(Editor’s Note: This article is based on Season 1, Episode 5 (featuring Jon Erlichman) of Diverse Dividends, CFA Society Toronto’s video podcast series.)

With more than 20 years of experience in traditional media at BNN Bloomberg, you may have seen Jon Erlichman discussing financial literacy on your television screen.

However, with his recent shift to social media, including a strong presence on X (formerly Twitter) and his new YouTube channel, Ticker Take, it’s perhaps even more likely you’ve come across his face (or dance moves) while scrolling on your phone.

Erlichman likens the current growth in social media knowledge-sharing to the expansion of cable TV networks in the 2000s, when BNN launched as a channel and he was starting out in the industry.

“There’s a lot of parallels between today and then, because the fact is, more people are interested in investing than ever before,” says Erlichman. “The idea of investing is reaching a wider audience, but a good chunk of that audience is increasingly learning and communicating from their device, from their phone.”

Strutting his stuff

While Erlichman is still a contributor to BNN, his new focus on social media means he can channel his passion in a new way.

“I have really strong conviction around financial literacy, and it’s my hope to have an advocacy role for it as well, because it’s all around us,” explains Erlichman. “Money matters to everyone, and the ability for more people to understand the markets and learn from the markets and make better decisions, it’s a really exciting thing.”

I have really strong conviction around financial literacy, and it’s my hope to have an advocacy role for it as well, because it’s all around us.

Since making the leap, he’s been pushing the envelope and exploring new ways to bring this valuable content to life.

“I guess one of the reasons I like to do things that are a little bit unique – awkward dancing and all that stuff – is just because I believe that, as a content category, that financial literacy and money matters and investing can go way beyond what it is today. So, I’m really energized by the idea of trying to reach people in slightly new ways, but playing off of content themes that hopefully are interesting and maybe even entertaining to some people,” he explains, noting that it also helps him to reach the younger generations, who are looking to digest investment knowledge in different ways.

A storyteller at heart

For Erlichman, it all comes down to the content and finding the best ways to tell captivating stories. “Beyond just business or finance, I really love the idea of communicating with people through story,” he says.

If you watch Erlichman’s YouTube videos or engage with his social media posts, you can’t help but notice the passion and energy that he brings to sharing content. So where does that energy come from?

“I get most energized by my family. I have two daughters – they’re pre-teen/teen ages. They’re really exciting, just in terms of being that next generation. I learn so much from them just in their own habits,” he says. “But I do love making content, I really do. It’s really the thing that drives me more. It’s not about the money; it’s the ability for people to learn about money matters that really matters to me.”

Charting a route for others

As Erlichman works to build a new, deeply engaged audience (Ticker Take already had a quarter of a billion impressions worldwide after just three months), one thing will always stay true: his passion and conviction for getting financial literacy information to those who need it.

“I really have gotten the most value in my career out of people just having the opportunity to learn through me, not necessarily from me. That absolutely would be the legacy that I would want to leave – it’s my passion, it’s my driving force for doing this, and hopefully the internet will let me keep doing it,” says Erlichman with a laugh.

He also recognizes the importance of the CFA community in fulfilling this education mission. “With respect to CFA Societies, whether it’s here or around the world, I cannot express how valuable having that ecosystem has been. Also, just the fact that it keeps the conversation around investing going in any city, really, in the world. And that’s very parallel to what I’m trying to do.”

Top tips for success

As Erlichman continues to find new ways to engage audiences through content, he shares the following advice for anyone looking to find success and fulfillment through their own path.

1. Understand your purpose: “Go for whatever it is you know you’ve been put on this earth to do. It’s really important to go after what you’re passionate about. And if you want to achieve success in doing that, you do have to not just go after it, but just keep going and not worry about what other people are saying or what you might think they’re saying.”

2. Listen to what others are saying: “I always found the best thing that I could do is not to talk, but to listen. You hear a lot of successful people talk about how they are good listeners – they’re not just trying to speak when the opportunity presents itself, they’re trying to listen and learn.”

3. Have the confidence to take chances: “Having the confidence in yourself is really important because sometimes people put a lot of big things in front of you, and from afar it might look like something that would be overwhelming. But you’ve got it, right?”

Lauren Huneault is a content and marketing professional with 15 years of experience in content creation and strategy. Lauren has spent the last 14 years focused on producing relevant educational content to help aspiring and current business owners successfully navigate the challenges of the Canadian business landscape. She has served as writer and editor of trade publications including Your Convenience Manager, Octane and Franchise Canada.