Robyn Thompson Money

*personal post*

It is my mom’s birthday today. She passed away last week.

It has been a very difficult time filled with great sadness but also profound honour.

Today, I share my beautiful mother with you in celebration of what would have been her 80th birthday, a life well lived.

My mother taught me that faith is not only found in church, but in how we live — how we forgive, how we give, and how we care for one another.

She showed her love with her big beautiful heart.

Her family was her greatest joy and she was so proud of all of us. She believed that God gives us family to teach us patience, compassion, and unconditional love. Her faith shaped the home she built — one filled with laughter, respect, and the kind of forgiveness that keeps a family close.

My mother believed in eternal life, and that belief gives me peace today. She trusted that death is not the end, but a return home — to a place prepared for her by the God she served so faithfully.

She would want to leave a reminder: live with kindness, stay strong in your faith, and never lose hope, she would want me to live a big life, and eat lots of scallop potatoes. The world needs more of the quiet goodness she brought to it every day.

Mom, thank you for showing me what a life of love and faith looks like. I will miss you deeply, but will carry your example with me — in my choices and in the way I love others.

Grief never ends, it changes. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign ot weakness, nor a lack of faith it is the price of love.

It is one of the greatest honours of my life to be your daughter. From my hand to gods hand – Happy Heavenly Birthday Mom.

Have you ever heard of an Awe List?
It’s simple.

You make a list of moments that made you feel completely alive, not just happy.

But alive.

Moments that stretched time.
Moments that made everything else fade into the background.

Maybe it’s standing at the top of a mountain.

Watching a storm roll in from miles away.

Or sitting in silence with someone who knows you so well that words feel unnecessary.

That’s your Awe List.
But most people stop adding to it somewhere along the way.

Because life gets busy, responsibilities start stacking up.

And awe becomes something we visit instead of something we live in.

We tell ourselves we’ll go back to it when things slow down.

But awe doesn’t wait for perfect timing.

Awe heals, and it expands.
It brings you back to what matters.

So this month, choose one moment from your list and make it happen.
Not someday. Now.

Because at the end of it all, you won’t remember the deadlines you met.

You’ll remember the moments that made your heart feel infinite.

When I was a kid, I dreamed of the places I would go. Dreamed of what I would see.

Travel is a funny thing. It's like an episode of a movie: You walk into a building, get on a plane, fly through the clouds, land, leave, and experience another world. New people, new tastes, new smells, new pillows, and street signs in languages you can't read.

Then you reverse it all—back to the building, back on the plane, back out of the building to your home.

But you are different. Changed somehow by the people, the experiences, the expansion of wonder. And you bring it back and carry it with you. It's a gift.

Travel doesn't just change your geography—it changes your capacity. Every new place you visit expands your ability to adapt, to connect, to see possibilities where you once saw barriers.

When you drop into unfamiliar spaces, you discover parts of yourself that only emerge when everything around you is new. You become more resourceful, more curious, more confident in your ability to figure things out.

The conversations you have with strangers in foreign places? They stay with you. The problem-solving when nothing goes according to plan? That becomes your superpower back home.

You carry the confidence of someone who has stood in places they once only dreamed of. You speak with the authority of someone who has tasted life beyond their comfort zone.

Travel teaches you that the world is both bigger and smaller than you imagined. Bigger in wonder, smaller in the human connections that transcend language and culture.

The version of you that returns from that journey will be carrying gifts you can't even imagine yet.

Wheels up. Go explore and expand. It will change your life and career in ways you never expected.

The world is waiting for you to take up space in it. 🌍

Let's be real—recent market volatility has been a sobering reminder of why we can't just "set it and forget it" with our investments.

But here's what I've learned from my latest conversation: sometimes the best strategy is actually the simplest one.
I sat down with Erin Allen, Director of Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management, and we tackled some tough questions about navigating this volatility:

How do you get true global diversification without losing sleep over 47 different holdings?

What happens when automatic rebalancing kicks in during market chaos (spoiler: it's pretty brilliant)?

Can you actually get professional portfolio management for just 0.18% in fees while supporting a Canadian brand?

