Make Money Count

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Is your bank quietly working against you?
In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin get into the mortgage conversation most Canadians never get to have. With bond yields climbing and fixed rates on the move, knowing what to do and when to do it could be the difference between a great mortgage and an expensive mistake.
We break down:
Why you should never trust your bank to give you the best mortgage rate
Fixed vs variable and the one move Marcus is recommending right now
Why the three year fixed is the smartest play in this market
When to start the mortgage conversation and why most people wait too long
How a salaried mortgage broker always gets you a better deal than your bank ever will
This episode is not about theory. It is about the real conversation that happens when you actually call a mortgage broker and ask the right questions.
If your renewal is coming up in the next six months, this one was made for you

Is your mortgage renewal about to get a lot more expensive?
In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin dig into Canada's April CPI numbers and why the story behind the data is one every Canadian borrower needs to hear. Gas prices at a record high, groceries quietly bleeding your budget, and fixed rates with nowhere to go but up. A lot is happening right now and most people do not even see it coming.
We break down:
Why April CPI is being driven by gas and food and what that means for interest rates
What 40% higher gas prices since the war actually means for your monthly mortgage payment
How a conflict in the Middle East is directly moving Canadian fixed rates right now
Why the Bank of Canada may surprise everyone and hold rates despite the pressure
The exact mortgage move Marcus is recommending to every Canadian borrower today
This episode is not about panic. It is about getting ahead of what the data is already telling us, understanding what is really at stake, and making the right call before the window closes.
If you have a renewal coming up in the next few months, do not scroll past this one.

Is the jobs report even real anymore?
In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and JT sit down to talk about something that's been quietly building behind the scenes, and the cracks are getting harder to ignore. From a federal agency that's lost its data collectors to a treasury yield that hasn't been this high in years, a lot is happening beneath the surface that every Canadian borrower needs to understand.
We break down:
Why two months of US jobs data went entirely missing and what that means for Friday's number
What a 5% treasury yield actually means for your Canadian mortgage rate
How Trump's attempt to fire Jerome Powell failed, and why his replacement could be even more dangerous
Why cutting rates in an inflationary environment is a banana republic move, and what Turkey's example tells us
What every Canadian borrower should be watching at 8:30AM this Friday
This episode isn't about panic; it's about understanding what's actually happening, what the data is saying, and what you can do about it before it's too late.
If you're a Canadian borrower trying to make sense of what's coming, this one's worth your time.

Is Canada's economy quietly cornered?
In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin sit down to talk about something that's been building for a while now, and the numbers are getting harder to ignore. From a record-breaking gas price spike to an inflation figure that caught even the banks off guard, a lot is happening beneath the surface that every Canadian borrower needs to understand.
We break down:
Why the March CPI jump has the Bank of Canada watching very closely
What does $110 oil actually mean for your monthly mortgage payment
How a conflict halfway around the world is directly moving Canadian fixed rates
Why stagflation is becoming Canada's most uncomfortable conversation right now
The one mortgage move Marcus is recommending to every borrower right now
This episode isn't about panic; it's about understanding what's actually happening, what the data is saying, and what you can do about it before it's too late.
If you're renewing or buying in the next year, this episode is just for you.

Is Canada actually in as much trouble as everyone's saying? The Bank of Canada just revealed something they’ve been quietly doing for 23 years and most Canadians have absolutely no idea.
In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin break down what the Bank of Canada's own data is telling us, why global chaos is hitting closer to home than you think, and what all of it means for your mortgage right now. This isn't just background noise. It's the conversation that could change how you think about your next renewal.
In This Episode:
The Bank of Canada study that scored 23 years of their own words and what it's saying right now
Why the silence from Canada's most powerful financial institution is louder than any announcement
How Trump and rising oil prices are directly connected to your mortgage payment
The inflation number coming soon that Marcus thinks could be worse than anyone's expecting
Why the spring real estate market is caught in the middle of all of it
Fixed or variable? What Marcus would actually do with his own mortgage right now
If Marcus ran Canada, the economic playbook he'd put in place starting tomorrow
The more you understand what's coming, the better you can protect what you've built.This episode is exactly where to begin.

Is your variable rate mortgage actually safe? The Bank of Canada just made a move that every Canadian homeowner needs to know about and most people have no idea it's even happening.
 
In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin break down the repo market, why hedge funds are flooding into Canadian bonds, and what all of this means for your mortgage rate. This isn't just financial noise, it directly affects what you pay every single month.
 
In This Episode:
 
What the repo market actually is and why it matters to you
Why hedge funds betting on Canadian interest rates is a massive red flag
How this is similar to what happened in 2008  and why it could happen again
The rare proactive move the Bank of Canada is making right now
Why interest rates could spike even as the economy gets worse
Fixed or variable? What Marcus and Justin would actually do right nowDon't scroll past this one. Set aside 12 minutes and watch it from start to finish; your mortgage will thank you.

