Episoder

  • Did you know you could pay your rent with a credit card and earn points/rewards every month?

    In this episode of the Miss Findependent Podcast, Nika is joined by Liza Akhvledziani, co-founder of Chexy a platform designed to help tenants pay rent online while earning rewards and building credit.

    Liza holds a Bachelor of International Economics degree from the University of British Columbia and is a CFA charterholder.

    She started her career in investment banking, specifically in M&A at Deloitte, and then went on to lead Finance and Strategy at Square, the payment processor, for the Canadian market. In this episode, we dive into her journey from being an international student to raising $1.5 million for her first startup.


    Here's what we cover:

    Growing up in Belarus to moving to Canada at 17Pursuing Investment Banking without a 'traditional' business degreeLiza's career journey - "Everything happens for a reason"How Chexy was bornJoining AntlerHow to test your problem Building an MVP - Minimum Viable ProductReddit Growth Hacking & ScalingRaising Capital and What's Next for ChexyLiza's money philosophy


    ✩ CONNECT WITH LIZA: ✩
    LinkedIN: Liza Akhvlediani

    👉 Learn more about Chexy: https://www.chexy.co/


    👉 Follow Chexy:
    Instagram - @chexy.rent
    TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@getchexy?is_f...


    ✩ CONNECT WITH NIKA: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • In this episode of the Miss Findependent Podcast, join me as I reflect on the challenges and triumphs of the past year, marked by the loss of my grandfather. From Dima's powerful journey, we delve into essential financial lessons, navigating the intricate process of managing finances after a loved one's passing, and uncovering the keys to generational wealth.

    My grandfather was my financial guru. He was the first person who taught me to invest and I take some time to share how his life has impacted mine. He was a resilient man born in post-World War II Russia, overcame immense adversity, losing his career and personal brand during a turbulent time. His journey, from a physicist to a self-taught coder and eventually a wise investor, left an indelible mark on my financial mindset. Join me as I share his inspiring story, emphasizing the power of starting anew at any stage in life.


    Drawing on Dima's legacy, I delve into essential financial lessons, including the importance of early investment planning. Discover how Dima's foresight and strategic financial decisions allowed me to graduate debt-free and purchase my first home. From his practical approach to life to his wise investment strategies, Dima's influence shaped my perspective on generational wealth.

    As the episode unfolds, I guide you through the intricate process of handling finances after a loved one's passing. Explore the critical documents needed, navigate through legal and tax considerations, and gain insights into probate taxes and estate planning. Whether you're a parent considering an RESP or someone facing the complexities of managing an estate, this episode provides valuable information and actionable advice.

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  • Learn how the UHNW (ultra-high-net-worth) individuals invest into different asset classes with Andrew Sarna, VP of Investments at Forthlane Partners.

    You can follow his work through his daily note here: https://offthecharts.substack.com/

    Andrew has spent the last 5 years building out the Forthlane investment platform. He has experience across asset classes and building Canadian Pension Plan style portfolios for UHNW clients. He has led multiple investments including Private Equity co-investments, Credit managers, Absolute Return managers, etc. Prior to joining Forthlane, Andrew began his career at the Kraft Heinz Company under 3G Capital, where he was the finance lead in Canada for logistics, supply chain losses and working capital. Andrew is a CFA Charterholder, holds an HBA from the Ivey Business School, and a Bachelor of Engineering Science with a specialization in Integrated Engineering from Western University. He graduated from both programs with Honours. He's also the creator of one of my favourite ways to keep a pulse on the market, a daily newsletter called Off the Charts.

    Globe and Mail Article:

    https://archive.ph/AOXdY#selection-2067.0-2067.106

    Andrew Henderson with Rick Rubin:

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/andrew-henderson/id1671669052?i=1000619346243

  • TFSA… RRSP… There are already so many acronyms for Canadian investing accounts, but here comes one more, the FHSA. In this episode I explain everything you need to know about the new First Home Savings Account and how you can work towards your goal of owning real estate.

    Here’s more of what I get into:

    1:20 - Life Update - Bachelorette Outfit Hacks

    9:27 - What is the FHSA?

    13:42 - FHSA vs. TFSA vs. RRSP

    18:40 - Contribution Limits

    20:53 - What Can I Invest in?

