Trade Ideas
With headline risk dominating today’s market backdrop, investors have been navigating a choppy environment, and many have turned to dividend‑focused strategies. The appeal is understandable: companies that can pay stable and growing dividends often signal confidence, maturity, and financial strength.
While Quality has had a tough year so far, we expect it to perform going forward. This is largely due to a shifting macro backdrop that favours firms with stable earnings, a still-restrictive Fed monetary policy regime, and exposure to AI.
Podcasts
When one sector dominates the market, diversification isn’t as simple as owning the index — so how do you build a more balanced portfolio? In this episode, special guest Nick Koutsoftas joins host Zayla Saunders to break down how sector ETFs work, how they can be used to reduce concentration risk, and which sectors stand out as the most undervalued opportunities in today’s market. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Nick Koutsoftas is Vice President, Sector ETF Specialist at State Street Investment Management. This episode was recorded live on Monday, October 19, 2026.
From sticky inflation and rising bond yields to growing questions around AI, the macro backdrop is getting more complex. In this episode, special guest Bipan Rai joins host Zayla Saunders to unpack his Q4 portfolio strategy and what it means to stay invested — and protected — this quarter. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Bipan Rai is Head of ETF & Structured Solutions Strategy at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on Friday, October 9, 2026.
With Canadian housing facing a prolonged slump, where can Canadians put their savings to work? Bipan welcomes back BMO Capital Markets economist Robert Kavcic to discuss why markets may be overestimating Bank of Canada rate hikes, why a housing recovery will take time, and investment opportunities beyond real estate. This podcast was recorded on October 6, 2026.
Investing has never been more accessible, yet money anxiety keeps growing. Hosts Zayla Saunders and Hilly Cutler talk with Rob Carrick about how Canadians’ attitudes toward money have changed, the rise of ETFs, rising bond yields and mortgage rates, and what keeps his readers up at night.
High inflation continues to weigh on Canadian portfolios. In this encore episode, Brock Smusiak joins hosts Zayla Saunders and Hilly Cutler to discuss how ETFs across commodities, gold and inflation-linked bonds can help investors build resilience beyond traditional diversification. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM. They are joined by Brock Smusiak, Director, ETF Consultant at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on June 22, 2026.
How much tightening would it take to keep Canadian inflation expectations in check? Royce Mendes of Desjardins Securities joins Bipan to explain his case for a limited round of “insurance hikes,” how U.S. trade relations could alter that outlook and where he sees value in Canadian bonds. This podcast was recorded on Sept. 22, 2026.
What did markets earn over the summer — and what does the back-to-school season mean for investors? In this episode, host Hilly Cutler sits down with Matt Montemurro to assess how equities, bonds, and commodities performed over the past few months, where ETF flows are heading, and what key themes — from Fed rate decisions to the AI trade and upcoming mega IPOs — could shape the final quarter of 2026. Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Matt Montemurro is Head of Fixed Income and Equity Index ETFs at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on Monday, September 14, 2026.
In this encore episode, Darim Abdullah joins hosts Zayla Saunders and Hilly Cutler to examine the differences in U.S. equity exposure — from the concentration risks of market-cap-weighted indices to how equal weighting can broaden a portfolio’s return drivers and reduce reliance on a handful of mega-cap names. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM. They are joined by Darim Abdullah, Director of ETFs and Portfolio Consulting at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on June 1, 2026.
Canada’s trade war with the U.S. is escalating — but the economy has proven surprisingly resilient. Bipan Rai sits down with RBC Capital Markets’ Jason Daw to discuss tariffs, fiscal firepower, the Bank of Canada’s next move and what’s driving long-term bond yields higher. This podcast was recorded on September 1, 2026.
From chasing last year’s winners to sitting in cash too long, small decisions can work against long-term results. Zayla Saunders, Hilly Cutler and Erika Toth break down common ETF investing mistakes and practical ways to avoid them. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined by Erika Toth, Director and Head of ETF and Portfolio Consulting at BMO GAM, and Hilly Cutler, Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Monday, August 31, 2026.
What’s the difference between yield and distribution rate — and why does it matter? In this episode, hosts Zayla Saunders and Hilly Cutler sit down with Kiran Navaratnam to unpack how covered call strategies generate yield, how that yield differs from what a fund actually distributes, and why total return can provide a more complete picture than headline numbers alone. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM. They are joined by Kiran Navaratnam, Non-Linear Solutions Vice President & Portfolio Manager at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on Monday, August 24, 2026.
Markets are wrestling with rising long-term yields and a less predictable Fed. Ian Lyngen, head of U.S. rates strategy at BMO Capital Markets, joins Bipan Rai to unpack real yields, fiscal pressures, AI investment and the Fed’s uncertain next move. This podcast was recorded on August 18, 2026.
