Behind the Advice

Why Samantha Sykes thinks we should be worried about the rise of finfluencers

Behind the Advice

Show Notes

When it came to choosing a career, Samantha Sykes explored several different paths, from writing the LSAT with an intent to pursue law to spending three years at culinary school. But it was an impromptu conversation on a cruise ship that set her career as an advisor in motion. These days, Samantha is a Senior Investment Advisor and Financial Planner at Raymond James in Toronto.

She and Brenda discuss a humbling mistake she made early in her career, her concerns about the rise of “finfluencers” and her advice for women of colour wanting to break into the advisory world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

More from Behind the Advice

Oct 21, 2026

After years of long hours in finance, William Chan realized his career was costing him precious time with his family. When the pandemic gave him a chance to rethink his priorities, he made a bold move: leaving corporate finance to become an independent financial planner.

Oct 14, 2026

On his first day at an investment firm, Ryan Bushell expected career advice from his then-boss. Instead, he got a lesson about fancy and ordinary office chairs that still shapes how he manages money.

Oct 7, 2026

Millie Gormely grew up on a dairy farm outside Thunder Bay, Ont., where money could be unpredictable and hard work was simply part of life. As a kid, she learned that if she wanted something, she had to earn it. That philosophy carried on into adulthood. It took juggling multiple jobs, and eventually multiple surgeries, before Millie realized she needed to slow things down.

Sep 30, 2026

After losing his entire RRSP investment on a hot stock tip, Harp Sandhu learned that building wealth doesn’t have to be exciting.

Sep 23, 2026

What happens when you’re forced to navigate an estate before you’ve had much experience managing your own finances? For Kimberly Wood, becoming the executor of her mother’s estate at 23 was a life-changing education and the start of her career in wealth management. Today, Kim is a wealth advisor with Johnstone Wealth Management Group at National Bank in Toronto, where she focuses on investments, estate and financial planning.

See all episodes →