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Stress Test

Stress Test

The Globe and Mail 111 Episodes Apr 29, 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

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
A big-travel, small-budget blueprint for 2026
A big-travel, small-budget blueprint for 2026 Dec 3, 2025 00:25:55 Despite economic uncertainty, millions of Canadians continued to travel abroad and domestically in 2025. We want to know where they’re going - and how they’re doing it affordably. We hear from Stress Test producer Zahra Khozema about how she budgets for 2-3 trips a year. Then, The Globe’s consumer affairs reporter Mariya Postelnyak speaks with travel photographer Mandy Sham about her favourite aff
Casinos in your pocket: The blurring line between investing and gambling
Casinos in your pocket: The blurring line between investing and gambling Nov 26, 2025 00:24:04 Over the last four years, legalized sports betting has become a massive industry in Canada. In Ontario alone, people placed bets worth a total of around $11-billion in 2024. It’s simple to do: Open an app, bet a few bucks and watch the scoreboard.  At the same time, trading apps have made investing quicker and easier, and the process feels very similar. We’re not saying gambling and investing are
You’ve just been let go. Now what?
You’ve just been let go. Now what? Nov 19, 2025 00:26:23 Job cuts are a growing reality. In the past month, Amazon, Canada Post, Stellantis, General Motors, and Imperial Oil have been among the companies that have let plenty of employees go. Getting fired can come as a shock. And it can leave people financially strapped as they try to find their bearings. So what do you do if you suddenly find yourself in this situation?We hear from a Toronto-based tech

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