Make Money Count

Hosted by Cannect Inc.

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Sep 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Make Money Count, a podcast focused on the Canadian economy, Real Estate, and your mortgage. We’d love it if you’d join us as we explore options that put dollars back into the average Canadian’s pocket. Subscribe for new episodes weekly!

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60 recent

October 13, 2026Episode 18714 min

Fixed or Variable? Here's Why Banks Charge You More

Fixed or variable? It was the single most asked question at the Toronto Home Show this weekend, so we decided to answer it properly. In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin break down exactly how each rate is priced, what just flipped the odds on an October 28 Bank of Canada hike, and why Marcus is betting against his own rate chart. We break down: How variable rates are priced off the Bank of Canada's overnight rate, and how fixed rates are priced off government bond yields What changed the odds of an October 28 rate hike from near certain to under 50% in just a few weeks A chart pricing in 110 basis points of increases over the next year, and why Marcus still isn't convinced Why banks charge you more to break a fixed rate mortgage, and what that means if you're considering one The simple move Marcus recommends if you've got a renewal or purchase coming up, even a year or two out Current rates: variable around 3.4%, fixed just above 4%. Watch till the end for the full breakdown. #CanadaMortgage #MortgageRates #MortgageTalk #Cannect #MakeMoneyCount #CanadianEconomy

September 22, 2026Episode 18624 min

Trump vs the Canadian Dollar: What's Really Going On

Why does Trump actually want a weaker Canadian dollar, and what does it mean for your mortgage rate? In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin break down the currency dynamics behind Trump's comments on the Canadian dollar, what's really happening with the Federal Reserve heading into its next decision, and a real mortgage math breakdown that could save, or cost, you over $1,000 depending on your renewal timing. We break down: Why a weaker Canadian dollar actually works in Trump's favor, and what it would take to change that Fed chair Kevin Worsh's mixed signals heading into the September 16 rate decision, and why forward guidance might make a comeback whether he wants it to or not The 125 basis point gap between US and Canadian interest rates, and where it could be headed next A real example: what it actually costs to break a mortgage early and switch to fixed, penalty and all What this all means if you're coming up for renewal in the next several months The headlines rarely explain the full picture. This episode does. Watch till the end for the full mortgage math breakdown. #CanadaMortgage #Mortgag

September 15, 2026Episode 1856 min

Can the Fed Chair Hold the Line Tomorrow?

The US 10-year bond yield just touched 5%, and the Federal Reserve meets tomorrow with a 90% chance of a rate hike already priced in. So what happens if they don't? In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin break down tomorrow's Fed decision, what a hold versus a hike means for bond yields on both ends of the curve, and why the outcome matters just as much for Canadian mortgage holders as it does for the US economy. We break down: Why the 10-year touching 5% and the tightening yield spread matter more than the headline number Whether Fed chair Kevin Worsh can hold rates and still convince the market it's the right call, not just political pressure Two very different ways a hold could play out for long-term yields, depending on how the market reads it Why variable rate mortgage holders in Canada could come out ahead if the Fed holds Tomorrow's decision has real implications on this side of the border too. Watch till the end for the full breakdown. Who do you think wins if it's a hold? Let us know in the comments.

September 10, 2026Episode 18425 min

Why Fixed Rates Keep Rising Even When the Prime Rate Doesn’t

The Bank of Canada has held rates for seven straight meetings. Your mortgage rate went up anyway. In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin dig into exactly that contradiction. The overnight rate has sat at 2.25% for seven straight meetings, yet fixed rates keep climbing regardless. We break down: Why bond yields have risen almost 50 basis points since January even though the Bank of Canada hasn't moved How bond yields act as an early warning system for inflation and rate decisions, before oil prices or headlines catch up The $100 bet on whether the Federal Reserve hikes rates on September 16 Why the big banks can't agree on what's next, Rabobank calls 2.25% the peak, Scotiabank says there's 75 basis points more to come The "variable rate nest" theory, and why that protection from the Bank of Canada might not hold much longer What anyone renewing soon should actually do right now, and the math behind locking in early Seven holds. One rising number nobody's talking about. Watch till the end to find out what it means for your mortgage. #MakeMoneyCount #Cannect #MortgageRates #BankOfCanada #FixedVsVariable #CanadianEconomy

August 4, 2026Episode 18316 min

What The Big Banks Are Predicting For Your Rate

What if the biggest banks in Canada showed up to the same party and couldn't agree on anything? In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin imagine exactly that: RBC, TD, BMO, and Scotiabank, all in one room, all asked the same question about where rates go next. Three of them show up with nearly the same answer. One of them shows up ready to argue. We break down: Why RBC, TD, and BMO all point to weak labor force growth and US trade tariffs as the reason rates are likely on hold Scotiabank's outlier call for stronger growth and two rate hikes, and why this bank always seems to be the hawk in the room A chart on Canadian firms' long-run inflation expectations, and why it's holding steady even after a hundred-dollar oil price shock The role oil prices are playing behind the scenes in keeping inflation above target Why Justin is still making the case for variable right now, and the math behind that call Where mortgage rates actually stand today, and the real spread between fixed and variable Four banks. One question. Only one real disagreement. Watch till the end to find out which bank is the outlier, and what it means for your mortgage. #CanadaMortgage #MortgageRates #MortgageTalk #Cannect #MakeMoneyCount #CanadianEconomy

