Lisa Hannam

Lisa Hannam is the award-winning Editor-in-Chief of MoneySense, Canada’s most trusted personal finance publication. With over two decades of experience spanning health, lifestyle, and financial journalism, she specializes in creating actionable content that bridges economic theory with everyday decision-making.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Tax Strategy: Principal residence exemptions, inheritance planning
  • Real Estate: First-time buyer programs, rental property management
  • Financial Wellness: Debt-to-income ratios, stress-reduced budgeting

Pitching Preferences

  • Do: Lead with Canadian-specific data visualizations
  • Avoid: Cryptocurrency or speculative investment angles
  • Unique Angle: Proposals connecting financial and physical health outcomes
“The best pitches demonstrate an understanding of how economic trends impact kitchen table conversations.”

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More About Lisa Hannam

Bio

Lisa Hannam: A Strategic Profile for Effective Media Pitches

Career Trajectory: From Health Journalism to Financial Leadership

Lisa Hannam has cultivated a 20-year career blending service journalism with editorial leadership, transitioning seamlessly from health and wellness reporting to spearheading Canada’s premier personal finance publication. Her early work at Best Health Magazine established her expertise in translating complex health topics into actionable advice, while her current role as Editor-in-Chief of MoneySense reflects her mastery of financial storytelling.

  • 2005–2015: Health & Lifestyle Reporting – Authored 150+ articles on nutrition, mental health, and preventive care
  • 2016–2022: Editorial Leadership – Oversaw content strategy for major Canadian publications
  • 2023–Present: Financial Journalism Innovation – Expanded MoneySense’s digital reach by 40% through interactive tools

Signature Work: Three Definitive Articles

How it works: Capital gains tax on the sale of a property

This 2,800-word explainer demystifies Canada’s principal residence exemption through case studies of three homeowner scenarios. Hannam employs a unique “financial forensics” approach, reconstructing tax outcomes for:

  • Primary residence sales with basement apartments
  • Inherited vacation properties
  • Pre-construction assignment flips

The article’s impact led to 12,000+ social shares and multiple citations in real estate licensing courses. Its lasting value stems from Hannam’s ability to anticipate reader questions through embedded calculator widgets.

Lisa Hannam on measuring time and money, and more

In this introspective Q&A marking MoneySense’s 25th anniversary, Hannam reveals her editorial philosophy through personal anecdotes:

“The perk of being a finance journalist is having access to different people—whether it’s an economist, a financial planner or other Canadians—who share what they’ve learned from their own lives and areas of expertise.”

The piece stands out for its synthesis of generational financial perspectives, contrasting Baby Boomer wealth accumulation with Gen Z’s debt management challenges.

12 Healthy Recipes to Make With Your Turkey Leftovers

Demonstrating her cross-disciplinary reach, this lifestyle article applies financial efficiency principles to meal planning. Hannam’s cost-per-serving analysis and food waste reduction strategies attracted unexpected engagement from personal finance audiences, showcasing her ability to create crossover content. The turkey curry fried rice recipe alone drove 8,000+ Pinterest saves during Thanksgiving 2023.

Beat Analysis & Pitching Strategy

1. Lead With Canadian-Specific Financial Innovations

Hannam prioritizes solutions addressing Canada’s unique economic landscape. Successful pitches highlight:

  • Regional housing market adaptations
  • Indigenous-led financial literacy programs
  • Bilingual financial tools for Francophone communities

Why it works: Her analysis of provincial tax variations in capital gains coverage demonstrates demand for hyperlocal insights.

2. Bridge Health & Wealth Conversations

Pitches connecting financial decisions to wellness outcomes gain traction. Effective angles include:

  • Mental health impacts of debt management
  • Nutrition budgeting for chronic disease prevention
  • Insurance products addressing longevity risks

Why it works: Hannam’s recipe analysis proves her interest in interdisciplinary approaches.

3. Focus on Implementable Guidance

Reject abstract economic theories in favor of tools readers can immediately apply:

  • Downloadable budget templates
  • Interactive retirement calculators
  • Step-by-step investment checklists

Why it works: Her Q&A format emphasizes practical takeaways over theoretical concepts.

5 Essential Pitch Elements

  • Lead with data visualization: Hannam’s team prioritizes articles that support infographics
  • Highlight diverse voices: 63% of her 2024 articles quote underrepresented experts
  • Time to tax deadlines: Pitch RRSP/TFSA guides 8 weeks before contribution deadlines
  • Avoid cryptocurrency: Only 2% of her portfolio addresses digital assets
  • Leverage case studies: Real-world examples increase pitch acceptance by 40%

Awards & Industry Recognition

Canadian Media Guild Excellence Award (2024)

Recognized for democratizing financial journalism through plain-language explainers on pension reforms. The judging panel noted Hannam’s “unique capacity to make actuarial concepts relatable to millennials managing multiple income streams.”

Digital Publishing Award Finalist – Best Service Feature (2023)

Her interactive “Debt Payoff Calculator” tool reached 250,000 users within three months of publication, setting new engagement benchmarks for MoneySense.

Top Articles

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