The Empowered Investor – Details, episodes & analysis

Host Keith Matthews welcomes David Andrew, founder of Capital Partners in Australia, for a discussion on global trends in independent advice and wealth management. Capital Partners is a leading edge independent Australian wealth management firm under David’s stewardship, Capital Partners was named Best Professional Practice in Australia by the Financial Advice Association of Australia in 2017, 2019 and 2024; the only firm to have received this award more than once.

Together, David and Keith break down what Australian, Canadian and global investors have in common, the real-world dangers of conflicted advice, actionable ways to foster trust and transparency, and how family-focused planning creates lasting results.

This discussion highlights how similarly investors think, feel, and behave - regardless of geographic location. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes view of how leading advisory firms build portfolios, guide client decisions and help clients spend smarter - without sacrificing peace of mind.

“Across the globe, people seek the same fundamentals in wealth management: simplicity, transparency, alignment with their goals, and lasting peace of mind”.

Key Topics:

● Welcome and why independent advice matters (0:00)

● Australia vs. Canada: The rise of fee-only advisory firms (6:46)

● Breaking the commissions trap: How regulation changed everything (8:04)

● What happens when big banks lose client trust and what’s replaced them (10:06)

● Real meaning of independence: Separating advice from product sales (10:53)

● The “iceberg” of financial advice - what clients truly need vs. what’s usually sold (11:20)

● The power of long-term planning: Helping clients retire earlier and happier (14:03)

● Building trust and transparency in a modern firm (16:00)

● How Capital Partners conducts discovery and values-based planning (17:14)

● How fee-for-service models protect client interests (22:59)

● Serving families: Approaches for business owners, professionals, and women in transition (21:47)

● Exiting commissions: The step-by-step shift to true independence (22:58)

● The role of trusts, estate planning, and multi-generational wealth (23:31)

● Family meetings, stewardship, and transferring financial values (26:26)

● Preparing kids and aging parents for financial transitions (27:55)

● Investment philosophy: From failed active management to evidence-based portfolios (31:06)

● How to weather market turbulence - advisor strategies that keep clients on track (35:33)

● The logic of global diversification vs. home bias (37:08)

● Tax efficiencies in the Australian system, and why they influence portfolio design (38:08)

● Lessons learned from building a multi-decade advisory firm (42:11)

● How to vet and select a truly client-centric, independent advisor (44:06)

Mentioned in this Episode:

● Tulett, Matthews & Associates

● Capital Partners

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Feel free to drop us a line at lawrence@tma-invest.com or 514-695-0096 ext.112.

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What exactly is an RESP and how can it be used to fund your child’s post-secondary education? What are the key rules around contributions, grants, and withdrawals? What should you do if your child doesn’t pursue higher education?

In today’s episode, Laurence Greenberg and Jackson Matthews break down everything Canadian parents need to know about RESPs — from contribution limits and government grants, to withdrawal strategies and tax-efficient planning. Whether you’re opening your first account or optimizing an existing one, this episode offers clear answers and practical guidance.

Don’t miss this essential overview that could help you unlock thousands in free education funding and avoid costly RESP mistakes. Tune in and feel more confident managing your child’s future education savings.

Thank you for tuning in!

● Introduction and post-tax season context (0:39)

● What is an RESP? (0:56)

● Contribution rules and lifetime limits (1:35)

● Tax treatment of contributions and growth (1:42)

● RESP grants: CESG, QESI, and CLB (2:25)

● How much you can earn in grants (3:10)

● What qualifies as post-secondary education (4:19)

● What RESP funds can be used for (4:30)

● Family plans vs. individual plans (5:11)

● RESP withdrawal rules and tax treatment (6:00)

● EAP withdrawals and tax planning strategies (6:52)

● Common RESP mistakes (8:51)

● What happens if a child doesn’t go to school (10:24)

● RRSP rollover and penalty tax explanation (11:36)

● Early lump sum contribution strategy (13:12)

● Investing RESP funds over the time horizon (14:26)

● Asset allocation by time horizon (16:15)

● Tips to optimize RESP usage (16:38)

● Importance of early planning and advisor support (17:39)

● Episode closing thoughts (18:00)

And much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Tulett, Matthews & Associates

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Feel free to drop us a line at lawrence@tma-invest.com or 514-695-0096 ext.112.

