Make Money Count

Hosted by Cannect Inc.

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Episodes

100

Latest episode

Nov 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

November 6, 2026Episode 1918 min

Midterms, Oil and Your Mortgage Rate: The Chain Reaction

The US midterms are done, and Marcus and Justin break down why they may have had a bigger impact on Canadian mortgage rates than anything else in the last 90 days. From oil to bond yields to the odds of a December Bank of Canada hike, Marcus walks through the dominoes that could move your rate. In this episode: How the midterm results fed into oil prices, bond yields and rate expectations Why bond yields dropped to their lowest level since early September How oil falling 9% changed the odds of a Bank of Canada hike in December Marcus’s infographic of the dominoes affecting your interest rate Why the good news comes with a caution Why Marcus suggests locking in a lower fixed rate now Renewing in the next 12 months? Talk to a Cannect expert today: https://cannect.ca/get-started/ Subscribe to Make Money Count so you never miss a rate update. #MortgageRates #BankOfCanada #BondYields #FixedRate #CanadaMortgage #MakeMoneyCount #Cannect

October 28, 2026Episode 19021 min

The Bank of Canada Raised Rates. Here's Why It Targets Demand.

The Bank of Canada just raised the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, and the press conference that followed said a lot more than the headline did. Marcus and Justin go through the questions put to the Governor and Deputy Governor and break down what the answers mean for Canadian borrowers. In this episode: What a 25 basis point hike means for your prime rate, variable rate and payment Why the Bank wouldn’t say whether 2.75% is next How the decision was made, and where the deadlock was The Bank’s flat outlook for housing over the next two years Whether the energy sector can carry the economy Why raising rates is meant to fight inflation when oil is the real problem Not sure what your mortgage options are? Talk to a Cannect expert now: https://cannect.ca/get-started/ Subscribe to Make Money Count so you never miss a rate decision breakdown. #BankOfCanada #MortgageRates #CanadaMortgage #VariableRate #MakeMoneyCount #Cannect

October 27, 2026Episode 18920 min

Will Mortgage Rates Go Up Tomorrow?

The Bank of Canada’s rate announcement is tomorrow, and the market is leaning toward a hike. In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin walk through three possible outcomes (a hold, one hike, or a hike with a signal of more to come) and what each could mean for your mortgage. In this episode: Why market odds of a hike jumped to 78%, up from about 30% earlier this month Why economists like David Rosenberg and others can’t agree on hike vs hold What a 25 bps hike costs on a $750,000 mortgage How fixed rates could react within 24 to 48 hours of a hawkish signal Why every scenario points to locking in a rate, and how fast you should move Not sure what your mortgage options are? Talk to a Cannect expert now: https://cannect.ca/get-started/ Subscribe to Make Money Count for straight talk on rates, bond yields and your mortgage. #MakeMoneyCount #CanadaMortgage #MortgageRates #BankOfCanada #CanadianEconomy #Cannect

October 23, 2026Episode 18819 min

Rates Are Shifting, How Will It Affect Ontarians?

A Bank of Canada rate hike looks likely next week. In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin look at what is driving the decision, including Governor Tiff Macklem's October 19 speech and September CPI at 3.1%. We also cover: Why the Bank of Canada's tone shifted so quickly What rising mortgage arrears in Ontario may signal about household finances Alberta's recent vote and what it means for the wider economic picture How higher rates could affect Canadians with renewals or purchases coming up Watch till the end for the full breakdown. #CanadaMortgage #MortgageRates #MortgageTalk #Cannect #MakeMoneyCount #CanadianEconomy

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