At the age of 19, Julia Chung experienced two life-changing events within just a few days: she lost her mother to cancer and gave birth to her son. This combination of loss and new life thrust Julia into adulthood, testing her resilience and requiring a rapid education in financial literacy. Today, Julia is the founder and CEO of Spring Planning in the Vancouver area and serves as the Board Chair of the Financial Planning Association of Canada. She speaks with Brenda about growing up with hippie parents, her initial reluctance to accept a leadership role at FPAC, and why we're seeing more women in leadership positions within the financial services industry.

Bo Banner has been chasing the thrill of competition from an early age. He spent a significant period of his youth competing in amateur skateboarding tournaments before shifting his focus to football. After four successful years on a scholarship at Central Washington University, he landed a pro contract with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. But a few years later, he decided to hang up his cleats and focus on a new career as a wealth advisor. Today, Bo works as an independent financial advisor in Whistler, BC. He and Brenda discuss his path to the CFL, the circumstances that led him to leave football behind for a career in finance, and how being a pro athlete prepared him for life as an advisor.

When it came to choosing a career, Samantha Sykes explored several different paths, from writing the LSAT with an intent to pursue law to spending three years at culinary school. But it was an impromptu conversation on a cruise ship that set her career as an advisor in motion. These days, Samantha is a Senior Investment Advisor and Financial Planner at Raymond James in Toronto. She and Brenda discuss a humbling mistake she made early in her career, her concerns about the rise of “finfluencers” and her advice for women of colour wanting to break into the advisory world.

Maili Wong has always embraced a challenge. Whether that was pursuing a career in neurosurgery, or, after shifting her focus to finance, moving to New York City to work on the trading floor of a prestigious Wall Street investment bank. But working in a building connected to the World Trade Center on the morning of 9/11 had a profound effect on Maili, forcing her to reevaluate her career path and consider what truly mattered. In this episode, Maili and Brenda discuss her decision to leave her successful Wall Street career, the impact of AI on the wealth advisory industry—both positive and negative—and the qualities she looks for when hiring the next generation of financial advisors.

Growing up, economic stress was a daily reality for Robyn Thompson. Whether it was tagging along with her parents to Money Mart for a cash advance or seeing them rely on welfare to cover basic needs, these struggles instilled in her a strong work ethic and a sense of financial responsibility that she has carried throughout her career. Today, in addition to her role as a financial advisor, Robyn is a seasoned keynote speaker and media personality, dedicated to providing financial advice to a broader audience. Robyn shares her journey from waitress to wealth advisor, why she sold her business, Castlemark Wealth, and how her experience with cancer inspired her latest career transition.

In the first episode of season two, Brenda speaks with John De Goey, a well-known advisor and author who isn't afraid to question industry norms. John's bold ideas and critical perspective have set him apart from most of his peers in the financial services world. With books like "The Professional Financial Advisor" and "Stand Up to the Financial Services Industry," he pushes for changes that better serve investors. John talks about his upbringing on a southwestern Ontario farm, explains why he thinks advisors paint an overly optimistic picture of the market, and outlines what red flags to look out for when choosing your advisor.

Money weaves its way through all our lives. It influences our choices, big and small, and charts the course of our future. And behind every piece of financial advice, there's a person with a unique story to tell. Host Brenda Bouw is back for season two of Behind The Advice, a Globe and Mail podcast about financial advice and the people who give it. From an advisor who kept their previous experience living in poverty a secret from colleagues and clients for years, to one who thinks the industry has become far too complacent, Behind The Advice gathers stories of trial and triumph, and digs deep into the moments that shape how advisors think about money, their clients, and the industry at large. Season two launches June 18th.

Xin Lou's foray into the world of finance was a bit different. A self-proclaimed computer enthusiast, Xin became interested in investing during the first crypto boom in 2013. Fascinated with the technology’s potential, he and his friends started their own company, building supplies for the crypto-mining community. But after years of crypto volatility, Xin decided to pursue a more traditional path to finance. Based in Surrey, British Columbia, he’s currently a Wealth Planner at Coast Capital, and he previously worked at TD Wealth and RBC. Xin discusses what it was like to be involved in crypto during its early years, how his views on the sector have evolved over the past decade, and the impact that technology is currently having on the investment community.

Jackie Porter is a Greater Toronto Area-based financial planner with more than 25 years of experience in the industry. Her practice focuses on cash flow management and tax planning strategies for businesses. She also co-authored Single by Choice or by Change, a book that helps single women prepare for their financial future. But Jackie’s career trajectory is anything but typical. Jackie shares the events that led to her becoming financially independent at a very young age, her long and roundabout route to becoming a financial planner, and why she now considers her personal struggles to be a professional superpower.

Behind the Advice launches on September 26th.