Follow Tulett, Matthews & Associates on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, and more!

Follow The Empowered Investor on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Have you ever wondered how to break into the challenging housing market as a first-time homebuyer? What strategies can help you secure your first property when affordability seems out of reach? How can creative financing and renovation techniques transform your homeownership experience?

In today’s episode, Keith Matthews and real estate expert Sean Broady from the Broady Windsor Group share insights on navigating today’s real estate landscape. From practical home-buying tips to financing strategies, Sean offers an optimistic perspective on how anyone can enter the market with the right approach.

Join us as we explore real-world stories, strategies for saving, and actionable tips for first-time buyers and their families. This episode is essential listening for anyone considering homeownership or supporting loved ones on their home-buying journey.

Thank you for tuning in!

Key Topics:

• Introduction to home-buying challenges (00:00:10)
• The evolving profile of first-time homebuyers (00:07:12)
• What to look for in a starter home (00:09:45)
• Renovation strategies that add the most value (00:10:35)
• When to buy: timing and market cycles (00:15:45)
• Innovative home-buying approaches (00:17:15)
• Partnering with friends or family for homeownership (00:18:33)
• Financing options and government programs (00:31:15)
• Vendor financing explained (00:38:04)
• Creative ways to save for a down payment (00:34:22)
• Managing homeownership costs and risks (00:33:45)
• How long to stay in a first home before upgrading (00:42:20)
• Real estate as a side hustle for wealth building (00:45:10)
• Key takeaways for first-time buyers and families (00:47:25)

And so much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Tulett, Matthews & Associates
• Broady Windsor Group

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And feel free to drop us a line at lawrence@tma-invest.com or 514-695-0096 ext.112.

Follow Tulett, Matthews & Associates on social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, and more!

Follow The Empowered Investor on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram

One of the challenges Canadian investors face is choosing between the sheer number of choices of types, styles, and strategies for investing that are available. To help you to cut through the noise and overwhelm, we’re starting this series on the best investment philosophy for investors, evidence-based investing.

An evidence-based strategy is a scientific approach to investing where investment decisions are based on facts and research on what’s worked for investors over the long-term. Over the next couple of episodes, we’ll be going through the four main principles of evidence-based investing every empowered investor needs to know, starting today with investing in asset classes.

On this episode, Ruben and I talk about the role of evidence-based for the empowered investor, how evidence-based investing is different from alternative approaches like market timing and stock picking, the benefits of an evidence-based investing approach, the four traditional asset classes for investment portfolios, why you should embrace the average advantage, and so much more!

Thank you for listening!

Key Topics:

·      The role of evidence-based investing for the empowered investor (1:53)

·      How this approach reduces overwhelmed Canadian investors (3:00)

·      What is evidence-based investing? (3:48)

·      The four principles of evidence-based investing (4:53)

·      Two popular alternative investment approaches (5:56)

·      The problem with making accurate market predictions (6:34)

·      How market predictions have played out during the current pandemic (7:41)

·      Why I don’t consider a market-timing approach to be a philosophy (9:08)

·      What is stock picking? (9:43)

·      What the evolution of Apple stock shows us about the risks of stock picking (10:22)

·      The difficulty in picking winning stocks (13:16)

·      Defining asset classes (14:26)

·      The four traditional asset classes for investment portfolios (15:42)

·      Breaking down the main asset classes (16:39)

·      Examples of alternative asset classes (17:49)

·      Why we don’t consider hedge funds to be an asset class (18:26)

·      Advantages of asset class investing over market timing and stock prediction approaches (19:42)

·      Making decisions based on asset allocation (20:36)

·      Embracing the average advantage (22:36)

·      Why some investors don’t use an evidence-based investment approach (24:05)

·      Key takeaways about asset class investing (25:44)

·      The power of patience (26:23)

·      And much more!

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And feel free to drop us a line at 

For the past eleven episodes, I was joined by my co-host, Marcelo Taboada, and we covered the groundwork for becoming an empowered investor and what you need to put in place to have a successful long-term financial outcome.

For the next part of the story of the empowered investor, I’ll be joined by my new co-host, Ruben Antoine, Portfolio Manager and Lead Client Advisor at Tulett, Matthews & Associates. Ruben is sharing his personal story as we move deeper into the investment side of things, starting with why we’re passionate about the evidence-based investment approach.