July 28, 2026Episode 18212 min

How the War in Iran Is Impacting Your Mortgage Rate

Is the Iran conflict quietly deciding your mortgage rate? In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin break down why a war most people have stopped watching is doing something nobody expected to bond yields, oil prices, and the rate you pay every month. We break down: Why Trump's all in negotiating strategy worked on Canada, the EU, and South America, but is backfiring against Iran Live shipping data from the Strait of Hormuz and what 105 days of conflict actually look like on the water A day by day breakdown of July's bond market moves showing yields spiking before the news even breaks Why war usually sends bond yields down, and why this time the opposite is happening The hidden cost of political capital, and why Iran isn't paying it the way Trump is Where mortgage rates actually stand right now, and which competitor "best rate" claims don't hold up Most people are still waiting for the news to tell them what's coming. Marcus and Justin already found it in the data. Watch till the end. The gap between the market and the headlines is where the real story is. #CanadaMortgage #MortgageRates #MortgageTalk #Cannect #MakeMoneyCount #CanadianEconomy

July 2, 2026Episode 18122 min

Hollywood vs Reality: Mortgage Edition

Did Hollywood actually get mortgages right? In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin react to some of Hollywood's most famous mortgage moments, and the gap between fiction and reality is bigger (and smaller) than you'd expect. We break down: What subprime really meant in The Big Short, and why it's not the same as today's A-minus or alt-A lending How that "bartender to boat owner" mockumentary clip wasn't far off from real predatory lending practices Why Jimmy Stewart's savings and loan speech in It's a Wonderful Life still holds up as a banking lesson The real cost behind a foreclosure, from both the investor's side and the homeowner's side The one rule that separates a smooth renovation loan from a Money Pit style budget disaster This episode isn't your usual rate breakdown, it's Hollywood's biggest mortgage moments, fact checked by two people who actually do this for a living. Watch till the end, you might never see these movies the same way again.

June 23, 2026Episode 18030 min

The Fed Flipped On Rate Cuts, What Now?

Is the Fed about to break your mortgage plans? In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin break down new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's very first policy meeting, and why it didn't go the way most people expected. We break down: Why Warsh, Trump's own pick, spent his first meeting talking about inflation instead of cutting rates How the Fed's "dot plot" flipped from pricing in a cut to pricing in a hike, and what that actually means Why Warsh says rates are too low for Wall Street but too high for Main Street, and why the Fed can't fix both How a stronger US stance puts pressure on the Canadian dollar, and why that could force the Bank of Canada's hand What RBC, TD, BMO, Scotia, and CIBC are each predicting for rates, and what it means for your mortgage choice This episode isn't your usual headline recap, it's a real breakdown of how one Fed meeting can move your mortgage rate, fact checked by two people who actually do this for a living. Watch till the end, you'll know exactly what to ask your broker next.

June 15, 2026Episode 17916 min

The Real Estate Opportunity Canadians Are Too Scared To Take

Is Canada sitting on the biggest real estate opportunity in years? In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin break down exactly what is happening in Canada's housing market, why prices are 20% off peak, and why most Canadians are still too scared to move. We cover: Why housing is 20% off peak and what nine quarters of affordability improvements actually mean How fear and consumer sentiment are keeping buyers out of the market Why condos are trading at pennies on the dollar and who is already buying them The distressed real estate deals that smart money and foreign funds are quietly gobbling up Why the rental market is still under pressure and what it means for builders and investors The labor shortage risk nobody is talking about and why it matters for the future of housing This episode is not about panic. It is about seeing the opportunity clearly before everyone else does. Watch till the end. The housing market is shifting and the window that is open right now will not stay open forever.

June 6, 2026Episode 17818 min

Inflation Is Rising. Rates Aren't Dropping. What’s Next?

Is Canada headed for a rate hike nobody saw coming? In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin sit down days before the Bank of Canada's June 10th meeting to break down exactly what's happening with interest rates, inflation, and your mortgage renewal. We break down: Why a rate cut on June 10th is basically off the table How Canada ended up in a recession with inflation still rising What the Strait of Hormuz has to do with your mortgage rate Why your bank's renewal offer is likely insulting and what to do instead What the big banks are actually forecasting for rates in 2026 and 2027 Why 40% of Canadian mortgages renewing this year is a bigger deal than most people realize This episode isn't about panic. It's about being informed, prepared, and ahead of the people who just sign whatever mortgage renewal their bank sends them. Watch till the end. The mortgage market is shifting and the decisions you make in the next few weeks could follow you for the next three years.