The Financial Services Commission invites you to learn the knowledge and skills necessary for effective money management. With better access to information, consumers are equipped to protect their interests. The following websites offer an array of resources and tools to improve your financial literacy.
The Financial Literacy portal is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide financial opinions or advice. Content from the linked websites may not be relevant to your situation, current, accurate, or compliant with the laws, regulations or other legal requirements of your jurisdiction. For financial advice, you should consult a qualified professional.
Disclaimer: This information is provided as a public service. Although we endeavor to ensure that the information is as current and accurate as possible, errors do occasionally occur. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information. Readers should where possible verify the information before acting on it. What you need to know...
Canadian resources: Top hits for Youth!
Your Money: Published by the Canadian Bankers Association, this is a one-stop online tool presenting financial information for the young people of Canada.
Investor Education Fund: Canada's unbiased, non-profit source for information and tools that help consumers make better decisions when investing and managing their money. Established by the Ontario Securities Commission, the province's securities regulator, the Investor Education Fund helps people make effective use of financial information.
Canadian Consumer Information Gateway: Established by the Office of Consumer Affairs, this is a gateway service with reports and advice on a wide range of consumer topics. Information is organized by consumer type (e.g., young consumers, seniors), by product or service (e.g. buying a used car, televisions), and by issue (e.g., pyramid schemes, privacy protection, identity theft). The gateway also provides instructions on making complaints about products.
The Money Belt: The Money Belt is the gateway of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada for students learning about money.
Banking
Bank of Canada: The Bank of Canada is the country's central bank. This website provides consumers with the latest exchange rates, interest rates and other statistics.
Canadian Bankers Association: The Canadian Bankers Association provides information on the banking industry and financial issues. The website features a useful Mortgage Wise information booklet which covers the basics of mortgages.
Mortgages & Real Estate
Tarion: Tarion is the regulator of the new home building industry in Ontario. Its website features tips and resources for new home buyers in Ontario, such as a homeowner information package, top 10 tips for new home buyers, and conducting inspections of your new home.
Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO): RECO's website features a Consumer Information section with information for consumers on real estate listing agreements, commissions, home inspections, mortgage fraud, and title fraud.
OmbudServices
OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance (OLHI): OLHI is an independent organization that provides impartial recourse to consumers with concerns and complaints about life and health insurance products and services. OLHI operates the Consumer Assistance Centre which handles over 35,000 consumer complaints and inquiries each year.
Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI): OBSI is the national independent dispute resolution service for consumers and small businesses with a complaint they can’t resolve with their banking services or investments firm. Their services are free to consumers.
Financial Counseling and Planning
Credit Canada: Credit Canada offers free financial counselling and seminars to help put your finances and bills in order. Credit Canada welcomes anyone who needs confidential advice about how to handle money and reduce or eliminate debt.
ServiceOntario: This website provide resources and information about government services available to assist Ontarians in dealing with significant life events, such as having a baby, registering a death, managing debt, and getting ready to retire.
Ontario's Ministry of Consumer Services: Ontario's Ministry of Consumer Services website offers an array of consumer protection resources. The Consumer Protection section of the website features information on buying and selling your home, real estate fraud, and a consumer protection toolbox.
CIBC SmartStart
CIBC's SmartStart and Student Life sites offer kids and students tips on managing their money. The sites feature sections such as Banking 101, Saving for My Future and ABCs of Money.
TD Student Central
TD Bank's website helps students understand the basics of banking and saving money. It offers tools such as a Facebook application for planning a budget and splitting expenses with roommates.
GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca
A website of the Investor Education Fund that helps consumers learn the basics of investing and managing money. It features sections such as Life Events, Investor Research, and a Tools and Calculators section which includes case studies, videos, Q&As and more.
MoneyvilleThis website offers plain speaking personal financial advice. Part of the Toronto Star, Moneyville.ca provides daily news updates, analysis, commentary for Canadians interested in learning how to take charge of their financial affairs, blogs, trends and tips. The site also offers how-to articles and DIY tools and calculators to help readers make informed decisions.
Investing
Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA): CSA provides consumers with a broad assortment of educational materials on securities and investing, including brochures on how to choose a financial adviser, mutual funds, and internet investment techniques.
Alberta Securities Commission (ASC): ASC is Alberta's government agency regulating the province's security laws. This website promotes investor protection by offering information on spotting red flags, checking out an investment adviser, avoiding investment scams and investing mistakes.
British Columbia Financial Institutions Commission: The B.C. Financial Institutions Commission is the government agency regulating the pension, financial services and real estate sectors in British Columbia. This website offers consumers information on credit unions and trusts, insurance, pensions, real estate and mortgage brokers.
Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC): CDIC insures the savings of Canadians should a bank or other CDIC member institutionfail or go bankrupt. Use this website to see if your savings are covered and to help you decide where to keep your savings.
Investing Online Resource Centre: A valuable, non-commercial source for information about investing and protecting yourself online, created by the North American Securities Administrators Association for educational purposes.
U.S. Resources
Federal Reserve Education: The Federal Reserve offers a variety of information and programs for consumers interested in learning about financial markets in the U.S., investment products and the investment process.
My Money: My Money is a U.S. government website committed to providing financial education resources to consumers from balancing a check book to investing or buying a home.