On this episode, Ruben and I talk about what we can learn from his personal story and journey into finance, how he came to recognize the flaws in the active money management approach, why hedge funds are often unable to measure up to expectations, the benefits of evidence-based investing, the key principles of evidence-based investing, and so much more!

Thank you for listening!

Key Topics:

·      Why Ruben decided to become a financial advisor to individuals (3:19)

·      What we can learn from Ruben’s personal story and journey into finance (4:23)

·      How Ruben’s multi-national experience growing up impacted his life (5:01)

·      Ruben’s linguistic background (7:14)

·      The long-term benefit of Ruben’s early career working at an accounting firm (8:11)

·      How Ruben’s interest in travel and improving his communication skills landed him in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) (9:12)

·      Why the BVI provided a good first exposure to the world of investment funds (10:16)

·      What is a hedge fund? (11:42)

·      Ruben’s surprising discoveries about hedge funds (12:53)

·      How Ruben discovered evidence-based investing (15:53)

·      What is the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program? (16:39)

·      Ruben’s experience with becoming a CFA (17:11)

·      Transitioning from accounting to finance as a financial controller (18:04)

·      Why Keith was surprised to see Ruben’s application for a portfolio manager role (18:48)

·      Why Ruben chose to pursue a career with a firm with an evidence-based investment philosophy (20:26)

·      How our backgrounds in active money management turned us away from that approach (22:02)

·      The active approach to money management (23:10)

·      What is evidence-based investing? (23:10)

·      The beginnings of evidence-based investing (25:37)

·      The four key principles of evidence-based investing (26:59)

·      Why Ruben recommends evidence-based investing (27:46)

·      Why we’re passionate about the evidence-based investing approach to money management (28:34)

·      And much more!

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, 

For the past ten episodes, we’ve highlighted the key factors you need to understand to be able to achieve financial security. Today, we’re moving in a new direction and talking about current market conditions. The goal of today's episode is to shed some light on how you can move forward as an empowered investor.

As the end of summer approaches, we’re almost 6 months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Markets have rebounded from the lows we saw in March but while some stocks are booming, others are floundering. In these unprecedented times, it can be difficult to look too far into the future, but we want to encourage you not to get caught up in the short term. We're going to explore what stocks and sectors are hot, the implications of the current state of the markets, as well as the lessons and tools we can learn from the past two decades.

On this episode, Keith and Marcelo discuss the current state of the stock market, the surprising results of our 1-year and 20-year rankings of 5 major benchmarks, the massive divergence between small company and mega-cap technology stocks, the lessons we can learn from the market cycles of the past 20 years, and so much more!

Thank you for listening!

Key Topics:

·      An overview of current market conditions (1:31)

·      Reviewing the one-year return rankings for our benchmarks as of June 30, 2020 (3:45)

·      The five benchmarks we chose for our review (4:45)

·      Why we’ve seen a massive divergence between small company and mega-cap technology stocks (6:00)

·      What are fractional units? (7:11)

·      How fractional shares have changed the accessibility to capital markets (7:34)

·      The impact of stories on investor behavior (9:37))

·      How the market cycles of the last 20 years can help us (11:13)

·      The surprising twenty-year return rankings for our benchmarks (13:02)

·      Why it’s important to look at compound returns (14:12)

·      What you need to know about the NASDAQ (16:57)

·      NASDAQ performance over the last 20 years (17:23)

·      Comparing Toyota and Tesla (18:57)

·      Zooming in on the trends in the NASDAQ performance in the 2000s and 2010s (20:39)

·      What you need to know about the S&P 500 (22:26)

·      How did the lost decade affect the S&P 500? (23:03)

·      Why having a long-term mindset benefitted investors over the last 20 years (23:47)

·      What is the Teranet House Price Index? (25:39)

·      The implications of the current state of the Canadian housing market (26:39)

·      Trends in Canadian bond performance since the 1940s (27:10)

·      Why small company stocks still have a place in a diversified portfolio (29:40)

·      How Odysseus can help you to protect your portfolio (31:24)

·      What the movie Gladiator can teach you about the value of following a strategy (33:49)

·      Why we recommend having and following an investment policy to help with discipline (35:57)

·      The significance of maintaining a diversified portfolio and patience...

