The Plain Bagel
Richard Coffin is an Ottawa-based finance educator and portfolio manager who explains investing, personal finance and economics on The Plain Bagel.
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Latest
Richard’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
- The Passive Income Scam2022 · Creator and host
YouTube - How Short Selling Works2019 · Creator and host
YouTube - The Greek Debt Crisis - 5 Minute History Lesson2019 · Creator and host
YouTube - The Great Depression - 5 Minute History Lesson2018 · Creator and host
YouTube - Investment Analyst Reacts to Finance TikToks - Doomsday Doomscrolling2026 · Creator and host
YouTube
Overview
- Name
- Richard Coffin
- Based in
- Ottawa, Canada
- Started
- 2017
- Day job
- Portfolio manager and investment analyst at WDS Investment Management
- Education
- Bachelor of Commerce in finance, Carleton University
- Credentials
- CFA charterholder and CFP professional
Mini bio
How it started.
Richard launched The Plain Bagel in 2017 as a hobby, giving friends and family a place to learn the basics of investing. It brought together his interests in finance, teaching and video editing.
Finding an audience.
In his conversation with Dave Chilton on The Wealthy Barber Podcast, Richard credited timing with helping the channel grow: Bitcoin, GameStop, meme stocks and NFTs brought people looking for explanations. Investment Executive reported that the channel reached one million subscribers in January 2025.
The work behind the videos.
Richard’s work ranges from short financial-history lessons to investing explainers and reactions to finance TikToks. Alongside the channel, he works at Ottawa’s WDS Investment Management as a portfolio manager and investment analyst. His own FAQ describes a focus on helping viewers understand investment concepts rather than offering stock picks.
Creditschronological, newest first
YouTube
- 2026Investment Analyst Reacts to Finance TikToks - Doomsday DoomscrollingCreator and host
- 2022The Passive Income ScamCreator and host
- 2019How Short Selling WorksCreator and host
- 2019The Greek Debt Crisis - 5 Minute History LessonCreator and host
- 2018The Great Depression - 5 Minute History LessonCreator and host
Guest appearances
- 2025Private Equity 101: How Takeovers Are Reshaping AmericaGuest, Viewpoints Radio
- 2025Online financial advice: How to spot red flags & green flagsGuest, Yahoo Finance
- 2025The Wealthy Barber Podcast, episode 7Guest, discussing finfluencers and behavioural finance
Awards
Quotes
Stock analysis isn't that simple, and there's no single indicator for predicting a stock's movement.Richard Coffin, GOBankingRates
In a Q&A about financial literacy, he explained why quick stock-picking claims on social media deserve scrutiny.
Trivia
- The channel’s name came from a university professor’s saying about choosing a plain bagel when you cannot afford cream cheese.
- His FAQ says he draws pictures in PowerPoint and animates them in Adobe Premiere Pro.
- He describes himself as a board-game enthusiast and a pub-trivia player.
Find Richard
Follow Richard for investing explainers, financial history and a careful look at the latest money claims.
Are you The Plain Bagel?
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