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Stress Test

Stress Test

The Globe and Mail 111 Episodes Oct 20, 2026

Stress Test is a personal finance podcast from The Globe and Mail, hosted by columnist Rob Carrick and editor Roma Luciw. It focuses on helping people in their 20s and 30s navigate major financial challenges, especially those exposed or worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show offers practical advice on managing money, making sound financial decisions, and weathering economic uncertainty. It's designed for listeners who need clear, reliable guidance during one of the toughest financial stress tests of their lives.

Episodes

Is 40 too old to buy your first home?
Is 40 too old to buy your first home? Oct 20, 2026 00:26:01 As more Canadians buy homes later in life, homeownership is increasingly competing with another major financial goal: saving for retirement.We meet two Canadians who bought their first homes in their 40s to learn why they waited, how they made it happen and whether they have any regrets. Then, Meera Raman speaks with certified financial planner Adam Jenkins about the risks of buying later in life
Anger vs profit: Should you sell your U.S. stocks?
Anger vs profit: Should you sell your U.S. stocks? Oct 13, 2026 00:25:09 Tensions between Canada and the U.S. are at an all-time high, and some young Canadians are questioning whether they still want to invest so much of their money south of the border. We hear from a millennial investor who dramatically reduced his U.S. holdings. Then Rob Carrick and financial planner Aravind Sithamparapillai discuss the risks and potential benefits of scaling back U.S. investments, a
Coming soon: Season thirteen of Stress Test
Coming soon: Season thirteen of Stress Test Oct 6, 2026 00:01:08 When are you ready to buy a home? To have a kid? To quit your day job and become your own boss? In 2026, financial milestones look different than they used to.This season of Stress Test gets into the big money decisions Canadians are facing. We’ll look at whether the trade war is changing how people invest, why more Canadians are buying their first homes in their 40s and 50s, and how much money on
No, you don’t need $1.7-million to retire
No, you don’t need $1.7-million to retire Apr 29, 2026 00:27:42 Retirement can feel overwhelming when headlines insist you need millions before you can stop working. But is that actually true? In this episode, we hear from young Canadians with very different visions of life after work. Then retirement reporter Meera Raman sits down with financial planner Moira Rose Váně to challenge some of the biggest assumptions about retirement. Together, they explore why s
Everyone wants a prenup. Very few people get one
Everyone wants a prenup. Very few people get one Apr 22, 2026 00:29:28 More than half of young Canadians say they’d want a prenup if they got married or entered a common-law relationship. But only a small share have actually signed one. So what’s stopping them? In this episode, we look at the gap between interest and action and why prenups may still be harder, pricer and more emotionally charged than many expect.  We hear from a Toronto woman who says getting a prenu
Your “starter home” might be your forever home
Your “starter home” might be your forever home Apr 15, 2026 00:26:06 For decades, there was a formula for homeownership. Buy something small, maybe a condo or a townhouse, watch its value rise, and then eventually move up to something bigger. But that formula is breaking down for many young Canadians.  Today, we’re looking at what happens when an idea passed down through generations stops working when it's your turn. First, we hear from a Toronto homeowner who stre
Thanks to AI, your resume is perfect. So is everyone else’s
Thanks to AI, your resume is perfect. So is everyone else’s Apr 8, 2026 00:28:43 Breaking into the job market has always been tough, but right now, it feels harder than usual. Hiring is slow. Competition is high. And at the same time, artificial intelligence is changing the kinds of tasks that once defined entry-level roles. So what’s really behind this shift? We hear from economist and professor Larry Smith, who says new technology has always shaken up the labour market, but
Is this the golden age of DIY investing?
Is this the golden age of DIY investing? Apr 1, 2026 00:25:24 Investing on your own has never been simpler. Trading fees are disappearing, apps are better than ever and features like fractional shares mean you can start investing with just a few dollars. But is easier always better? On today’s episode, we look at what’s changed, what’s improved and what still matters most in the investing world. We hear from two Canadians who’ve taken different paths into DI
Big spender, risky investor: Today's committed Gen Z renter
Big spender, risky investor: Today's committed Gen Z renter Mar 25, 2026 00:23:18 Despite a cooling housing market, home ownership still feels out of reach for many young Canadians. Now, new research suggests that when young people decide to opt out of saving for a home, their behaviour can change in surprising ways. They spend more, save less, and take bigger risks with their investments. We hear from two committed renters in their 20s about why they’re not interested in savin
Rents are falling, so why does it still feel so expensive?
Rents are falling, so why does it still feel so expensive? Mar 18, 2026 00:23:18 Renters in Canada are finally catching a break. In Canada’s biggest cities, rents have been falling for more than a year and vacancy rates are rising. Some landlords are even offering incentives like free months of rent and move-in bonuses to attract tenants. But the reality on the ground is more complicated.  In this episode, Roma and The Globe’s consumer affairs reporter Mariya Postelnyak unpack
Yes, the stock market will crash. Are you ready?
Yes, the stock market will crash. Are you ready? Mar 11, 2026 00:24:44 After years of strong gains, the stock market’s resilience has many investors and experts wondering how much longer it can last. We hear from a 25-year-old from B.C. about her first market downturn, her reaction to the drop and how it changed her investing mindset.  Then Rob talks with wealth advisor Aaron Hector, a wealth advisor at TIER Wealth in Calgary, about why the stock market has been so s
Coming soon: Season twelve of Stress Test
Coming soon: Season twelve of Stress Test Mar 4, 2026 00:01:20 There's so much financial uncertainty out there right now. Stocks have soared, but global conflicts are casting a shadow. House prices are falling. The labour market is shifting. Even the things that are supposed to be getting easier, like renting, don’t quite feel that way. Welcome back for another season of Stress Test, The Globe and Mail’s personal finance podcast for millennials and Gen Z. Thi

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