Background and Methodology

Back in 2018, I was managing a small portfolio that required frequent movement between CAD and USD for tech stock acquisitions. I remember sitting in a local bank branch in Montreal, looking at a quote that was nearly 250 basis points off the mid-market rate. "This is just the standard retail spread," the teller told me, as if losing two percent of my principal was a mandatory fee for existing in Canada. That afternoon, I realized that for most private investors, the lack of transparency in currency conversion is the single largest hidden leak in their long-term returns.

I started documenting every transaction, comparing the rates from Big Five banks against independent brokers and the Norbert Gambit execution. What began as a personal spreadsheet evolved into Village Broom. We realized that while institutional investors have access to Bloomberg terminals and prime brokerage rates, the average investor is left with predatory retail markups. Our goal was to strip away the "premium" branding of banking services and focus on the raw mechanics of the exchange.

"Why call it Village Broom?" a colleague once asked. I told him it’s about sweeping away the unnecessary clutter and fees that accumulate in a financial portfolio. We don't believe in financial "magic" or complex "ecosystems." We believe in using the right tool for the right job, whether that is using Interactive Brokers for spot exchange or timing a transfer based on CPI data.