Why Human Capital Is Your Most Important Investment:

In this episode, host Keith Matthews is joined by Mark Halloran, Co-Founder of Career Lion and expert in professional development, to explore how effective career management is key to optimizing your financial journey.

Special guest Mark Halloran breaks down a proven five-part framework for career management that applies to every stage, from early beginnings to executive leadership. This framework highlights the importance of continuous learning, tendering your career, managing up to accelerate growth, building a powerful network, and practicing gratitude to boost workplace fulfillment.

This episode is designed for employees, professionals and executives at every level who want to take control of their career trajectory, avoid common pitfalls, and maximize their career potential. Tune in for a roadmap to help you take charge of your next professional chapter and strengthen the most important investment you’ll ever make: your human capital.

Key Topics:

● Introducing Mark Halloran President & Co-Founder of Career Lion (0:00)

● Introducing the five guiding principles of effective career management (6:50)

● 1. Continual learning as the foundation for career confidence (7:25)

● How to identify and choose the right professional courses for your goals (9:40)

● Addressing deficiencies and strengths through targeted learning (11:26)

● Advice for early-stage professionals: get experience before pursuing more credentials (12:25)

● Pivoting careers and upskilling at later stages (14:15)

● How non-linear career paths often fuel greater long-term success (16:49)

● Avoiding the trap of “faking it till you make it”(11:26)

● 2. Tendering your career - why and how to objectively review your strengths and gaps (18:13)

● The SWOT approach for personal career assessment (20:55)

● Overcoming the Dunning-Kruger effect: humility in self-evaluation (23:44)

● 3. Managing up: how to proactively get feedback and earn opportunities (27:15)

● Giving and receiving actionable feedback, even when it stings (29:17)

● Continuous feedback and “stay interviews” vs. old-school annual reviews (33:00)

● 4. Networking for every age: building and maintaining authentic connections (34:15)

● How younger professionals can start purposeful networking(35:28)

● Networking tips for mid-to-late-stage professionals: leveraging existing contacts (43:49)

● The huge percentage of jobs won through networking (40:42)

● Using LinkedIn strategically: personal brand, outreach, & algorithm hacks (41:20)

● 5. Gratitude - why fulfilled, successful professionals cultivate thankfulness daily (50:01)

● Linking gratitude to resilience, growth, and workplace satisfaction (51:53)

● What Career Lion does and how professional coaching turbocharges results (55:43)

● Final takeaways: invest in yourself and manage your career like a business (1:01:59)

Mentioned in this Episode:

● Career Lion

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Feel free to drop us a line at lawrence@tma-invest.com or 514-695-0096 ext.112.

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What happens if your financial advisor retires? Can you be confident your investments and retirement plan will stay on track? Why do so few advisors plan ahead? What should you be asking now to avoid costly surprises later? These are the questions we answer in today’s episode.

Hosts Keith Matthews and Lawrence Greenberg dive into a crucial but often overlooked challenge for Canadian investors: advisor succession planning. You’ll get a clear breakdown of why so few advisors have a transition plan in place, what happens when they don’t, and how to protect yourself from service disruptions. The hosts share Tulett Matthews & Associates succession strategy and provide a checklist of actionable questions every investor should ask their advisory team.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone approaching retirement or depending on a financial advisor for multi-decade guidance. Whether you’re worried about losing continuity, want to avoid the stress of change, or simply want to make sure your hard-earned assets are looked after, you’ll walk away more empowered and better prepared. Tune in to get straightforward advice and ask the right questions before it’s too late.