Practical Money Skills: This website assists educators, parents and students in applying better money management for life. It also helps the consumer become more financially confident by offering free online tools, worksheets and quizzes.
International Resources
Money Matters to Me: This U.K. website helps consumers comprehend financial matters by teaching them how to control their money on a day-to-day basis. The website offers free calculators and practical tools.
Financial Services Authority: The U.K. Financial Services Authority offers consumers information on money management, financial records, future planning, monetary product choices and general economic topics.
Near-Retirees / Retirees Resources
Canadian resources: Top 5 hits for Near-Retirees/Retirees!
Canada Pension Plan (CPP): CPP provides Canadians with a reliable pension which they can build on for retirement. This website offers general information about the CPP and fact sheets on benefits.
Ontario's Ministry of Consumer Services: Ontario's Ministry of Consumer Services website offers an array of consumer protection resources. The Consumer Protection section of the website features information on buying and selling your home, real estate fraud, and a consumer protection toolbox.
ServiceOntario: This website provide resources and information about government services available to assist Ontarians in dealing with significant life events, such as having a baby, registering a death, managing debt, and getting ready to retire.
Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Website of the government agency that monitors and supervises financial institutions at the federal level (i.e., all banks, federally incorporated or registered insurance companies, trust and loan companies, and retail associations). The website provides consumers with accurate and objective information about financial products and services. It also features a number of interactive tools such as calculators and complaint letter templates.
Canadian Consumer Information Gateway: Established by the Office of Consumer Affairs, this is an internationally acclaimed information gateway service with reports and advice on a wide range of consumer topics. Information is organized by consumer type (e.g., young consumers, seniors), by product or service (e.g. buying a used car, televisions), and by issue (e.g., pyramid schemes, privacy protection, identity theft). The gateway also provides instructions on making complaints about products.
Banking
Bank of Canada: The Bank of Canada is the country's central bank. This website provides consumers with the latest exchange rates, interest rates and other statistics.
OmbudServices
OmbudService for Life & Health Insurance (OLHI): OLHI is an independent organization that provides impartial recourse to consumers with concerns and complaints about life and health insurance products and services. OLHI operates the Consumer Assistance Centre which handles over 35,000 consumer complaints and inquiries each year.
Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI): OBSI is the national independent dispute resolution service for consumers and small businesses with a complaint they can’t resolve with their banking services or investments firm. Their services are free to consumers.
Investing
Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA): CSA provides consumers with a broad assortment of educational materials on securities and investing, including brochures on how to choose a financial adviser, mutual funds, and internet investment techniques.
Alberta Securities Commission (ASC): ASC is Alberta's government agency regulating the province's security laws. This website promotes investor protection by offering information on spotting red flags, checking out an investment adviser, avoiding investment scams and investing mistakes.
British Columbia Financial Institutions Commission: The B.C. Financial Institutions Commission is the government agency regulating the pension, financial services and real estate sectors in British Columbia. This website offers consumers information on credit unions and trusts, insurance, pensions, real estate and mortgage brokers.
Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC): CDIC insures the savings of Canadians should a bank or other CDIC member institutionfail or go bankrupt. Use this website to see if your savings are covered and to help you decide where to keep your savings.
Investing Online Resource Centre: A valuable, non-commercial source for information about investing and protecting yourself online, created by the North American Securities Administrators Association for educational purposes.
Investor Education Fund: Canada's unbiased, non-profit source for information and tools that help consumers make better decisions when investing and managing their money. Established by the Ontario Securities Commission, the province's securities regulator, the Investor Education Fund helps people make effective use of financial information.
Consumer Information
Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs: The Office of Consumer Affairs conducts policy research and analysis on emerging consumer issues. Part of Industry Canada, a department of the Government of Canada, the Office of Consumer Affairs is a trusted source of consumer information and resources.
Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC): IBC is the national association representing Canada's private home, car and business insurance companies. IBC operates consumer information centres and works to increase public understanding about insurance products and services.
Canada Competition Bureau: The Competition Bureau is a federal government agency that investigates complaints and conducts inspections of consumer goods and services. The Bureau takes reports from consumers on misrepresentation, price fixing, deceptive prize notices, bid rigging, tied selling, anti-competitive practices, deceptive telemarketing and other unlawful business schemes or practices.
MoneyvilleThis website offers plain speaking personal financial advice. Part of the Toronto Star, Moneyville.ca provides daily news updates, analysis, commentary for Canadians interested in learning how to take charge of their financial affairs, blogs, trends and tips. The site also offers how-to articles and DIY tools and calculators to help readers make informed decisions.
U.S. Resources
Save and Invest: Run by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation (U.S.), this website offers information aimed at protecting older investors from investment fraud.
My Money: My Money is a U.S. government website committed to providing financial education resources to consumers from balancing a check book to investing or buying a home.
Federal Reserve Education: The Federal Reserve offers a variety of information and programs for consumers interested in learning about financial markets in the U.S., investment products and the investment process.
This website offers an index of information on financial literacy resources, issues and procedures that are significant to bankers, organizations, and consumers of all ages (U.S.).
International Resources
Financial Services Authority: The U.K. Financial Services Authority offers consumers information on money management, financial records, future planning, monetary product choices and general economic topics.