Money is still the number one source of stress for Canadians, and this episode gets into what the data actually shows. Wendy and Kelsey walk through the 2026 FP Canada Financial Stress Index — nine years of tracking financial anxiety across the country — and zero in on one number that tells the real story. People who work with a financial professional are 14 percentage points less likely to lose sleep over money. That gap shows up twice in the survey. This episode explains why, and what it looks like in practice.

In This Episode

What's driving financial stress for Canadians in 2026 and how it's shifted over the past few years
How financial anxiety breaks down differently across age groups — from early career to peak earning years
Why the 14-point gap between people with a planner and those without keeps showing up in the data
What the shift from "freedom from" to "freedom to" language tells you about where someone is in their financial journey
Why waiting until you have things figured out before seeing a planner is the wrong approach

Featured Quote

"It replaces assumption with clarity, and it replaces fear with options. You don't know where you are until you do that analysis." — Wendy Brookhouse

About the Hosts

Wendy Brookhouse is the founder and chief strategist at Black Star Wealth and a Certified Financial Planner with over 20 years of independent advisory experience. She works with entrepreneurs and business owners to build financial clarity, business value, and wealth that lasts.

Kelsey MacAulay is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Relationship Officer at Black Star Wealth, and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. He works with business owners on the operational and strategic side of building a business worth transitioning.

Resources & Links

FP Canada Financial Stress Index (2026) — the survey referenced throughout this episode.

Connect With Black Star Wealth

Website: blackstarwealth.com
LinkedIn: Wendy Brookhouse | Kelsey MacAulay
Podcast: The Number — available on all major platforms

Curious whether Black Star Wealth works with people in your situation? Visit blackstarwealth.com to learn more.

Why Working With a Financial Planner Reduces Stress