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • In this episode, I'll take you through my decision-making timeline and where I currently stand in the destination wedding planning process. I go into costs in detail, and sharing insights into where I found opportunities to be budget-conscious while still making the most impact.

    Planning a destination wedding has been an exciting yet overwhelming experience. From choosing the location to finalizing vendors, there have been a lot of decisions to make along the way. I've learned that it's important to take things one step at a time and not rush into any decisions.

    One thing that has been a challenge is keeping costs under control. However, I've found that being creative and resourceful has helped me to stick to my budget without compromising on quality. I'll be sharing some of my tips and tricks in this episode.

    Planning a destination wedding has been an emotional journey filled with ups and downs. But with the big day a few months out, I'm excited to share my thoughts and feelings about the whole experience with you. Whether you're planning a wedding or just love a good story, I'm sure you'll enjoy listening to my experience. So, grab a cup of coffee, go for a walk, and tune in!

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • This episode honours and celebrate some of the amazing, trailblazing women that have come before us, and radically transformed life as we know it.


    The purpose is to highlight how far we've come as a society, and how much we've moved the needle over centuries... but there's still much work to be done.

    After all, it wasn't until the mid 1950's that single women in Canada were able to open bank accounts, and we stopped viewing women as dependants of their husbands or fathers.

    In this episode, I highlight the stories of:
    5:18 - Ada Lovelace
    9:26 - Lilian Bland
    11:48 - Margaret Hamilton
    14:40 - Madam CJ Walker
    19:27 - Maggie Lena Walker
    22:00 - Muriel Siebert
    25:04 - Geraldine Weis

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • Ever looked into the American Express (Amex) Card offerings and become overwhelmed? In this episode I answer a question sent in by one of my listeners on which Amex card is best.

    Here are the cards I review:

    American Express Platinum CardAmerican Express Business Platinum CardAmerican Express Cobalt CardAmerican Express Green CardAmerican Express Aeroplan Reserve CardMarriott Bonvoy American Express Card

    Get 100,000 MR Points By Signing Up Through My Referral

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • In this episode, I sit down with lawyer and educator Jessica Wu to discuss prenuptial agreements (prenups). We explore common misconceptions about prenups and their purpose, as well as their potential benefits and drawbacks.

    Jessica provides insight into the legal considerations of drafting a prenup, including the importance of transparency and communication between partners. We also discuss how prenups can be used as a tool for financial planning and protection in the event of divorce. Whether you're considering a prenup or simply curious about their role in modern relationships, this conversation offers valuable insights from an experienced legal professional.

    More about Jessica Wu:
    Jessica is a lecturer at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Ryerson University in Toronto. She teaches foundational Canadian law, family law, business and contract law to future lawyers, paralegals, and law clerks, and she’s taught at a plethora of institutions.

    She’s also an experienced barrister, and seasoned solicitor. She’s worked with the Department of Justice Canada, the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, and the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. She has litigated and matters before the Superior Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice Unified Family Court, and the Ontario Court of Justice. She has also presented at the Ontario Court of Appeal.

    I hope you enjoy this conversation where we get into the details of what a marriage contract or what’s commonly known as a prenuptial agreement or a prenup, is, and why you might want to consider entering one.


    Learn more at Jessica Wu Law

    Connect with Jessica Wu on Instagram

    Connect with PrenupClub on Instagram

  • Thinking about how much you need to invest monthly in order to retire before 65? In this mini-episode I help Inessa (33 year old marketing analytics analyst making $88K/year) build a million dollar retirement plan even though she only started investing 3 years ago.

    Compound Interest Calculator

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • Season 5 of the Miss Findependent Podcast starts off with me explaining my plan to live a ‘non-traditional life’ and become work optional by 40. I walk you through how to set long term financial goals, and give you a blueprint for how you can also plan to live off your investments, at whatever age you decide.

    This season is going to be packed with content. New full episodes will still be released every Wednesday, and an AMA (ask me anything) mini-episode is launching every Monday as well.

    In this episode I dive into the FI/RE movement. Heard of it?