Erin's insights on BMO's Asset Allocation ETFs were refreshing. We dove into how these all-in-one solutions are helping Canadian investors cut through the noise and focus on what really matters—staying disciplined when emotions want to take the wheel.

The conversation reminded me why sometimes the most sophisticated strategy is having a simple, well-designed plan that works even when markets don't cooperate.

Watch our full discussion: Video Link in Bio

I'm building quite the lineup of conversations with industry leaders who are making investing more accessible. More coming soon!

How do you go beyond where you are right now?

In my line of work, it means watching tape. TV interviews, keynotes, presentations—all of it.

If I told you it gets easier, I'd be lying.

Sometimes watching myself back is downright awful. Other times, I feel like "hell yeah, nailed it!"

But here's the thing: if you want to improve in ANY area of your life, you have to be willing to look at ALL the parts. Not to criticize yourself, but to learn.

I always learn something. At a recent summit, my big takeaway was that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be—and I could amp up my energy by 100%.

Sometimes I feel so passionate about my message, so desperate for the audience to learn what's on my heart, that I dig in. Really dig in. When the room's tone gets serious, I match that energy and become more serious too.

But what actually serves the audience better? Just being me.

Here's what I've learned about growth:

1. The mirror doesn't lie—and that's a gift. Whether it's watching your presentation back, reviewing your performance metrics, or getting honest feedback, the uncomfortable moments are where the magic happens.

2. Your passion can become your trap. When you care deeply about your message, it's easy to over-deliver or match the wrong energy. Sometimes the best thing you can do is stay true to your authentic self.

3. You're exactly where you need to be. That doesn't mean stop growing—it means stop judging where you are right now. Growth comes from acceptance, not self-criticism.

4. Energy is everything. People feel what you bring to the room. If you're holding back because you think you should, you're robbing them of the real you.
What's the last thing you watched back, reviewed, or reflected on that made you cringe a little? That discomfort is your roadmap to the next level.

Look, Learn and go shine your light.

Leaving the Otolaryngology department today after nerve block injection #3, and I'm reflecting on what it means to fight for what you need when your livelihood depends on it.

I've been battling laryngeal spasms and neuropathic cough for years now—two conditions that, as you can imagine, are particularly terrifying when you speak for a living.

The reality of these conditions:

Laryngeal spasms cause sudden, involuntary closure of the vocal cords, making it impossible to breathe or speak. Neuropathic cough is a persistent, dry cough caused by nerve hypersensitivity—it can strike without warning and derail any speaking engagement. But I find a way and always show up and deliver using tools and techniques I have learned along the way.

For someone who builds their career on their voice, this feels like the ultimate cruel irony.

But here's what I've learned: There is always a way forward if you're courageous enough to ask the questions until you get the answers.

When multiple doctors told me "there's not much we can do," I didn't accept that as the final word. I researched specialists, sought second opinions, and kept advocating for myself.

Today's nerve block treatment is part of a comprehensive approach that many patients never learn about because they stop asking questions too soon.

The lesson isn't about my specific condition—it's about resilience when facing your worst-case scenario:

✓ Don't accept the first "no" as definitive
✓ Become your own best advocate
✓ Research specialists who understand your unique situation
✓ Ask questions until you find someone with answers
✓ Stay curious about emerging treatments

This journey has taught me that our greatest professional assets can become our most vulnerable points. But vulnerability doesn't mean defeat—it means getting creative about solutions.

If you are facing a health challenge : Keep asking questions. Keep seeking answers.

The markets have been anything but predictable lately, and honestly, that's creating some fascinating opportunities for those paying attention.

Here's what's been keeping me up at night (in a good way):

• Market volatility that's both challenging and full of potential
• Oil prices swinging like a pendulum
• Tech disruption happening faster than ever
• Demographic shifts creating entirely new investment themes

This is exactly why I sat down with Bipan Rai, Managing Director and Head of ETF & Structured Solutions Strategy at BMO Global Asset Management.

