Welcome to Unpacked & Empowered + Finances, the podcast that helps you take control of your financial future and personal growth! Hosted by Marianne Agudo, a financial security advisor in New Brunswick and an advocate for self-improvement, this podcast is designed for newcomers in Canada, those who are striving for financial independence, and anyone looking to build confidence in their financial journey.
Each episode unpacks real-life money strategies, personal development insights, and inspiring stories to help you feel empowered and in control. Whether you're navigating life as an immigrant, growing your career, or simply wanting to make smarter financial decisions, this podcast is for you.
🔹 Listen & Subscribe for actionable tips on financial security, mindset shifts, and success strategies.
✨ Website: www.marianneagudo.com & www.findingjoywithless.com
✨ LinkedIn: Marianne Agudo
✨ Instagram: @marianneagudo.podcast
Let's unpack financial literacy and self-empowerment together—one episode at a time! 🎙️✨
EP 32: You Know What to Do. So Why Aren't You Doing It? The Identity Gap Explained
You know exactly what you need to do financially. You've read the articles. You understand the strategy. But something keeps you from actually doing it.
In this episode, I sit down with Myles Daniel, a Jay Shetty Certified Coach and Alignment Architect, to explore what's really happening when you know better but can't seem to do better.
We unpack the "identity gap", the disconnect between who you want to become and who you currently see yourself as. Myles shares his proprietary Aligned Operating Method and walks through how invisible beliefs, generational patterns, and self-imposed limits sabotage even your best financial intentions.
Whether you're a newcomer rebuilding your financial foundation, a parent breaking generational cycles, or someone starting over at any age, this conversation will help you understand and close the gap between knowing and doing.
Key Takeaways
Why discipline and willpower aren't the problem when you can't execute financial goals
The "identity gap": how your self-image directly sabotages or supports your financial success
Four invisible beliefs that hold people back from financial progress (and how to reframe them)
Myles's real example: investing $25 bi-weekly to maintain the identity "I am someone who invests"
Why the goal isn't perfection, it's maintaining the identity
The "gas mask" analogy: why you can't help others if your own foundation isn't secure
How to choose between ego (the credit) and results (the outcome)
Reframing: from "I don't want to become my parents" to "I want to be a great example for my kids"
The Aligned Operating Method: Identify, Reframe, Implement, Execute
Guest Profile
Myles Daniel is a Jay Shetty Certified Life Coach and Alignment Architect at Insytera Coaching. Based in Hampton, New Brunswick, Myles works with purpose-driven professionals and entrepreneurs who feel stuck despite knowing what they should be doing. His work specializes in closing the gap between where people are and where they want to be through mindset shifts, belief reframing, and identity-based habit implementation.
Resources Mentioned
Myles's Exclusive Lead Magnet: 4-Pillar Financial Mindset Reset Worksheet (designed specifically for Unpacked & Empowered Finances listeners)
Myles's Alignment Coaching: www.insytera.com
Connect with Myles: coachmyles@insytera.com
Connect with Myles Daniel
LinkedIn: Myles Daniel on LinkedIn
Connect with Marianne
Instagram: @marianneagudo.nb
LinkedIn: Marianne Agudo's LinkedIn
This episode is educational content. Myles Daniel provides mindset coaching and identity-based habit implementation. Marianne Agudo, Financial Security Advisor, provides financial education and general information about Canadian financial concepts. Neither guest offers personalized financial advice, therapy, or coaching within this episode. Always consult with a qualified financial advisor or mental health professional for advice specific to your personal situation.
16 Sept 2026
EP 31: What Will Your Retirement Really Look Like? The Things You Can Control
What do you actually want your retirement to look like? For me, it's not just about having a certain amount of money saved. I imagine simple walks with my husband, travelling, spending time with our children and grandchildren, and having the freedom to enjoy life without being financially dependent on our kids. But getting there involves thinking about both the things we can control and the things we can't. In this episode of Unpacked & Empowered Finances, I share some of the retirement-planning questions I've been thinking about as I continue my financial planning education especially as someone who started building my financial life in Canada later than I originally expected.
We talk about:
• Why your vision for retirement matters
• The amount you save and how your spending habits can affect your goals
• Thinking about when you want to retire • What you want your time to look like in retirement
• Health and longevity as factors we can't fully control
• How economic changes and job loss can affect a family's financial plans
• Investment performance and the role of emotions and consistency
• Why starting later doesn't mean you should give up on planning
• Questions you can ask yourself today to create more options for your future self
One simple exercise from this episode: look back at your last 30 days of spending. Not to judge yourself, but to ask: "If I keep spending this way, will I still be able to save for the things that matter to me?"
Retirement planning doesn't have to start with having all the answers. Sometimes, it starts with imagining the life you want and identifying the things you can begin working on today.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not personalized financial and investment advice.
Follow me on Instagram @marianneagudo.nb
31 Aug 2026
What To Do When You're 10 Years From Retirement (Canadian Guide)
You're picking a retirement number from thin air. Here's why that's a problem.
Most Canadians decide they need "$1 million" or "$1.5 million" to retire without ever doing the math.
In this conversation, Greg Keith (Certified Financial Planner) breaks down the psychology behind anchoring to wrong numbers, and what actually matters when you're approaching retirement.
In this episode, you'll learn:
1. Why picking a random retirement number is costing you clarity (and maybe your peace of mind)
2. What "sequence of returns" means and why it matters more than most advisors admit
3. How to stress-test YOUR retirement plan for market downturns
4. The real conversation around CPP timing (it's not as simple as "take it at 60")
5. Pension decisions: commute it or keep it? (spoiler: there's no one-size-fits-all answer)
6. Why retirees are afraid to spend money (and what to do about it)
7. How to spot financial advice that doesn't apply to you (looking at you, US influencers)
ABOUT GREG KEITH
Greg Keith is a Certified Financial Planner who specializes in helping Canadians 10+ years away from retirement consolidate scattered accounts and build comprehensive financial plans. His focus: decision architecture, not just investment returns. You can find him at gregkeithcfp.ca or on LinkedIn.
ABOUT MARIANNE AGUDO
I'm a Financial Security Advisor and mom helping newcomer families and young Canadian parents build financial confidence and lasting security.
After my father passed without life insurance, my mother raised five children alone. That experience shaped everything: I believe financial protection is an act of love, not fear.
Through Unpacked & Empowered Finances, I'm building a community where families understand their wealth, organize their future, and break cycles of financial anxiety.
My mission: Help you move from financial overwhelm to empowered decision-making one conversation at a time.
This episode is educational only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Greg and I discuss general principles applicable to Canadian retirement planning.
Your individual situation may differ. Before making any financial decisions, consult with a qualified professional who understands your specific circumstances. Past performance does not guarantee future results. #canadianretirement #retirementplanning #cpp #pensions #financialplanning #behavioralfinance #familymoney #financialsecurity #canada2026 #moneymindset #wealthbuilding
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
2,624
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
65
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
60
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Questions about Finding joy with Mari, starting anew
Who hosts Finding joy with Mari, starting anew?
Marianne Agudo host the show. Published by Marianne Agudo.
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