    It’s a movement of young people focused on becoming financially independent and retiring early. Some people plan to do this by 30, with Lean FIRE… but I’m not trying to live off microwaveable ramen for the next 5 years in order to cut expenses. I explain the different types of FIRE and how increasing your income and building strong investing goals can help you become work optional sooner.

    Here’s more of what I get into:

    2:05 - How to stop procrastinating

    5:00 - When I discovered FI/RE

    10:37 - The FI/RE Movement

    25:51 - How to calculate your FI/RE number

    29:36 - BRRRR Strategy


    You're Not So Smart Episode

    Compound Interest Calculator

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • We start at the very beginning. Who was Samuel Bankman-Fried, mainly known by his initials SBF? How did he build his crypto fortune? Did he always come from money?

    In this week’s episode of The Miss Findependent Podcast, I get into all of this and more.

    This isn’t some fluff piece. This is the full story… with updates from his employees, details about his political involvement, and some insight into what shaped him to be the man he is today.

    SBF comes off as a big philanthropist, guided by his belief in altruism. Some say philanthropist. I say fraudster.

    SBF single handedly loses his fortune of $17.2 Billion, declares a chapter 11 bankruptcy, and causes thousands of people to lose not only their hard earned money, but also their faith in crypto.

    In case you haven’t heard of SBF - Sam Bankman-Fried is an entrepreneur and former founder/CEO of FTX, FTX.US, and Alameda Research, but if this story is the titanic, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

    Here’s what we get into in detail:

    1:55 - Who is Sam Bankman-Fried

    5:14 - Arbitrage

    6:53 - How does SBF become a Billionaire?

    9:00 - Scaling FTX

    14:20 - The Bahamas

    15:40 - The Downfall of FTX

    25:35 - The Residual Impact

    31:33 - SBF Political Involvement

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • Every time I see someone pay for something with a debit card, and they’re above the age of 18, I cringe on the inside.

    Credit cards are not evil.

    In fact, credit cards can be an incredible tool that help you build credit history which is essential for every single adult.

    Outside of that, they also have AMAZING perks ranging from insurance, letting you travel for free, giving you cash back to help pay for your balance.

    In this episode I go through the different types of credit cards, and the most common types of benefits that most people don’t know about.

    Here’s what I get into in detail:

    5:27 - How do you choose the right card?

    6:30 - Student Cards

    7:02 - Business Cards

    7:18 - Store Cards

    10:12 - Cash Back Cards

    12:36 - Travel Cards

    17:32 - Rewards Cards

    25:11 - Rental Car Insurance

    26:35 - Mobile Device Insurance

    28:32 - Purchase Insurance

    31:22 - Airport Lounges

    Credit Karma

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • To rent or to buy… the age old question

    A lot of millennials have stopped asking the question because they feel buying real estate is far out of reach.

    And on top of that, there’s so much societal pressure that suggests renting is burning cash, and owning real estate is like a right of passage for adulthood. I debunk both of these myths.

    Personal finance is.. Personal. Buying or renting is a conscious decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

    Buying real estate can be a great tool for wealth, but if buying is out of reach, or you’re living in a highly overvalued market, renting and investing the difference, when done strategically can pay massive dividends… literally, like if you invest an amount equal to a downpayment in dividend paying stocks.

    There’s a lot of costs associated with buying outside just saving for a downpayment. There’s mortgage payments, transaction costs, interest….

    In this episode I break down common misconceptions, and quantify exactly what the criteria is to be approved for a mortgage.

    I break down how to save for a downpayment, how long it’ll take in specific markets assuming you are saving 10% of your income monthly.

    I dive into different scenarios and show you where it makes more financial sense to rent vs. buy, and how to run the calculations.

    Here’s what I get into:

    4:53 - Rent vs. buying situations

    10:00 - How to save for a downpayment

    11:52 - How mortgages are calculated

    17:28 - GDS and TDS ratios

    26:07 - Building Equity

    27:46 - Price-to-Rent ratio

    33:43 - Opportunity cost

    Housing Affordability NBC

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • In this episode, I sit down with Viler Lika, the founder and CEO of SingleKey, which takes the stress out of renting. It helps landlords find the right tenants, and helps manage the risks that come with renting - serving both the landlord, and the tenant. They’re like a bridge that makes managing that relationship easier. It’s a platform that I use myself, and that’s why I was really looking forward to this conversation.

