Commentary on how people
really decide about money
Kris Podolski, CFP®, CIM®, founder and CEO of Sigmalign, is available for interviews on investor behaviour, fee transparency, and the value of financial advice. He spent more than 20 years as a financial advisor, including through the 2008 financial crisis and the March 2020 market crash.
What Kris can speak to
Kris explains why sensible people make costly money decisions under pressure, and what helps. He is direct, uses plain language, and works well in a short TV segment or a long podcast conversation.
The number Canadians have never seen
Timely: January to March 2027
In early 2027, annual statements will show investment fund costs in dollars for the first time. Kris explains why "$1,700" feels very different from "1.7%," how people are likely to react, and what to ask your advisor before you act.
Sample questions
- Should I be alarmed by my number?
- Is it worth moving my money?
- What does a good fee conversation sound like?
Why smart people panic
Evergreen; ready the day markets drop
When markets fall, fear, regret and following the crowd take over. Kris guided clients through the 2008 crisis and the March 2020 crash. He explains what happens in a downturn and how to plan for it before the next drop.
Sample questions
- Why do people sell at the bottom?
- What should I do this week?
- How do I keep my partner from panicking?
Does your advisor know how you decide?
Consumer and advisor audiences
Most advisors record your risk tolerance. Few understand how you behave under stress. Kris explains the difference and what a better client conversation looks like.
The risk nobody measures
Trade press, advisor podcasts and long-form only
Kris argues that client behaviour is the least-measured risk in Canadian financial advice. He also describes how Sigmalign built its assessment with care: an independent scientific review led to a full redesign before any advisor pilot.
Kris Podolski, CFP®, CIM®
Short bio About 50 words
Kris Podolski, CFP®, CIM®, is the founder and CEO of Sigmalign Behavioural Intelligence Inc., a Toronto company developing a behavioural assessment for financial advisors. Over more than 20 years as an advisor, he saw how fear, regret and overconfidence shape money decisions, and he explains them in plain language.
Long bio About 150 words
Kris Podolski, CFP®, CIM®, spent more than 20 years as a financial advisor in Canada at a variety of firms, from large bank-owned wealth managers to boutique firms. He worked with clients through the 2008 financial crisis and the March 2020 market crash. Over that time he saw advisors making big decisions about client psychology based on gut feel, with no structured information to go on.
That led him to found Sigmalign Behavioural Intelligence Inc., which is developing a behavioural assessment that helps advisors understand how clients are likely to decide under pressure. It's designed to sit alongside the standard know-your-client process, not replace it.
Kris has written a LinkedIn article series on fee transparency and the value of financial advice. He is a forthcoming guest on John De Goey's Make Better Wealth Decisions podcast and will co-present a professional development webinar for advisors in 2027. He lives in Toronto.
Standard company description
For articles and show notes
Sigmalign Behavioural Intelligence Inc. is a Toronto-based company developing a behavioural assessment for Canadian financial advisors. After an independent scientific review, the assessment is being redesigned under the oversight of Scientific Advisor Dr. Ann-Renée Blais, PhD. Her role is to oversee how the assessment is developed, not to endorse its results.
The assessment has not yet been validated. Validation research and an advisor pilot are planned for the first half of 2027. Members of Sigmalign's Advisor Council are listed at sigmalign.ca/council.
| Guidance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Preferred description | "A behavioural assessment in development for Canadian financial advisors." |
| Please avoid | "Validated," "a test that predicts behaviour," "investment advice," or wording that suggests it replaces know-your-client or suitability requirements |
| Dr. Blais's role | Scientific oversight of how the assessment is developed, not endorsement of its results. Sigmalign's assessment is developed independently and is not derived from or affiliated with the DOSPERT scale she co-developed |
Recent work and media kit
| Appearance | Role |
|---|---|
| Make Better Wealth Decisions with John De Goey | Podcast guest, forthcoming |
| Professional development webinar for advisors | Co-presenter, 2027 |
| LinkedIn article series | Fee transparency and the value of financial advice |
Media kit PDF, 2 pages, updated November 2026
Interview topics, short and long bios, company description, and appearances in a single document.
Headshot
A high-resolution headshot is available on request by email. No photo credit required.
Book an interview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| kris.podolski@sigmalign.ca | |
| linkedin.com/in/k-podolski | |
| Availability | Same-day availability, schedule permitting |
| Format | In studio in Toronto, or remote with HD camera, standalone microphone, and a quiet, well-lit space |
| Language | English |