Jobs are falling, tariffs are looming and interest rates might be heading up rather than down. In this episode of the Money Mindset Mastery Podcast, Jim Lao, Denis Bisson, Ryan Genoe and Eric Petersen look at what that double squeeze means for Canadian households, and how to stress-test your own finances before it reaches you. They walk through a green, yellow and red framework: what to set up while you still have a paycheque, what to consider when the pressure starts to show, and the first steps to take after a job loss.

Takeaways

• EI is a bridge, not a plan: it replaces far less income than most people expect
• Arrange credit, refinancing and insurance while you still qualify
• Know your household's minimum monthly number before you need it
• Keep some of your volatile assets in something stable you can draw on
• After a job loss: apply for EI, get legal advice on severance, and act quickly on benefits

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction: the double squeeze
• 00:53 The numbers: jobs, tariffs and rates
• 03:40 Meet the panel
• 07:44 The income shock
• 08:39 What EI really pays
• 11:34 Lessons from 2008
• 15:02 A mixed economy and the bond market
• 18:05 Job hunting in the age of AI
• 21:42 Green light: qualify while you can
• 27:18 Umbrellas when it's sunny
• 29:05 Disability insurance while you have income
• 31:16 A haircut or the heat bill
• 33:19 Know your minimum number
• 37:12 When adult children drain cash flow
• 40:17 Restructuring for liquidity
• 43:54 Bitcoin, gold and behavioural finance
• 45:51 Dipping into your RRSP
• 46:58 Red light: the first steps after a job loss
• 48:28 Keeping your benefits
• 50:23 Mortgage options and job loss coverage
• 54:56 Closing thoughts
• 58:43 How to reach us

This episode is general information, not personal financial advice. To talk about your own situation, visit tvhgroup.ca or tvhfinancial.ca, or email financial@tvhgroup.ca.