Key Topics:

● Why advisor succession is a growing concern for investors (0:55)

● The surprising shortage of formal succession plans among Canadian advisors (3:05)

● Average age and retirement timelines for industry professionals (3:26)

● How investor surveys reveal major worries about advisor retirements (3:56)

● What happens when your advisor retires or leaves suddenly (5:30)

● Risks of losing investment philosophy or quality service in transitions (5:59)

● Common reasons advisors don’t create timely succession strategies (6:22)

● The financial, mentoring, and training hurdles to building a strong advisory team (7:00)

● How coasting and semi-retirement can erode client service (8:07)

● Real-life case study: building a multi-decade succession plan at Tulett, Matthews & Associates (8:46)

● Lessons learned from navigating health scares and planning for continuity (10:33)

● Designing a client-centered team: hiring, training, and mentoring next-gen advisors (11:23)

● The importance of consistent investment and planning philosophies (12:24)

● Building a multi-generational advisory firm vs. Solo practitioners (13:07)

● Communicating succession plans proactively with clients (13:15)

● How team processes and departments improve service quality and continuity (14:02)

● Keys to successful transition: early communication, multi-year handoffs, shared philosophy (16:30)

● Must-ask questions for your advisory team about retirement and succession (18:02)

● How to assess your advisor’s plan and protect yourself as a client (18:43)

● The long-term benefits of choosing a firm with a real succession strategy (19:20)

● Quick recap of actionable lessons and advice (20:01)

And much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

● Tulett,Matthews & Associates

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Tulett,Matthews & Associates on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, and more!

Follow The Empowered Investor on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

How much money do you really need for retirement? Is your current plan actually aligned with your future spending habits, or are you at risk of falling short? When should you start planning and what are the biggest financial mistakes people make before and after they stop working? These are the questions we answer in today’s episode.

Hosts Keith Matthews and Lawrence Greenberg break down the three distinct phases of retirement spending: the “Go-Go” years, the “Slow-Go” years, and the “No-Go” years. You’ll learn how spending patterns evolve, why most people underestimate costs, and how to avoid common pitfalls by making smarter assumptions.

This episode is ideal for pre-retirees, retirees, and anyone who wants to get ahead of retirement planning. Find out how to calculate your real spending needs, make confident projections, and adjust your strategy with each stage of life. Tune in to get practical advice and clear strategies for a successful and fulfilling retirement.

Key Topics:

● Why retirement spending deserves dedicated attention (1:41)

● Calculating your retirement spend rate - the key to peace of mind (2:55)

● The three phases: Go-Go, Slow-Go and No-Go years explained (4:12)

● What drives up spending in the Go-Go years - travel, home upgrades, gifting (4:39)

● Home maintenance vs. Home upgrades: what to include in your budget (6:05)

● The 1% rule for annual home maintenance - how to apply it (6:40)

● Why attitudes toward homeownership and downsizing keep shifting (8:33)

● Gifting and supporting adult children - new trends and how to plan responsibly (9:18)

● The #1 mistake pre-retirees make: underestimating spending (10:55)

● Lifestyle creep and aspirational spending - how it affects your plan (12:00)

● Why retirement spending often exceeds inflation and what that means for your budget (12:18)

● What changes in the Slow-Go years: health span, routine, and local living (13:02)

● No-Go years: planning for unpredictability and healthcare costs (14:24)

● Assisted living vs. Nursing homes - realistic cost estimates and strategies (16:29)

● Getting detailed: How to build a line-by-line retirement budget (17:44)

● What expenses disappear (mortgage, work, insurance) and what new costs arise (18:32)

● Factoring in large purchases and aspirational spending to avoid shortfalls (20:28)

● How clients feel after using this three-stage budgeting approach (21:01)

● Why rules of thumb like “the 70% rule” often miss the mark (22:07)

● Personal experiences and lessons learned from early planning (23:37)

● Takeaways: Why starting early and revisiting your plan pays off (25:13)

And much more!

Mentioned in this Episode:

● Canadian Retirement: Myths, Realities & Planning Guide

● Pre-Retirement Financial Guide: Ages 50-65

● Retirement Financial Guide: Ages 65+

● Tulett,Matthews & Associates

Thanks for Listening!

Be sure to subscribe on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow Tulett,Matthews & Associates on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, and more!

Follow The Empowered Investor on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.