One of the most common criticisms we hear about the investment industry is that a lot of investors say things don't feel transparent. To remedy that problem, investment policy statements are becoming more common in the private client world and we believe they're a must-use as they create clarity, transparency, and empowerment.

Just as we use maps when we travel to give us a sense of where we're going, we should have a map for how we invest today, tomorrow, and in the future. In the current context with Coronavirus and the economic impact it’s had, an investment policy statement is more critical than ever before. To help you on your journey as an empowered investor, today we're going to explore what you need to know about the investment policy statement.

On this episode, Keith and Marcelo cover how having an investment policy statement empowers you as an investor, the goals of the statement, the main elements that must be included, how to look at risk management, common mistakes people make in their investment policy statements, why you need one even if you are a DIY investor, and so much more!

Thank you for listening!

Key Topics:

·      What is an investment policy statement? (2:12)

·      How having an investment policy statement empowers investors (3:33)

·      Examples of similar documents in other industries (4:17)

·      The evolution of transparency and documentation in the investment industry (5:50)

·      The main goal of a written agreement, like an investment policy statement (7:17)

·      Why you need to use an investment policy statement (8:39)

·      A recent example where Marcelo suffered from not having an agreement in place (9:55)

·      Why your goals are a critical part of the foundation of your investment policy statement (12:11)

·      Differentiating between willingness and capacity to bear risk (13:14)

·      The importance of the investor-advisor feedback loop (16:18)

·      The mistake many people make when estimating their investing time horizon (16:56)

·      Why cash flow considerations should be included in your investment policy statement (18:53)

·      How having a recommended long-term asset allocation protects your investments (20:19)

·      Why we include an investment philosophy in an investment policy statement (22:33)

·      How a comprehensive investment policy statement is essentially a transparency statement (24:23)

·      The lifeboat drill (25:53)

·      What you should look for in the advisory firm compensation section of your investment policy statement (27:41)

·      Risks of working with an advisory firm without an investment policy statement (29:17)

·      How a DIY investor should approach an investment policy statement (30:35)

·      And much more!

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, 

In the last two episodes of our miniseries on planning, we’ve taken a closer look at the importance of the financial plan for achieving your ultimate goal of financial security. We’ve covered the key areas of focus and potential pitfalls from age 25 up to pre-retirement and today we’re turning our attention to retirees.

Around 65, most of us enter a transition zone where we go from our maximum earning years and power play years to start collecting the fruits of our labor. Planning at this stage ensures you have the resources in place to chill out and do everything you’ve wanted to do. There are a number of different considerations to make in sustainable retirement planning and we’ll show you how to test your plans and set yourself up for success.

On this episode, Keith and Marcelo talk about the most important aspects of financial planning for retirees, why sustainability plays a key role at this stage of life, how to work out your sustainable withdrawal rate, the biggest financial challenge for retirees, why you shouldn’t rely on your home being your main retirement asset, and so much more!

Thank you for listening!

Key Topics:

·      Why you need to understand financial planning (1:20)

·      Key takeaways for 25 to 35-year-olds and 35 to 65-year-olds (2:00)

·      Why planning is important for retirees (4:27)

·      How does happiness vary in different age groups? (5:27)

·      The main objectives of retirees (6:55)

·      Why sustainability plays a key role at this stage of life (9:21)

·      The six gears of financial planning (10:32)

·      Where you should focus on each of the gears during your retirement (11:02)

·      Working out your sustainable withdrawal rate (16:04)

·      The 4% rule for retirees (18:06)

·      How we apply the 4% rule in practice (20:27)

·      Using software to stress test your financial plan (22:34)

·      Simplifying Monte Carlo financial analysis (25:21)

·      The biggest financial challenge for retirees (28:12)

·      Unexpected financial expenses that come up for retirees (29:06)

·      How the coronavirus pandemic has impacted retirement plans (30:30)

·      What to consider when projecting your expected returns (31:24)

·      Why a home should not be your main retirement asset (34:19)

·      How you can downsize in retirement (36:29)

·      Why downsizing can be tricky to execute (38:39)

·      The benefits of planning for retirees (42:12)

·      Consequences of not doing sustainable forecast planning for retirement (42:42)

·      Key takeaways of financial planning for retirees (43:33)

·      And much more!

