Ellen Bessner's Financial Prosperity Podcast

No Shame Planning! with Shannon Lee Simmons This episode tackles the "shame game" in personal finance, exploring how investors can avoid feeling ashamed about their financial situation and how financial service providers can approach clients without triggering feelings of shame or inadequacy. Key topics: • Empowering clients to move from hopelessness to hopefulness • Managing client expectations to transform unrealistic wish lists into achievable goals • Raising awareness about hte harmful effects of the "keeping up with the Joneses" mindset across generations • Identifying personal spending triggers, such as feelings of inadequacy, to help prevent overspending • Supporting clients who tend to underspend by encouraging them to pay themselves first and enjoy their lives • Guidance for the financial services industry on assisting clients with plan implementation *Guest:* Shannon Lee Simmons, CFP, CIM – Founder of New School of Finance, bestselling author, Globe and Mail personal finance writer, and CBC Radio's Metro Morning money columnist  Contact us: [email protected] | www.babinbessnerspry.com   Follow us: @TheFinancialProsperityPodcast  Subscribe to our Financial Services & Securities blog  

Don't Bother Each Other?  Why Advisors and Clients Avoid Talking (and Why this is a BIG Problem) In this episode, Ellen Bessner and Brendan Monahan dig into one of the biggest barriers to effective financial planning: lack of communication between investors and advisors. Both sides often avoid reaching out — investors don't want to "bother" their advisor, and advisors worry about appearing intrusive. But silence can seriously harm financial outcomes, especially when life events, market conditions, or priorities shift. Using real examples, Ellen and Brendan explain why ongoing communication is essential for managing risk, adjusting investment strategies, and supporting long-term financial prosperity. They discuss why annual check-ins aren't enough and how regular conversations help clients stay on track with their goals. Key topics: •        Why advisors hesitate to call clients — and why clients stay silent •        How life changes, market changes, and company changes affect your plan •        What happens when you don't update your advisor •        Why annual check-ins aren't enough •        How communication drives better financial decisions •        How staying connected supports retirement planning, future financial planning, and wealth-building Order Ellen's Books:   Advisor at Risk: A Roadmap to Protecting Your Business Communication Risk: How to Bridge the Client-Advisor Gap to Protect and Grow Your Business Contact us: [email protected] | www.babinbessnerspry.com   Follow us: @TheFinancialProsperityPodcast  Subscribe to our Financial Services & Securities blog  

How to Find the Right Advisor (and the Right Clients) This episode of The Financial Prosperity Podcast focuses on one of the most searched financial topics: how to choose a financial advisor. Ellen Bessner and Brendan Monahan walk listeners through how to find a qualified, registered advisor or portfolio manager, and how advisors can ensure they're working with clients who genuinely fit their practice. They explore why the search is often overwhelming, how to check advisor registration, and why the advisor–client relationship needs to be the right match on both sides. Ellen shares common mistakes investors make early in their financial journey, while Brendan outlines practical steps for starting your search — from referrals to dealer websites to financial planning portals. They also explain how to combine online financial platforms with human advisors, how to prepare for your first meeting, and what questions help investors identify red flags and assess whether an advisor aligns with their financial goals. Key topics: •        How to know if an advisor is properly registered •        Where to start your search (referrals, bank-owned dealers, independent dealers, planners) •        Common investor mistakes to avoid •        Questions to ask in your first meeting •        How advisors assess whether a client is a good fit •        What makes an advisor–client relationship succeed •        How choosing the right advisor supports long-term financial planning and wealth-building Resources mentioned: Government of Canada – Choosing a Financial Advisor FP Canada — Find a Planner  Ellen's Investor Guide – Communication Risk Order Ellen's Books: Advisor at Risk: A Roadmap to Protecting Your Business Communication Risk: How to Bridge the Client-Advisor Gap to Protect and Grow Your Business Contact us: [email protected] | www.babinbessnerspry.com   Follow us: @TheFinancialProsperityPodcast  Subscribe to our Financial Services & Securities blog    

Relationship with Money:  Why understanding your money story is essential to financial prosperity In this episode, Ellen Bessner and Brendan Monahan explore one of the most influential — and overlooked — elements of financial literacy: your relationship with money. They break down how childhood experiences, habits, fears, and beliefs shape the way adults save, spend, invest, and plan for the future. Ellen shares how her early experiences created money anxiety, while Brendan explains how recognizing these patterns helps investors make clearer decisions, communicate better with advisors, and improve their long-term wealth-building strategies. They also discuss how individuals using online platforms can self-reflect to improve their financial planning. Key topics: • What "relationship with money" really means • How past experiences impact spending, saving, and planning • Signs your money mindset may be holding you back • Questions advisors can ask to help clients open up • How investors can self-reflect and communicate their needs • Whether and how you can change your money mindset • Why emotional awareness leads to better financial outcomes and planning for the future Order Ellen's Books: Advisor at Risk: A Roadmap to Protecting Your Business Communication Risk: How to Bridge the Client-Advisor Gap to Protect and Grow Your Business Contact us: [email protected] | www.babinbessnerspry.com   Follow us: @TheFinancialProsperityPodcast  Subscribe to our Financial Services & Securities blog  

Welcome to The Financial Prosperity Podcast In this first, introductory, episode we kick off by providing real life examples of mistakes made by both investors and investment service providers which create friction and hold investors back from identifying and meeting their  goals.  If you are an investor or prospective investor or if you participate in providing financial services (CIRO registered, securities commission registered, insurance registered, financial planners) this podcast is for you.    In this podcast we'll break down these gaps and solve for them in a simple, relatable, non-technical way — from building better money habits to improving communication with your financial service providers. By solving for these gaps we aim to achieve: Happy investors and happy financial service providers! Make sure to follow The Financial Prosperity Podcast so you don't miss any episodes. If you find the content helpful, share it with those who could also benefit. Order Ellen's Books:  Advisor at Risk: A Roadmap to Protecting Your Business Communication Risk: How to Bridge the Client-Advisor Gap to Protect and Grow Your Business Contact us: [email protected] | www.babinbessnerspry.com   Follow us: @TheFinancialProsperityPodcast  Subscribe to our Financial Services & Securities blog

Big Fat Questions: Why advisors ask personal questions — and how to make the conversation more comfortable. In this episode of The Financial Prosperity Podcast, Ellen Bessner and guest Brendan Monahan explore a common challenge in financial planning: the discomfort investors feel when advisors ask personal questions about income, savings, debt, and goals. These details are essential for building a financial plan for the future, yet many adults hesitate to share them. Ellen introduces her "Big Fat Questions" — open-ended, human-first questions that help financial advisors understand clients as whole people, improving money management conversations and strengthening advisor–client communication. Brendan shares why this approach builds trust, reduces anxiety, and leads to better outcomes for investors seeking long-term financial prosperity. Key topics: • Why investors avoid sharing personal financial information • Why advisors legally and practically need these details • How assumptions lead to poor financial outcomes • How "Big Fat Questions" help close the communication gap • How advisors can earn the right to ask sensitive questions • How clear communication supports better financial planning and wealth-building Order Ellen's Books:  Advisor at Risk: A Roadmap to Protecting Your Business  Communication Risk: How to Bridge the Client-Advisor Gap to Protect and Grow Your Business  Contact us: [email protected] | www.babinbessnerspry.com   Follow us: @TheFinancialProsperityPodcast  Subscribe to our Financial Services & Securities blog