We dove deep into how sector-specific ETF strategies are becoming game-changers for investors who want to:

✓ Build more resilient portfolios
✓ Actually capitalize on macroeconomic trends (instead of just reading about them)
✓ Make tactical moves with precision
✓ Turn market complexity into competitive advantage

Bipan's insights on how to navigate this environment were eye-opening. The conversation reminded me why sector-focused investing isn't just a nice-to-have anymore—it's essential.

🎥 Watch our full conversation: Video Link in bio.

This is just the beginning. I've got more incredible conversations lined up with market leaders who are redefining how we think about investing.

Had such a great time chatting with Lindsey Deluce on CTV Your Morning about how Canadians can stretch their summer budgets without cutting the fun.

Here's the thing—we all want to make the most of our short Canadian summer, but those patio dinners, road trips, and festival tickets add up fast.

The good news? There are literally hundreds of dollars in savings hiding in plain sight.

We dove into some game-changing strategies:

🏢 Employee perks you're probably forgetting about - Festival discounts, travel deals, and fitness stipends that could save you $200-$500 this year
💳 Credit card summer hacks - Making your seasonal spending work harder with cash-back boosts and travel perks ($100-$300 in potential savings)
🏛️ Community freebies - Museum passes through libraries, free splash pads, and local rec programs that families especially love ($150-$250 in value)
📱 Money-saving apps - From Too Good To Go's 70% off surplus food to Rakuten's cash back, these tools can save you $100-$200 monthly
The math is pretty incredible—we're talking over $1,000 in potential summer savings just by being a bit more strategic about things you're already doing.

🎥 Catch the full segment: Link in bio.

Summer should be about making memories, not stressing about money. These tips help you do both!

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I didn’t know it then but years later these arches would change my life.

The lunch rush was in full swing. Orders flying in faster than we could process them. The timer's relentless beeping. Ice machine churning. Grill sizzling.

I was 14, working as a McDonald's crew member. Front counter. The deep end.

"Two Big Mac meals, one with no pickles, large fries, apple pie, and a vanilla shake," I called out while my hands moved on autopilot—tapping combos, grabbing cups, hitting the ice dispenser.

The beverage tower hissed as I filled drinks. Fresh fries cascaded from the fryer into the warming station. Apple pies slid into cardboard sleeves with a satisfying swoosh.

60 seconds max. That was the standard. That was the rush.

My manager watched from across the kitchen, arms crossed, but I could see the slight nod of approval. She'd thrown me into this chaos on purpose.

"You've got this," she'd said earlier. "Just trust yourself."

That's when I learned, before I could help my team keep up, I had to keep up with myself first.

Managing my own energy in the rush.
Staying calm when orders backed up.
Taking ownership of my station, my attitude, my performance—even when everything felt overwhelming.

I won Rookie of the Month. But more importantly, I learned that leadership isn't about the position you hold. It's about how you show up when the pressure's on and everyone's counting on you to deliver.

Those golden arches taught me that self-leadership isn't just the first step to leading others—it's the foundation of everything that comes after.

Well, that and "Would you like fries with that?" Yes, Yes I would :).

Not all assets live on a spreadsheet. Thank you Phil M Jones for this one.

Some of the most powerful ones live inside us.

✨ Visibility—being willing to be seen, even when I’d rather hide.
✨ Credibility—built one promise kept, one delivery at a time.
✨ Authenticity—letting the real me lead, not just the polished version.
✨ Availability—creating space for connection, growth, and what matters most.

These aren’t buzzwords. They’re the quiet, compounding forces behind every opportunity I’ve earned.

I think of them as the real assets under management.

And like any portfolio, they need consistent deposits: time, intention, and trust in the long game.

Because how we manage ourselves directly impacts what we’re capable of creating.

"From poverty to cancer, Robyn Thompson’s experiences have shaped her financial perspective".

It’s strange to see your life summed up in a single sentence.

Those words carry a lot. But they’re also only part of the story.

Because what shaped me wasn’t just what happened—it was how I chose to respond.

To build.
To lead.
To grow.
To create wealth, not just in dollars, but in dignity, clarity, and agency.

Thank you Bouw and the Podcast for the space to share the whole picture—the mess, the meaning, and the mindset behind how I show up in money and in life.

Link in bio