What participants are saying about our Smart Money Essentials program:
Why Plan? One Woman's Story
When you hear about financial planning, you might think it's a good idea to plan but say to yourself, "I'll plan when I have money", "I'll plan when I get out of debt", "I'll plan when I have more time" or "I'll plan tomorrow." Sometimes it's difficult to see the benefits of a financial plan until you've gone through the planning process yourself. After taking our course, "Gail" saw first hand the amazing benefits of having a plan. Click on the link to read about Gail's story of transformation.
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“Since the course began I have:
- paid down the remainder of my debt
- tracked my expenses for 2 months to better understand my spending habits
- increased my monthly RRSP contributions
- opened an ING Savings Account for my travel fund
I feel more aware of the choices I make around spending money. I feel ready to meet with a financial advisor to set up a plan that will help me achieve my investing and retirement goals. In general, I'm trying to allocate my money more efficiently so that I don't end up spending it on unnecessary items." ~ Kristin J
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"The changes I made because of the course were significant! I now own a townhouse and am well on the way to paying off my entire debt for new home, car, appliances, special assessments, etc. within 14 years. This means I will be debt-free by retirement; have a nice nest egg which won't be huge, but will allow me a certain amount of financial security; and am still able to enjoy my life today. All this is not something I thought I could achieve since my divorce 4 years ago. Amazing what you can accomplish with clearly defined goals and a detailed but flexible plan." ~ Gail
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"My relationship to and with money has transformed through my work with the Women's Financial learning Centre. I am so happy to be in this new place of awareness and perspective. I now see everything with a new lens. It has been a liberating and empowering process over these last few years.
Thank you Karin and Sheila for being the catalysts to this journey and so instrumental in this process." ~ Rachel Speiran, Environmental Consultant
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Everything we needed to know
"I had a briefcase of papers, clippings, and monthly statements, always worrying about it, and always meaning to ‘get around to it’ some day. The homework really helped me to analyze my financial status, so that I knew exactly where I stood.
Because the class members shared their situations, and had their own questions, that contributed to the learning experience as well. I felt comfortable to discuss my concerns as well as my mistakes, knowing that I would be treated in a non-judgmental way. I really appreciated the support and encouragement that I received. All in all, it was a very friendly and casual way to learn about serious matters.
They took us through more than just RSP and Mutual Funds. Everything we needed to know to take care of our financial lives was discussed. The cookies were great, too!" ~ Lynne, Research Lab Administrator
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The Tone was Perfect
"The Learning Guide for the course does a great job breaking down a scary subject into manageable pieces. It’s written in very accessible language and the tone was perfect - folksy, friendly, encouraging. The quotations and examples were great as they helped to emphasize certain points. I especially appreciated that you and Karin included your own stories too as it personalized the whole thing." ~ Marnie W.
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"All the things we worked on in the course helped us to focus on how we were using money and it helped us begin to talk about money – that was a hard thing for us to do. Going in, I had hoped that it would open things up for us, but I’m blown away at how it did. I think that was the most valuable thing for us.
And I liked that the course ran a couple of hours every week because we had time in between to think about the class, talk and do the work in between." ~ Karin, Retired
What participants are saying about Sheila's Debt-Free Challenge program:
"The Debt-Free Challenge is an empowering program, packed with the tools needed to become and STAY debt-free. I also highly value the opportunity to network with other women." ~ Sandi
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"The course transformed the way I manage my money – paying ahead and living with my means – reduced my spending/reduced bills." ~ Jane
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"Thanks again for the great course and all your support -- it has changed my life. Tackling my finances was the last piece that I needed to deal with to get my life in order and am glad that I now can rest more easily knowing that my retirement income will be okay and that I have some options!" ~ Thea Hinds
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"Peace of mind, empowerment, optimism about retirement and how to live within my means.
Sheila is an excellent facilitator. She brings a wealth of information and resources to each class. Her course supports learners to empower themselves and make choices that will enrich their lives. She made a point of being available to each every learner." ~ Sandra
What partipants are saying about our Investing 101 workshop:
"I wanted to be a little bit more knowledgeable about the choices my financial planning firm was making on my behalf. I wanted to be sure that they were congruent with my goals. I realized that they have been. Now when they call to suggest changes, I know if what they are suggesting is veering off my path or if it is right on target.
Both instructors were really clear and focused. They stayed on task and managed to get through the full curriculum – no participant monopolized the class time and yet we all had an opportunity to ask questions.
Karin and Sheila were able to answer questions in a way that we were all able to benefit from each others questions." ~ Maria Masci
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"I came away with the tools and the language to speak to an advisor so I don’t feel intimidated – the course helped me realize that I’m hiring the advisor and that I have the power.
It was a good kick start and made me want to take charge." ~ Kristiann Allen, Manager of Education and Curriculum, Women’s Hospital (and new mom).
What participants are saying about our 10 Steps to Better Finances workshop:
"My daughter wanted to take a good look at her finances because she was thinking about starting her own business. I went because it was something we could do together. It was a great opportunity for me to re-evaluate – it gave me a chance to sit down and look at my net worth and it motivated me to ask some important questions about my pension. It was great for us both!
The two women are exceptional, they are able to take any question and answer it thoroughly and properly. I’m a teacher and they get top marks from me." ~ Joy Thompson, Teacher
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