    I met Viler a couple years ago and have seen his business grow and evolve. It’s an incredible platform and Viler has so much insight into the rental market, stemming from his daily conversations with customers. He’s incredibly in-tune with challenges both landlords and tenants face, and that’s mainly what we dive into here.

    A little bit about Viler… he holds an MBA from Ivey Business School and a computer engineering degree from the University of Toronto. Prior to Single Key, he led a data science team at TD bank in consumer credit, and started his career in Credit Risk at Capital One. He is an experienced entrepreneur having successfully founded and exited a previous company. Viler is passionate about innovation in the financial sector and the disrupting power of FinTech.

    Here’s what we get into:

    2:20 - What’s Going on In The Rental Market

    10:42 - Defining Proptech

    12:03 - How SingleKey Started

    17:04 - Rent Guarantee for Landlords

    21:48 - Landlord Fraud

    27:29 - Know Your Rights as a Tenant

    38:40 - Standard Rent Agreements

    47:41 - Adding Supply To the Market

    49:06 - Pay Rent and Build Credit History with SingleKey

    Connect with Viler:

    Learn More on SingleKey's Website

    Connect with SingleKey on Instagram

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • In this episode, I sit down with Alyssa Atkins, the founder and CEO of Lilia, the most enjoyable egg freezing experience in the world. Lilia is is on a mission to bring reproductive freedom to every woman by making egg freezing affordable, accessible, and convenient. Alyssa raised Lilia's first round of funding in 5 weeks with no product, deck, or website, and went on to gain backing from Y Combinator, Silicon Valley's most prominent investor.

    Alyssa and I, like many women, were sick of doing the dating math.

    “If I want to grow my career, scale my business, achieve XX by XX date… I need to find my husband by XX, get married by XX, have baby #1 by XX.”

    As women, questions around fertility are some of our most common sources of stress. Everybody usually means well, but asking a woman when she’s planning to have kids, when she’s not fully ready is frustrating to hear, to say the least.

    One of my favorite Alyssa quotes from the episode:

    “Society is still very prescriptive in the sense that we are expected to: go to school, graduate, get a job, get married, and then have kids. That’s just not how it works anymore. Women are more discerning in their partners, we’re focusing on our careers, and taking more time… and our biology has not caught up.”

    The incredible thing is… there’s a solution to this pain and frustration that buys an immense feeling of FREEDOM and peace of mind.

    It’s called egg freezing, or embryo freezing, and I’m currently in the process of doing both.

    Alyssa and I get into the nitty gritty details of how both processes work, the costs, and how egg freezing can benefit entrepreneurial, goal-oriented women, by giving them TIME to do the things they want.

    Here’s more of what we get into:

    1:56 - How Lilia Was Born

    9:37 - Rewiring The Narrative

    11:21 - Why Alyssa Left Her Job to Grow Lilia

    16:56 - Going After Venture Capital

    21:23 - Egg Freezing For Entrepreneurial Women

    26:15 - Why I Decided To Freeze My Eggs

    29:00 - The Shocking Truth About Fertility

    37:20 - The Steps and Costs

    44:26 - Eggs vs. Embryos

    49:39 - Why Lilia


    I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did. Please share with your family or friends that might benefit from this as well.

    Connect with Alyssa:

    Learn More on Lilia's Website
    Learn More on Forbes

    Connect with Alyssa on Instagram

    Connect with Alyssa on Twitter


    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • Do you ever have social anxiety and get nervous about presenting or meeting new people?

    Same girl same, I get this all the time. When I have to go on stage. And even when I see people walking towards me on the street, or when I have to go on stage.

    In this episode I walk you through a quick breathing exercise that helps you lower your heart rate and get rid of the adrenaline you feel before communicating at a larger scale.

    I also dive deep into communication techniques and tips that will help you become impeccable with your word and deliver your message with ease and clarity.

    Here’s what I get into in detail:

    5:40 - The Key is Luv

    13:10 - The 4 People You’ll Meet

    22:08 - Dealing with Social Anxiety

    22:49 - Body Language

    24:56 - Mastering Your Emotions

    DISC Personality Test:

    https://www.123test.com/disc-personality-test/


    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • For all you guys asking, begging, coercing me into sharing my skincare routine… fine. Fine… I’ll share it with you.