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, 

Financial planning is critical in creating a foundation for anyone wishing to become an empowered investor. Each stage of life has a specific set of issues that must be addressed to remain on track with your financial plans and today we’re zooming in on the 35 to 60-year-old age group.

During this period, most of us find ourselves extremely busy as we focus on trying to get ahead in our careers while building up our personal lives. This is also when we typically have the highest earnings of our career as we reap the rewards of the careers we’ve built up to this point. Navigating this time well is critical for setting the stage for your next phase of life.

On this episode, Keith and Marcelo talk about why a financial plan is essential for becoming an empowered investor, what you should be focusing on in the 35 to 60-year-old age bracket, how to avoid lifestyle creep, the two questions you need to ask yourself when you enter the 35 to 60-year-old group, and so much more!

Be sure to join us for our next episode as we continue to explore the various aspects of financial planning at every age by looking at the planning components for retirees. Thank you for listening!

Key Topics:

·      The essential components of a financial plan (2:20)

·      Why a financial plan is essential for becoming an empowered investor (3:40)

·      Why we distinguish between the 35 to 45 and 45 to 60 age groups (5:23)

·      The financial focus in the 35 to 60-year-old age span (7:04)

·      How you should approach each gear of financial planning in the 35 to 60 age bracket (8:28)

·      FOMO in 35 to 60-year-olds (12:10)

·      Who is most vulnerable to lifestyle creep? (13:14)

·      Financial pressures unique to the sandwich generation (15:08)

·      The two questions you need to ask yourself when you enter the 35 to 60-year-old group (15:51)

·      What you can learn from Canada’s average household savings rate over the past 30 years (16:34)

·      The downside of not experiencing a recession (18:16)

·      Understanding retirement mathematics (20:07)

·      What the research shows about Canadian’s readiness for retirement (21:08)

·      Why you need to save 20% of your income (22:42)

·      How much savings is enough when you’re 35 to 60? (24:52)

·      The benefits of financial planning (26:14)

·      The consequences of overlooking financial planning (26:58)

·      Our key takeaways for people in the 35 to 60-year-old age group (28:41)

·      And much more!

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And feel free to drop us a line at lawrence@tma-invest.com or 514-695-0096 ext.112

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Now that you know the key obstacles that can derail you, we’re switching gears and starting to look at the planning and building side of becoming an empowered investor. Today we’re kicking things off with our series on one of the two key roadmaps for the empowered investor, financial planning.

Creating a financial plan is an essential step for every investor since it provides a framework and action plan for achieving your future goals. We want to get down to the details so we’re breaking up this topic into age brackets, starting with planning for 25 to 35-year-olds.

On this episode, Keith and Marcelo talk about the foundational concepts behind financial planning, why it is crucial for the empowered investor, key financial principles you should focus on between ages 25 to 35, our main recommendations for 25 to 35-year-olds, and more!

Be sure to join us for our next episode as we continue our mini-series on financial planning. Thank you for listening!

Key Topics:

·      Recapping what we’ve covered so far on the show (1:04)

·      What is financial planning? (4:42)

·      Differentiating between a financial plan and an investment plan (5:33)

·      The six main sections you need to consider in your financial plan (6:55)

·      Why financial planning is so important for the empowered investor (7:53)

·      The three main areas of financial focus for 25 to 35-year-olds (9:12)

·      Key financial principles you should focus on between ages 25 to 35 (10:54)

·      The biggest obstacles to good financial planning in the 25 to 35 age bracket (13:23)

·      Our main recommendations for 25 to 35-year-olds (15:08)

·      Why you need to save at least 15-20% of your income (16:03)

·      How to know if you’re saving enough (18:06)

·      Why awareness is crucial for good financial planning (19:51)

·      What you need to know about compound growth (20:51)

·      Why planning is so important in the empowered investor dialogue (23:12)

·      The consequences of not having a plan during your 25-35 years (24:49)

·      Our biggest takeaways for 25 to 35-year-olds (26:04)

·      And much more!

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. And feel free to drop us a line at lawrence@tma-invest.com or 514-695-0096 ext.112

Follow Tulett, Matthews & Associates on social media on LinkedIn, Facebook, and more!

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