The Wealthy Barber

Whole life, term, universal… A lot of people have no idea what they’re buying. Dave and John Campbell discuss why life insurance is one of the most misunderstood financial products out there.

We went to The Daily Grill (Dave’s favourite spot!) to ask people what they'd cut from their budget if they had to save $100. What would you cut first?

⏪Throwback Thursday: Dave explains a clear way to understand every investment—you're either owning or loaning. That’s it. “This simple way to think of the world of investing can really help to take the intimidation out of all the choices. Basic but helpful.”

Harvard economist John Campbell shares two simple principles to keep in mind for managing debt.

Episode #33 is out now! Our guest this week is John Campbell — a globally respected Harvard economist and one of the most influential voices in academic financial economics. Over his career, John has published more than 100 academic papers spanning fixed-income markets, equity valuation, portfolio theory and household finance. John’s newest book, “Fixed: Why Personal Finance Is Broken and How to Make It Work for Everyone,” makes a compelling case that the financial system — while vital — is failing ordinary people. Between unnecessary complexity, steep fees, confusing products and poor incentives, most households are left navigating a system that isn’t built with their best interests in mind. John draws on decades of research to explain what’s gone wrong and how better product design, smarter regulation and clearer advice could dramatically improve financial outcomes. In this episode, Dave and John explore how the system can be fixed — from mandatory universal retirement accounts to simpler, standardized financial products, to improving disclosures on credit cards. They also discuss the pitfalls of active mutual funds, the challenges of financial advice models, the role of technology in impulse spending and the rise of gambling and meme-stock behaviour. It’s a wide-ranging and accessible conversation with one of the world’s top financial thinkers. If you care about personal finance, financial policy or simply understanding why the system feels so confusing this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now on our website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Naming all your kids as co-executors? Be careful. In this clip, Dave and Leanne Kaufman unpack why co-executors can spark serious conflict if family dynamics aren’t right.

Andrew Hallam and Dave discuss why all-in-one ETFs take the guesswork out of investing — and why doing less often leads to better results.

From lost wills to undocumented assets, estate chaos is more common than you think. In this clip, Dave and Leanne Kaufman discuss how a simple “When I Die” binder can make all the difference.

OK, sorry to keep bragging but we are VERY proud of Dave! Obviously, in Canada you can't have tougher competition on the bestseller lists than the great Margaret Atwood's memoirs. And the feedback to the updated book is through-the-roof positive. Exciting!

⏪Throwback Thursday: Dave explains why most mutual funds underperform the market—and how a “small” 2% fee can quietly eat into your returns. The math might surprise you. “Sometimes 2%=25%. What?? Watch this very important video (and share)!”