Canadian investors are increasingly turning to passive investing as their portfolio foundation of choice. In this episode, special guest Erin Allen and host Zayla Saunders dig into why this trend continues to gain ground, from the evolving DIY investing landscape and the rise of hybrid advice models to the increasing pull of social media on next-gen investors. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Erin Allen is Director, Direct Distribution at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on Monday, August 17, 2026.
Two ETFs can track the same asset class and still deliver very different results. In this episode, hosts Hilly Cutler and Zayla Saunders unpack how major indices—from the S&P 500 and Russell to MSCI and FTSE—are actually constructed, the different methodologies at play, and how they shape portfolio construction, from large-cap overlap to overlooked emerging market exposure. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on Monday, August 10, 2026.
The U.S. Treasury Department and Japan have taken the unusual step of jointly stabilizing the Japanese Yen in global currency markets. Bipan Rai explores the direct implications for currencies and yields — and whether it marks the return of a more activist era in global FX policy. This podcast was recorded on August 4, 2026.
When it comes to accessing international equity, Canadian investors have options. In this episode, special guest Stephanie Ng joins hosts Zayla Saunders and Hilly Cutler to unpack Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs) — what they are, how they work, and why they’re a uniquely Canadian approach to global investing. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM. They are joined by Stephanie Ng, Senior Associate, Specialized Sales at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on Monday, June 15, 2026.
Behind every ETF trade is a market structure that most investors never see. In this episode, special guest Roy Dimitrov takes hosts Hilly Cutler and Zayla Saunders into the engine room to explain what market makers really do, bust some of the biggest myths around ETF trading, and unpack why active ETFs may be the industry’s next big growth story. Zayla Saunders is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Hilly Cutler is Director of Portfolio Consulting and Senior Portfolio Consultant at BMO GAM. They are joined by Roy Dimitriv, Vice President, ETF Sales and Trading at BMO GAM. This episode was recorded live on Monday, July 27, 2026.
Europe’s geopolitical wake-up calls are multiplying, but so are the reasons for cautious optimism. Jennifer Lee, senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, joins Bipan Rai to unpack Europe’s new spending regime, central-bank divergence, Japan’s weak yen and the global signals investors should watch next. This podcast was recorded on July 21, 2026.
After a muted initial reaction to the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and risk that the conflict may rapidly widen, energy markets have started pricing in darker scenarios. In this episode, Bipan is joined by TD Securities commodities strategist Daniel Ghali, where the pair discuss the extent to which crude prices may rise further, as well as implications for the broader global commodities complex. This episode was recorded live on March 4, 2026.
In this episode, Bipan Rai, Sohrab Movahedi, and your host, Skye Collyer, unpack Canada’s ‘Big Six’ banks’ Q1 2026 earnings — cutting through the noise on tariffs, growth drivers, and what resilience looks like in an uncertain macro environment. Skye Collyer is a Director of ETF Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM). She is joined by Bipan Rai, Head of ETF Strategy, Exchange Traded Funds at BMO GAM, and Sohrab Movahedi, Managing Director of Financials Research at BMO Capital Markets. This episode was recorded live on Tuesday, March 03, 2026.
In today’s episode, special guest Mark Jarosz and your host, Zayla Saunders, revisit CLO ETFs. This time, they explore the middle of the capital stack that has BBB-tranches, which they’re calling a sweet spot. Stay tuned to find out why. Zayla Saunders is a Senior Associate of Online Distribution at BMO Global Asset Management (GAM). She is joined on the podcast by Mark Jarosz, Head, Private Credit, Alternatives at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Today, we have a special treat for our listeners — a deep dive episode of the BMO Smarter Investing podcast. Join Kevin Prins and your host, Erin Allen, as they delve into the transformative world of asset allocation ETFs. Discover their growth, benefits, and how they simplify investing for both novice and seasoned investors.
Listen/read nowA new floor price for world oil prices as well as rising forecasts for gold are two among many implications traders are weighing as tensions simmer between Iran, Israel as well as the United States. Bipan is joined by TD Securities strategist Daniel Ghali to discuss what impact the conflict has had on commodity and energy price expectations. This podcast was recorded live on June 24, 2025.
Looking to invest overseas with ease? In this deep-dive episode, special guests Johan Ahlberg, and Acushla Vestby, from BMO Global Asset Management’s Structured Solutions team, and your host, Erin Allen, explore the fundamentals of Canadian Depositary Receipts (CDRs) and how they give investors greater access to foreign markets. Erin Allen is Vice President of ETF Online Distribution at BMO Exchange Traded Funds. She is joined on the podcast by Johan Ahlberg, Director of Development and Strategy Advisory, Structured Solutions, at BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM) and Acushla Vestby, Managing Director and Head of Structured Solutions and National Accounts, at BMO GAM. The episode was recorded live on Thursday, January 30, 2025.