From philosophy to finance: Jay Smith’s unconventional path to becoming a top advisor episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 18, 2026 · 25 MIN

From philosophy to finance: Jay Smith’s unconventional path to becoming a top advisor

from Behind the Advice · host The Globe and Mail

This week, Brenda speaks with Jay Smith, senior portfolio manager at CIBC Wood Gundy. Jay talks about his early career as an academic, how a PHD in philosophy prepared him for the world of finance, and how he talked his way into a job at Merrill Lynch in the 1970s. He also shares some lessons he’s learned over his five decades in the investment industry and how those experiences have shaped the investment strategy he uses today.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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From philosophy to finance: Jay Smith’s unconventional path to becoming a top advisor

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This episode was published on March 18, 2026.

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This week, Brenda speaks with Jay Smith, senior portfolio manager at CIBC Wood Gundy. Jay talks about his early career as an academic, how a PHD in philosophy prepared him for the world of finance, and how he talked his way into a job at Merrill...

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