    This is my secret to having clear, dewy, and hydrated skin.

    I hate how consumer culture focuses more heavily on which products people put on their skin, rather than how they organize their finances… but if that’s what it takes to get your attention, to make looking at your financial systems fun, so be it.

    Skin care is important, don’t get me wrong. It’s the largest organ in the body. But your financial systems are equally if not, more important. They’re what set you up for success, or add unnecessary financial stress that causes you to age prematurely.

    And nobody. Nobody. Needs unnecessary wrinkles.

    We’re trying to age with grace here. With grace, and with a FAT retirement account.

    When it comes to skincare, I’m a pretty lazy person. In fact on a daily basis I only use a few products (cleanser, moisturizer, SPF, and sometimes, when I’m not super lazy, eye cream).

    But on a weekly basis (or monthly), let’s be real. I add in a few extra things, like exfoliant and serums that keep me looking glow-y.

    So… are you ready for your financial glow up?

    Here’s the secret:

    8:46 - Step 1: Cleanser

    16:52 - Step 2: Exfoliating

    21:38 - Step 3: Toner

    26:15 - Step 4: Eye Cream

    33:45 - Step 5: Moisturizer

    37:10 - Step 6: SPF

    41:05 - Step 7: Facials

    Huberman Lab Episode:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ebY3WNejLNbK47emgjd1E?si=f232f2ae099b4a7c

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • From Forex and crypto trading to binary options, financial scams are everywhere and scammers are praying on the uneducated, money-driven individuals who engage in online communities.

    The content behind this episode is sparked by my recent experience being impersonated. Instagram is currently investigating the account, however this is not the first time this has happened. Scam artists thrive on social media because they’re able to quickly build trust and target a specific audience.

    Friendly reminder - I will never DM you on any platform asking you how your trading is doing, or to ask you for money. I only ever ask my fiance for money, and even that’s in the rare instance when I need to get my nails done and don’t have cash on hand.

    In this episode I go over how to avoid falling into the trap of being taken advantage of financially. I bring to light the most common types of scams and teach you how to point them out.

    Here’s what I get into in detail:

    2:15 - Why scammers love social media

    7:38 - Investing in Gold

    12:32 - Crypto Scams

    15:41 - Binary Options

    19:08 - Forex Scams

    22:26 - Pump & Dump Schemes

    25:50 - Retirement Savings Unlocking Scheme

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • Robots are everywhere. They clean your house, they can drive you to work. They can even make investment decisions for you. Not literal humanoid robots like the ones Elon Musk said are going to be featured in every home, but AI versions that can make automated investment decisions based on your risk profile and preferences.

    In this episode I break down what robo-advisors are, how they came to be, and how they work. I break down the benefits of using one vs. making investment decisions yourself and compare the top 4 robo-advisors in Canada.

    Here’s what I get into:

    3:25 - Where did Robo-Advisors come from?

    5:50 - How Robo-Advisors work

    8:45 - Why use a Robo-Advisor

    11:20 - What do Robo-Advisors invest in?

    14:15 - Benefits of using a robo-advisor

    25:20 - Comparing robo-advisors in Canada

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]

  • Short term rentals & Airbnb arbitrage has been all the craze. In this episode I chat with Sarah Glidewell and Emily Karnaz - The KarWells and we get into how lucrative this space really is, and actionable tips for how to get in the Airbnb game.


    Here’s what we get into:

    1:49 - The KarWells

    3:39 - Dealing With Conflict

    6:19 - B.C. (Before Covid)

    11:11 - Vetting Guests & Investments

    16:24 - Airbnb Arbitrage

    20:15 - Designing an Airbnb

    23:47 - Tips For Building Your Airbnb

    Stay Tuned!

    SuperHost Labs - Part 2 Coming Soon

    Learn more: Short Term Rentals 101


    ✩ CONNECT WITH SARAH & EMILY: ✩

    The Karwells on TikTok

    The Karwells on IG

    ✩ CONNECT WITH ME: ✩

    Instagram: @missfindependent

    TikTok: @nikafarb

    Learn more at missfindependent.com

    For contact or business inquiries: [email protected]