Episode 354 - Jason Pereira: Expert Financial Planning
Release Date: 04/24/2025
Episode 371: Banks Sell Products, Not Advice
The Rational Reminder Podcast
In this episode, Ben Felix and Cameron Passmore take a critical look at the Canadian banking system’s mutual fund advice model. A newly released study by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) confirms what many already suspected: Canadian bank branches aren't in the business of giving impartial advice—they're selling financial products. Ben breaks down the implications of this study, which surveyed nearly 3,000 bank-affiliated mutual fund representatives, uncovering troubling statistics about sales pressure, lack of credentials,...
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Episode 370: Dave Chilton (The Wealthy Barber): Timeless Financial Advice
The Rational Reminder Podcast
What if the most impactful financial advice isn’t about picking the right investment—but about understanding human behaviour, simplifying your life, and laughing along the way? In this episode of the Rational Reminder podcast, we’re joined by none other than David Chilton, author of the legendary personal finance book The Wealthy Barber. David shares insights from decades of experience helping Canadians improve their financial well-being through simplicity, frugality, and clarity. We dig into the enduring lessons of his 1989 classic, why the new edition took even longer to write, and...
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Episode 369: The Most Important Quotes in Investing
The Rational Reminder Podcast
In this episode of the Rational Reminder Podcast, Ben Felix and Dan Bortolotti celebrate the show’s 7th anniversary with a conversation centered around timeless investing wisdom. Drawing from a vibrant thread in the Rational Reminder community, they unpack dozens of quotes that distill decades of financial insight into actionable mantras. What begins as a curated list of one-liners quickly evolves into a masterclass on the behavioral and practical realities of long-term investing. From “pay yourself first” to “diversification is the only free lunch,” Ben and Dan explore how...
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Episode 368: Jim Rowley & Andy Maack - Implementing Index Funds at Vanguard
The Rational Reminder Podcast
What if index funds weren’t as “passive” as you think? In this episode of the Rational Reminder, we are joined by Jim Rowley, Global Head of Investment Implementation Research, and Andy Mack, Head of US Equity Portfolio Management at Vanguard. These two experts offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look into what it really takes to run some of the world’s largest index funds—and it’s far from “set it and forget it.” From real-time trading decisions to managing $7 trillion globally, Jim and Andy walk us through how Vanguard implements index strategies with a precision that rivals any...
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Episode 367: AMA #8 + Insurance Needs Analysis with Louai Bibi
The Rational Reminder Podcast
What if early RRSP withdrawals aren’t always the tax-smart move they’re made out to be? In this special AMA edition of the Rational Reminder podcast, Ben and Cameron are joined by PWL Financial Planner Louai Bibi for a wide-ranging discussion on RRSP decumulation strategies, insurance planning, and the practical complexities that real clients face when theory meets reality. Ben walks through a listener’s case study and shares insights from colleague Melissa on why early RRSP withdrawals (a.k.a. “meltdown” strategies) are not always beneficial—especially when viewed through a...
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Episode 366 - Avoiding Investment Scams
The Rational Reminder Podcast
What happens when your favourite financial educator’s identity is hijacked by scammers? In this episode, Ben and Cameron pull back the curtain on a disturbing but increasingly common reality: sophisticated scammers using Ben’s name, voice, and online content to steal from unsuspecting investors. Ben breaks down exactly how these scams work—everything from fake WhatsApp investment groups and cloned emails to AI-generated voice notes and “pig butchering” scams that promise guaranteed returns. You’ll hear about pump-and-dump operations, shady PDFs full of financial nonsense, and how...
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Episode 365 – Rob Carrick's Eight Lessons Learned in 27 Years of Covering Personal Finance
The Rational Reminder Podcast
In this episode, we welcome back Rob Carrick—one of Canada’s most trusted personal finance journalists—for his third appearance on the Rational Reminder podcast. Rob recently retired after an incredible 27-year career at The Globe and Mail, where he shaped how millions of Canadians think about investing, advice, and their money habits. Rob joins Ben, Cameron, and Dan to reflect on the biggest lessons from his decades-long career, the state of Canadian financial advice today, and why young Canadians face headwinds unlike any previous generation. From the shift from mutual funds to ETFs...
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Episode 364 – Martijn Cremers: Is the Conventional Wisdom on Active Management Wrong?
The Rational Reminder Podcast
In this episode, we’re joined by Martijn Cremers, Dean of the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame and co-author of the groundbreaking 2009 paper that introduced the concept of Active Share. Martijn brings fresh nuance to the long-standing debate over active versus passive management, challenging decades of conventional wisdom built on the foundational 1997 Carhart paper. With his comprehensive research, Martijn argues that dismissing active management may be overly simplistic—especially in less efficient markets like bonds, small-cap equities, or emerging markets....
