:00) - Gold industry + Mako Mining, Orla, Franco Nevada

(02:02:50) - Spotting patterns: great value, great management, + market structure opportunity

(02:11:15) - July 14th extra segment: Strathcona news + Greenfire Resources

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel! In this episode, I chat once again with Aria, a brilliant investing Youtuber. We discuss his investing strategy and his perspective on a range of stocks. Please note, this conversation was recorded on July 6th 2025. As a result, any references to specific future dates/events in the episode may refer to a time that has already passed. 

Connect:

Newcomer Investor on X:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/NewcomerInvest⁠⁠⁠⁠

Aria on X: ⁠⁠https://x.com/QualityInvest5⁠⁠

Aria on Youtube: ⁠https://youtu.be/0Xd2YcfkKRE?feature=shared⁠ 

Fiscal AI: my favourite research tool: ⁠https://fiscal.ai/?via=anthony⁠

Episode Highlights:

(0:00) - Introduction

(2:24) - Mastercard

(5:00) - Fiserv

(20:00) - Salesforce

(29:00) - Transmedix

(37:30) - Hims & Hers

(42:20) - Uber, Tesla, Waymo & the future of AVs

(58:50) - ASML

(01:03:50) - Google

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel, where we uncover the story behind wonderful businesses! In this episode, I chat with Olivia Evans, Director, Corporate Development & Investor Relations at KITS Eyecare, about how the company is reshaping the optical industry. We discuss their business model, customer loyalty, and how KITS stays competitive in a fast-changing market.

Please note: this conversation was recorded on May 13th 2025. Any future references reflect the time of recording.

Connect:

Email: ⁠iamthenewcomerinvestor@gmail.com⁠

Check out KITS: ⁠https://www.kits.ca/index⁠

Get a 15% discount on Finchat, my FAVOURITE Financial Research tool: ⁠⁠⁠https://finchat.io/?via=anthony⁠

Timestamps:

(0:50) - Introducing Olivia Evans

(1:55) - What is KITS?

(2:55) - What differentiates KITS in the optical category?

(05:26) - Customer loyalty & retention, NPS

(6:55) - Millennial customer segment

(8:22) - Cost structure

(11:11) - KITS reverse-engineered the optical industry

(12:05) - KITS internal targets for revenues & margins in the medium term and long term

(13:48) - Highlights from KITS Q1 2025 results

(15:08) - TELUS Health & other recent insurance partnerships for KITS

(18:25) - Does KITS have a moat? How do they view competition?

(22:00) - How KITS continues to grow its recurring revenue streams: Autoship & KITS+

(24:40) - How to keep employees aligned with the mission in a growing and changing company

(27:10) - Olivia’s message for the investing community

(29:05) - Olivia’s favourite KITS design

(30:41) - Anthony post-conversation 

Welcome to the Newcomer Investor Channel, where we uncover the story behind great businesses and make investing accessible and fun for everyone!Please note: this podcast is not financial advice. I’m not telling you what to do… just sharing what I do!

Connect:Newcomer Investor on X: ⁠https://twitter.com/NewcomerInvest⁠

Newcomer Investor Email: ⁠iamthenewcomerinvestor@gmail.com⁠

Get a 15% discount on Finchat, my FAVOURITE Financial Research tool: ⁠https://finchat.io/?via=anthony

Timestamps:

(0:00) - Intro

(00:58) - Broad thoughts on investing in the age of uncertainty and tariffs

(6:34) - What I bought since “Liberation Day”

(7:50) - YTD returns (as of April 13th)