The
Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) invites you to learn the skills necessary for effective money financial management. With better access to information, consumers are equipped to protect their interests and make informed financial decisions. FSCO has a variety of information for consumers wishing to understand more about home and travel insurance, pensions, auto insurance, mortgages, credit unions/caissses populaires, co-operative corporations and loan and trust corporations. To read more, please visit FSCO’s respective sectors below:
The Financial Literacy portal is for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide financial opinions or advice. Furthermore, 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.
To read more, please visit FSCO’s respective sectors below:
Insurance
Pensions
Auto Insurance
Mortgages
Credit Unions/Caisses Populaires
Co-operative Corporations
In addition to the FSCO website, the following websites offer an array of resources and tools to improve your financial literacy. 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.
Resources for Youth
- Your Money:
Published by the Canadian Bankers Association, this is a one-stop online tool presenting financial information for the young Canadians.
- GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca:
Canada's unbiased, non-profit source for information and tools that help youth make better financial decisions by providing tips on how to get a job, what to do after high school and getting a higher education. Established by the Ontario Securities Commission, the province's securities regulator, GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca helps people make effective use of financial information.
- The City:
The City is the gateway of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada for youth learning about money.
- Money and Youth portal, Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE):
CFEE is a non-profit organization which provides Canadians with resources to improve financial literacy. It’s Money and Youth portal offers numerous resources for parents and youth, ranging from an in-depth Money Q&A section to a parent's guide to financial education.
Pensions
- 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.
- ServiceOntario:
This website provide resources and information about government services available to assist Ontarians in dealing with significant life events, such as getting ready to retire and planning tips.
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC):
FCAC 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 tips on how to manage finances at all stages in life, including retirement; retirement planning, savings and pension plans and public pensions.
- GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca:
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, GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca helps people make effective use of financial information, including a section of the types of pensions.
- Government of Canada:
the Government of Canada prepared a one stop shop website for anything you need to know about retiring, including understanding your options to retire, the different types of pensions, saving for retirement and managing your finances. Use the Retirement Income Calculator
to estimate how much retirement income you may have and the Budget Calculator
to help you better understand and review your budget.
- Old Age Security Program (OAS): the OAS program is the Government of Canada’s largest pension program. It is important to understand the fundamentals of the OAS program and how much you could potentially receive when you retire. Visit the Old Age Security program website
to learn more and begin using the OAS calculator.
- Ontario Securities Commissions (OSC): planning for retirement starts with knowing what you earn and what you spend. Use the OSC’s Retirement Budget worksheet
to see the difference in your income and costs before and after you retire.
Insurance
- 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. Their website offers tips and resources on buying auto, home, business and disaster insurance.
- Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association:
This website offers an array of consumer publications on life and health insurance to assist Canadian consumers in making informed choices for themselves and their families.
- Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO):
RIBO assists consumers with queries or complaints about an insurance broker. When a complaint is received, RIBO ensures that both sides of the complaint are examined quickly and fairly.
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.
- Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada:
An agency of Industry Canada, a federal government department, the Canadian Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada provides bankruptcy basics for debtors and creditors.
Mortgages and 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 resources on buying a home, working with a broker or salesperson, selling a home, real estate listing agreements, commissions, home inspections, mortgage fraud, and title fraud.
- Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA):
OREA's website features a questions section that provides consumers with advice on buying and selling a home.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC):
The CMHC is Canada's national housing agency. The CMHC website features useful consumer information on buying a home, mortgage loan insurance, renting, maintaining and renovating a home.
- Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP) Mortgage Resource Centre:
CAAMP's Mortgage Resource Centre provides information to help consumers grasp the mortgage basics, tips for first-time homebuyers, mortgage calculators and other tools.
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Financial Counseling and Planning
- Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services (OACCS):
OACCS offers consumers money management, budgeting and credit use services. This website also offers practical explanations on personal finances and debt problems.
- 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.
- Prosper Canada:
Prosper Canada helps vulnerable Canadians access financial policies, programs, products and advice they need to build their financial wellbeing.
- Ontario's Ministry of Government Consumer Services:
Ontario's Ministry of Government and 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.
- GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca:
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, GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca helps people make effective use of financial information.
- Personal Finance:
This website offers plain language personal financial advice. Part of the Toronto Star, Personal Finance 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.
- Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada:
Consolidated Credit is a national charitable non-profit organization that provides debt consolidation and credit counseling services. Alongside consolidating payments, Consolidated Credit’s counselors focus on education and understanding.
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.
- Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC):
CDIC insures the savings of Canadians should a bank or other CDIC member institution fail or go bankrupt. Use this website to see if your savings are covered and to help you decide where to keep your savings.
- GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca:
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, GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca helps people make effective use of financial information.
- 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.