Resources
Maybe you’re not quite ready to make an appointment, or perhaps you’re the sort that likes to do some homework on your own before you commit. In that case, I’d recommend checking out some of the following (mainly Canadian) sites and resources for more information to fuel your money journey.
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Is there a great resource that I've missed, or something you think I should know about? Let me know!
GENERAL RESOURCES
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Government of Canada Financial Calculators
Whether you’re looking to lease a new vehicle, planning to buy a house, or saving up for retirement, the Government of Canada has you covered with its plethora of financial calculators.
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MoneySense
Back in the olden days, MoneySense was Canada’s very own personal finance magazine. Now it’s online-only and owned by RateHub, but it remains editorially independent and is FULL of great information and resources. The monthly budgeting template is very helpful, as are the individual guides that cover everything from how to file your taxes this year, to those that are written specifically for students, newcomers to Canada, and first-time homebuyers.
The Globe & Mail
Yes, Canada’s largest national newspaper definitely aims for a high net-worth audience, but its Personal Finance section offers surprisingly robust coverage of issues that affect those of us outside of the 1%. They include an Explainer series about planning for retirement, Rob Carrick’s weekly newsletter, and Stress Test, a podcast about money issues that affect Millennial and Gen Z Canadians. (You might need a subscription to read some articles, but much of it is free.)
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Max Mitchell’s Money Videos
Early in the pandemic, Vancouver-based AFCC Max Mitchell made these videos explaining various money topics and there’s still no more entertaining way to learn about TFSAs.
MONEY MANAGEMENT
Government of Canada Budget Planner
The federal government’s Managing your money page links to all sorts of helpful cashflow management resources, including their neat-o interactive budget planner.
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INVESTING
CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization)
A big decider in how you invest your money is how comfortable you are with risk. CIRO has a great risk assessment questionnaire to help you understand what sort of investments are right for you.
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InvestRight.org (BC Securities Commission)
If you’re new to investing, InvestRight.org is a great resource for learning more about the basics. There are also eLearning video modules on getting started, a list of questions to ask your financial advisor about how they’ve invested your money, and quizzes to help you learn more about topics like crypto and fraud.
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CREDIT AND DEBT ISSUES
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People’s Law School
The People’s Law School, funded by the Law Society of BC, has a whole section dedicated to Money and Debt, including sections on credit scores, getting out of debt, and even template letters to use for making written agreements.
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Financial Consumer Agency of Canada
Learn all about how credit and loans work in Canada, including everything from payday loans to cash advances on your credit card and mortgages.
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WILLS AND ESTATE PLANNING
People’s Law School
The People’s Law School, funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia, has lots of great information presented in straightforward language. This guide to wills and estates is especially helpful if you’re trying to approach the subject with someone who’s not enthusiastic about talking about death.
There’s also a section on Enduring Power of Attorney and preparing an advance directive for healthcare decisions, something that many people consider when they’re drawing up a will. (Note that this resource is specifically for British Columbians, so details might be different in your province.)