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Episode 363 - The (Underappreciated) Risk of Individual Stocks
The Rational Reminder Podcast
What if holding just a few “winning” stocks is riskier than it seems? In this episode, Ben and Cameron explore the hidden dangers of concentrated portfolios and unpack the data that makes a strong case for diversification. Drawing from research by Hendrik Bessembinder, J.P. Morgan, and others, Ben lays out the harsh reality behind individual stock returns: the odds are stacked against long-term success. From skewed return distributions and catastrophic losses to behavioral traps like the endowment effect and familiarity bias, this conversation breaks down why most stock pickers lose—and...
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Episode 362 – AMA #7
The Rational Reminder Podcast
What if the hardest part of investing isn’t building a portfolio—but sticking to it? In this AMA edition of the Rational Reminder podcast, Ben Felix and Dan Bortolotti tackle listener questions ranging from sustainable retirement withdrawals to the dangers of structured products, with plenty of philosophical insights on risk, behavior, and financial planning. The episode opens with a deep dive into the 4% rule, exploring how time horizon, asset allocation, and global data can shift the definition of “safe.” They also explore the behavioral challenges of the “boring...
info_outlineBeyond the sales pitches, acronyms, and product talk, what does it mean to be a financial planner? In this episode of the Rational Reminder Podcast, we sit down with long-time industry leader and advocate Jason Pereira. Jason is a Canadian financial planner with over 20 years of experience, dual CFP certification (Canada and US), and a passion for professionalizing the field. In our conversation, Jason shares details about his client-centred investment philosophy, explains why fiduciary duty is foundational, and unpacks the complexities of index fund adoption in Canada. We also delve into the barriers to transparent, evidence-based advice, the true role of a financial planner, the impact of the Fintech revolution, and the pros and cons of mortality pooling. He also challenges common myths surrounding financial planning, shares best practices for vetting financial advisors, and explains why the industry is long overdue for a transformation. Join us for career insights, cautionary tales, and forward-looking ideas that challenge the conventional thinking of what financial planning is, with Jason Pereira!
Key Points From This Episode:
(0:05:13) Jason’s core investment philosophy and perspective on factor-based indexing.
(0:07:15) Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) trends and client conversations.
(0:12:36) What fiduciary duty means, why it matters, and why some institutions fight against it.
(0:18:09) Unpack the complexities of why Canada is behind the US in index fund adoption.
(0:20:52) Learn about the true role and common misconceptions of a financial planner.
(0:24:30) Explore how technology and the rise of generative AI are changing financial planning.
(0:31:55) How advisors can maintain strong personal relationships with clients in a digital world.
(0:37:00) Find out what a high-quality financial plan looks like and what it covers.
(0:39:44) His favourite financial planning-related argument to get into on the internet.
(0:41:20) Uncover how mortality and annuities should influence financial planning.
(0:48:06) Permanent life insurance explained: best use cases and when to avoid.
(0:50:48) Jason shares his nerdiest and most broadly applicable financial planning advice.
(0:53:29) He explains the best practices for estimating a client’s life expectancy.
(0:56:48) A breakdown of financial planner designations and how to vet a financial planner.
(1:03:59) Hear about his expert witness work and the costs of bad advice.
(1:08:55) Discover why Jason chooses to fight against financial misinformation online.
(1:11:18) The origins and vision of FPAC and Jason’s definition of success.
Links From Today’s Episode:
Meet with PWL Capital: https://calendly.com/d/3vm-t2j-h3p
Rational Reminder on iTunes — https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-rational-reminder-podcast/id1426530582.
Rational Reminder Website — https://rationalreminder.ca/
Rational Reminder on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/rationalreminder/
Rational Reminder on X — https://x.com/RationalRemind
Rational Reminder on TikTok — www.tiktok.com/@rationalreminder
Rational Reminder on YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/
Rational Reminder Email — [email protected]
Benjamin Felix — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/
Benjamin on X — https://x.com/benjaminwfelix
Benjamin on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwfelix/
Cameron Passmore — https://pwlcapital.com/our-team/
Cameron on X — https://x.com/CameronPassmore
Cameron on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronpassmore/`
Jason Pereira — https://jasonpereira.ca/
Jason Pereira on Facebook — https://facebook.com/jasonpereirafinancialplanner/
Jason Pereira on X — https://x.com/jasonpereira
Jason Pereira on LinkedIn — https://linkedin.com/in/pereirajm
Jason Pereira on YouTube — https://youtube.com/@jasonperieraFP
The Fintech Impact Podcast — https://jasonpereira.ca/the-fintech-impact-podcast-jason-pereira
Conquest Planning — https://conquestplanning.com/en-ca/home
Replit — https://replit.com/
FP Canada — https://fpcanada.ca/
Financial Planning Association of Canada (FPAC) — https://fpassociation.ca/
Episode 188: Prof. Ayelet Fishbach — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/188
Episode 236: Harold Geller — https://rationalreminder.ca/podcast/236
Papers From Today’s Episode:
‘Current Practices for Risk Profiling in Canada and Review of Global Best Practices’ — https://osc.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/iap_20151112_risk-profiling-report.pdf
‘Financial Risk Tolerance: A Psychometric Review’ — https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3088292