Our guests this episode are Heather and Doug Boneparth — co-authors of the book Money Together: How to find fairness in your relationship and become an unstoppable financial team. Doug is the founder of Bone Fide Wealth in New York City and serves on the advisory councils for CNBC and Investopedia. Heather is a lawyer-turned-financial-writer, Bone Fide Wealth’s Director of Business and Legal Affairs and a rising voice at the intersection of love, money and family.

In this conversation, Dave sits down with Heather and Doug to explore how couples can navigate money as a team — from shifting income dynamics and caregiving to power, communication, and the invisible labour that often goes unrecognized. They share why they wrote Money Together and why strong financial partnerships aren’t built with spreadsheets, but with trust, curiosity, and shared values.

Whether you’re in a long-term relationship, newly partnered, or just want to understand how money and relationships intersect, this episode is packed with thoughtful insights and practical takeaways.

Show Notes

(00:00) Intro & Disclaimer

(00:55) Intro to Heather & Doug Boneparth

(03:15) Why They Wrote “Money Together”

(07:22) How Power and Income Shift Relationship Dynamics

(09:13) Caregiving is a Real Economic Contribution

(14:26) The Breaking Point That Forced Change

(17:08) Division of Labour and How to Truly Create Space for Your Partner

(21:57) How to Talk About Money as a Team

(24:27) Start with Money Wins, Not with Spreadsheets

(27:42) Both Members of a Couple Need to Understand Their Finances

(29:04) Managing Your Finances Together is an Ongoing Activity

(30:12) Teaching Kids Values, Not Financial Math

(32:58) Money is Finite

(35:36) Money, Divorce and Difficult Conversations

(37:43) Growth Requires Discomfort & Curiosity

(39:02) Strong Couples Are Resilient to Whatever Life Throws at Them

(40:38) Conclusion

Our guest this episode is Shannon Lee Simmons — Certified Financial Planner®, Chartered Investment Manager®, bestselling author, media personality and founder of the New School of Finance™. Shannon is widely recognized as a trailblazer in Canada’s fee-only financial planning movement and her latest book is “Making Bank,” a financial guide for teens.

In this conversation, Dave and Shannon explore what real-world financial planning looks like for everyday Canadians. They dive into fee-only and modular financial planning, budgeting in real life, turning advice into action and how rising housing prices, down payments and “financial dysmorphia” are reshaping how Canadians think about money.

Whether you’re just getting started with your finances or feeling squeezed by today’s economic realities, this episode is full of perspective, practical advice and much-needed hope.

Show Notes

(00:00) Intro & Disclaimer

(00:55) Intro to Shannon Lee Simmons

(02:22) Leaving Bay Street to Serve Everyday Canadians

(04:10) The Barter Babes Project

(08:01) Writing “Making Bank” for Teenagers

(11:59) What is Fee-Only Financial Planning?

(14:06) Modular Financial Planning for Real Life

(15:30) The Importance of Knowing How Much Money is Coming In and Going Out

(18:49) Who Typically Seeks Fee-Only Financial Planning?

(20:19) Turning Financial Advice Into Action

(22:26) Why Fee-Only Financial Planners Are Starting to Specialize

(25:58) Software vs. Spreadsheets

(26:55) Scaling a Fee-Only Practice

(28:43) Housing Prices are Squeezing Canada’s Middle Class

(32:15) More People Are Risking Their Own Retirement to Help Their Adult Children Financially

(34:33) Down Payments Squeeze All Other Savings

(36:20) Financial Dysmorphia and “Normal” Spending

(38:50) Hope is Your Biggest Asset

(41:23) Real Estate Prices and Divorce

(43:03) Some Young People Are Still Doing Well Financially

(44:19) Retirement Planning is a Different Beast

(49:43) Reasons for Optimism and Hope

Our guest this episode is Melissa Leong — national media personality, a sought-after speaker and award-winning author of the feel-good finance guide “Happy Go Money.” Melissa has been the resident money expert on Canada’s leading daytime talk show “The Social” for 14 years and is also a repeat guest on “The Drew Barrymore Show” on CBS.

This is an amazing episode for anyone looking to better manage their money in 2026. In their conversation, Dave and Melissa explore the idea that money should support happiness, not compete with it. They dig into behavioural finance and simple “brain hacks” that can lead to better decisions, from the 24-hour rule for spending to the power of spending summaries. Melissa also shares insights on social media comparison, why experiences tend to bring more lasting happiness than stuff, the joy of anticipation, and why big purchases like cars so often fail to deliver long-term satisfaction.

The discussion also touches on generosity and happiness, valuing time over money, financial challenges women face, managing money as a couple, and practical ways to get started building healthier financial habits — without guilt or perfectionism.

Whether you’re trying to spend more intentionally in the new year, stress less about money, or align your finances with what actually makes you happy, this is a thoughtful and refreshing conversation you won’t want to miss.

Show Notes

(00:00) Intro & Disclaimer

(00:55) Intro to Melissa Leong

(02:09) Melissa’s Path from Journalism to Money

(05:42) Behavioural Finance & Brain Hacks

(09:32) The 24-Hour Rule for Spending

(14:16) Social Media & The Pressures of Comparison

(16:41) Money Should Support Happiness, Not Compete With It

(18:56) Spending Now vs. Spending Later

(22:39) Experiences Create More Lasting Happiness Than Stuff

(24:12) The Joy of Anticipation

(30:29) Dave Doesn’t Have FOMO, He Has FOBI

(32:07) The Power of Spending Summaries

(36:16) Charity, Generosity & Joy

(39:17) Valuing Time Over Money

(40:31) Why Cars Rarely Deliver Lasting Happiness

(43:32) How Melissa Became a Regular on The Drew Barrymore Show

(45:11) Financial Challenges Women Face

(51:22) Managing Money as a Couple

(56:43) How to Get Started Managing Your Money Well

(59:01) Conclusion