ABOUT

Between the ages of 15 and 20, we think about our careers, our studies, our friends, maybe our first apartment or car. What we rarely think about is how to manage money. And when we do, it’s often with a mix of confusion, uncertainty — sometimes even anxiety… and increasingly, we turn to Google, social media, or Copilot (ChatGPT, Grok — pick your assistant). We ask ourselves: Should I be investing? Saving? Where? How? Who should I trust?

I come from a family that was financially literate. And yet, like the shoemaker’s child who goes barefoot, no one ever really explained the world of finance to me — its jargon, its logic — without pressure or agenda.

At 20, I wish I had a financial explainer. Someone to break it down simply — what’s an RRSP, a TFSA, a stock. Not a salesperson. Not a rushed banker. Not a social media influencer promising financial freedom by 30. Just a calm, reliable, human voice helping me understand what I didn’t even know I needed to understand.

Today, my son is 20. And I see just how absent basic financial education still is in our society. We graduate high school knowing how to analyze poetry or solve equations, but not how compound interest works, how to build a basic budget, read an investment statement, or even understand the difference between a credit card and a line of credit.

I’m not a financial advisor. I don’t hold a license to manage other people’s portfolios, nor do I aspire to do so. But I’ve been in capital markets for over 20 years. I’ve seen the cycles, the crises, the promises too good to be true. And more than anything, I’ve spent my career translating finance for people who don’t live in that world.

Now I write to make it more human. Whether it’s for young adults just starting out, or for older ones looking to understand concepts that were never explained to them. I write for my son — and for anyone who sees themselves in him.

What you’ll find in these articles:

• Short, simple, honest texts — no miracle formulas, no shortcuts to wealth

• Financial concepts explained without condescension

• Context, tools, questions to ask — and occasionally, a gentle warning

• Reflections on how to choose the right people to accompany you. Because finance is not a solo sport. Financial advisors, planners, and certified professionals are there to help — but it’s up to you to choose them wisely, understand their role, and build a real partnership.

A simple mission: to equip you, not direct you

I don’t claim to know everything. My goal is to share a few basic tools — to help you ask better questions and, most importantly, to build a relationship with money that brings you freedom, not stress.

If you’re reading this at 18, 20, or 25 — or even older — know this: there’s no wrong time to start. And you don’t need to understand everything today. But every step you take toward financial clarity, no matter how small, is an investment in your future self.

And if I can help — even just a little — to make this complex, often opaque world of finance feel more accessible, then I've done my job.