Stop googling ‘how my tfsa works’ every damn year.
The How To Adult School is your no-BS guide to getting your financial sh*t together.
(without giving up lattes, your social life, or your sanity)
Before we go any further, let’s get
one thing straight:
You’re not ‘bad with money’ you just haven’t been taught yet.
(And the financial industry is notorious for making it seem more complicated than it is. Don’t believe us? Try this:)
The Finance Jargon Translator
Here's proof. Pick any term the finance world loves to throw around — we'll tell you what it actually means.
See? Not so scary. that’s exactly what we do here.
Now imagine knowing all of it, not just one term at a time.
Ready to go deeper?
Here’s how we can work together.
Explore our programs. Most people start with Financial Foundations, move on to Investing Essentials, and join The Money Club for ongoing support throughout their learning journey and beyond. Wherever you're at, there's a place for you here.
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The Financial Foundations Course
This is the course that finally makes everything click. From budgeting and taxes, to credit scores and your first investing accounts, Financial Foundations covers everything you should have been taught about money in school, in plain English, at your own pace. No jargon. No judgment. Just a clear, practical system for taking control of your money, probably for the first time ever.
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The Investing Essentials Course
Ready to make your money work for you? Investing Essentials takes you from complete beginner to confidently managing your own self-directed portfolio, no financial advisor required. Built specifically for Canadian investors, this course focuses on offering practical, jargon-free guidance on TFSAs, RRSPs, and so much more. So you can start building real long-term wealth on your own terms.
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The Money Club
Knowing what to do and actually doing it are two different things. The Money Club is where you come for the accountability, the community, and the direct access to Cory that keeps you moving forward. Monthly live Office Hours, a new money topic taught every month, a private community of people on the same journey, and a growing library of tools and resources, all in one place. Because you shouldn't have to figure this out alone.
3 Lessons. 3 days. You’ll be financially unrecognizable.
The FREE personal finance challenge that teaches you everything you should have learned about money in school (but didn't).
What people said after taking the challenge
I signed up expecting another lecture about cutting subscriptions. Instead I learned that the real key is increasing my income streams. Worth every minute.
Three days. Three lessons. I finally have the beginnings of a money plan.
I had no idea my job was only one of the ways I could be earning money. Day 1 completely changed how I think about income.
Finished all three days and immediately texted my sister to sign up. Why did it take until our 30s to learn any of this?
Hey there! I’m Cory,
And I want to welcome you to the How To Adult School.
This is your go-to-guide for personal finance information every time you find yourself asking ‘why didn’t anybody teach me this stuff in school?!’. Our finance lessons are easy to understand, apply to today’s changing world, and we promise never to tell you to stop buying damn lattes. (Because learning to manage your money well is about SO much more than spending restriction.)
You’ll find lessons ranging from basics like tracking your spending and using your credit card properly, through to topics like making the most tax efficient RRSP and TFSA contributions, and getting started investing. No matter what level you’re starting at, we’ll guide you through all the necessary skills you need to build a solid foundation of financial stability, so you can start creating the life you dream of.
So, if you find yourself googling ‘how to file taxes’ every damn year, and joking that ‘marrying rich’ is your financial plan, you’re in the right place.
I can’t wait for you to start exploring the resources below!
-Cory
Fresh from the blog
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Things you weren't taught in school
Turns out there's more to know than most people realize.
The financial industry has a vested interest in keeping this stuff confusing. We don't.
01
Most Canadians have never maxed out their TFSA, and many don't know how much room they have. If you've been eligible since 2009, you could have over $100,000 in unused contribution room sitting there, waiting.
02
The average Canadian savings account pays around 0.5% interest. Inflation runs at 2–3%. Money sitting in a standard savings account is quietly losing purchasing power every single year.
03
If your employer offers RRSP matching and you're not contributing enough to get the full match, you're turning down free money. It's part of your compensation package, and likely the only 100% immediate return on investment you will ever have.
04
Waiting just 10 years to start investing can cut your final portfolio in half, EVEN if you contribute the same total amount. Time is the one ingredient you can't buy back.
05
The majority of actively managed funds underperform a simple index fund over 10 years. You don't necessarily need a financial advisor to get good returns, you just need a bit of knowledge.
06
Checking your own credit score does NOT lower it. That myth has kept millions of Canadians in the dark about their financial health for years. You can check it for free, right now.
07
The First Home Savings Account lets first-time buyers save up to $40,000 tax-free toward a home, and get a tax deduction on contributions, just like an RRSP. Most Canadians under 40 have never heard of it.
08
Your income has almost nothing to do with your net worth. The difference between high earners with nothing saved and average earners with serious wealth is almost always knowledge and habits, not salary.
09
For the average Canadian, CPP & OAS will only replace about 33-40% of your pre-retirement income. Most Canadians assume these government programs will cover them in retirement. They won't. The rest is on you to build.
10
Carrying a credit card balance doesn't help increase your credit score. It just costs you roughly 20% or more in interest. Paying in full every month actually builds your score, and costs you nothing.