Is Canada’s condo market quietly breaking?
In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin dive into the condo market,  and what they uncover is hard to ignore.From record-low sales numbers to massive unsold inventory, the data tells a story most people aren’t talking about openly.
We break down:
Why condo sales are hitting levels not seen since the early ’90s
What oversupply really means for pricing in Toronto and beyond
Why investors are stepping back instead of buying the dip
The behind-the-scenes move involving banks, governments, and a potential billion-dollar fund
How affordability (or the lack of it) impacts far more than just real estate prices
This episode isn’t about fear; it’s about facts, data, and understanding where the market may be headed next.
Listen till the end, this discussion goes places most condo conversations don’t.

In this episode of the Make Money Count Podcast, we break down how global events like war, rising oil prices, and inflation could impact mortgage rates in Canada.
Oil prices have already surged more than 20%, and markets are reacting fast. When energy prices rise, inflation often follows, and that can directly influence interest rates and mortgage costs.
So what does this mean for homeowners and anyone renewing their mortgage?
In this episode, we discuss:
 ✔ Why oil prices are suddenly surging ✔ How global conflicts affect inflation ✔ What rising bond yields mean for mortgage rates ✔ Whether fixed mortgage rates could increase again ✔ What Canadians should consider before renewing their mortgage
With Canada currently facing a massive mortgage renewal wave, the timing of these global events could have a real impact on homeowners.
Should you lock in your mortgage rate now? Could oil prices push inflation higher again? And what happens if oil hits $100 per barrel?
Listen to the full episode to understand how geopolitics, energy markets, and inflation could shape the future of mortgage rates.

Your mortgage is renewing, and it’s not going to feel like it did five years ago.
If you locked in a 1.39% -- 1.49% mortgage, your renewal could mean a $800–$1,000 jump in monthly payments. In this episode of Make Money Count, Marcus and Justin break down how mortgage renewals really work in today’s high-rate market, and how to optimize your decision instead of blindly accepting the bank’s offer.
In this episode, we cover:
What mortgage renewals look like in 2026
Real renewal numbers (before vs after rates)
How re-amortizing can lower monthly payments
Fixed vs variable: what actually makes sense right now
Why 75% of Canadians break their mortgage early
The hidden penalties banks don’t explain
How economic signals, inflation, and the Bank of Canada influence mortgage rates
Mortgage renewal isn’t paperwork. It’s a financial strategy decision that can quietly cost, or save, you tens of thousands of dollars.
🎧 Listen to the full episode to learn how to renew smarter, not more expensive. Drop your renewal questions in the comments; we read them all.

In this episode of Make Money Count, we break down what’s really happening with interest rates, employment numbers, and inflation, and why Canada and the U.S. are taking completely different paths.
We unpack the latest unemployment data, bond yield signals, and CPI expectations, then compare the Bank of Canada’s “hold the line” approach with the U.S. strategy of cutting rates to fuel productivity and AI investment.
If you’re a homeowner, investor, or simply trying to understand where rates are headed, this conversation matters.
Listen to  the full episode and decide for yourself: Who’s right — Canada or the U.S.?

What’s really going on with Jerome Powell, and why are global markets paying attention?
In this episode of Make Money Count, we break down the growing tension between the White House and the U.S. Federal Reserve, and why this story goes far beyond political drama. From legal pressure on Fed officials to concerns over central bank independence, this is a moment that could reshape interest rates, inflation, and investor confidence worldwide. We also explore why gold is hitting record highs, what history teaches us about political interference in monetary policy, and how all of this could eventually impact Canadian interest rates, mortgages, and the broader economy. If you’re trying to make sense of today’s market uncertainty, without the noise or headlines, this conversation connects the dots.

Make Money Count is back. 🎙️
After a short break, Marcus returns with a solo deep dive into where the Canadian economy truly stands as we enter the new year—and why the next phase may depend on a careful balancing act between the Bank of Canada and the federal government. This episode goes beyond headlines.
Marcus connects global political developments, energy markets, bond yields, and interest rates to explain how events outside Canada’s borders can still directly impact your mortgage, your investments, and the broader economy. 

The Bank of Canada finally cut rates — but what does that really mean for homeowners?Marcus breaks down why this rate cut isn’t as simple as it sounds, and what Canadians should prepare for next.
Listen now for real talk on what’s ahead for your mortgage, inflation, and the economy.

In this episode, Marcus and Justin reveal what’s really keeping grocery prices high, what the Bank of Canada might do next, and how smart borrowers can use this moment to their advantage.
They dig into: • Why food prices in Canada refuse to drop • How the grocery market structure keeps costs high • What the next rate decision could mean for your mortgage • The surprising price gap between Canada and the UK
The takeaway: Inflation might be easing, but the story isn’t over. Listen to the full episode to see what’s really going on — and how to prepare your finances for what comes next.

AI is moving fast, and it’s already changing the way mortgages are handled. In this episode, Marcus dives into how AI tools like ChatGPT are analyzing mortgage scenarios, calculating penalties, and even projecting rates—but can they really replace human advisors?
We discuss:
How AI is disrupting mortgage and finance roles
Why basic mortgage advice is no longer enough
How Cannect uses AI to empower advisors, not replace them
The future of mortgage advice in Canada
The takeaway: AI can crunch numbers, but strategy, insight, and personalized advice still need a human touch.