It’s a myth that financial planners are only for the wealthy — they can help anyone feel less stressed about money. In Canada, money is the biggest source of stress, with 44% of people worried about their finances. It’s literally keeping people awake at night, with 53% of Millennials saying they struggle to sleep because of financial worries. But there’s a solution: Canadians who work with a financial planner are 33% less likely to worry about money and 23% less likely to lose sleep over it. Professional advice can help at any life stage, from assisting a young adult with budgeting to helping someone plan for retirement. You can find an advisor on the Financial Planning Association of Canada’s website — just make sure to look for someone with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, the most widely recognized financial planning designation in Canada, which mandates a bachelor’s degree or 10 years of experience. CFPs are also held to fiduciary standards, meaning they won’t try to sell you something you don’t need. Yes, planners charge for their services, usually hourly or as a percentage of your assets, but the peace of mind and better sleep could be worth it.
