Thought Leadership, Research & CPA Spotlights

Stock Shock Budget Workshop

Building smart money habits — budget today, invest for tomorrow.

Aligning your spending, saving, and investing with clear goals helps you build long-term wealth at any age.

Budgeting Basics

Budget: a financial plan that tracks income (money earned) and expenses (money spent).
Income types: Earned (salary, tips), Passive (dividends, interest), Unearned (gifts, allowances).
Expense types: Fixed (rent, tuition) and Variable (groceries, entertainment).
The 50/30/20 Rule: 50% Needs, 30% Wants, 20% Savings; a simple framework for any income level.

Investing: buying a small part of a company (a stock) with the expectation it grows over time.
Inflation vs. investing: prices rise ~3.1%/yr on average, while the stock market has grown ~9%/yr over the past 100 years.
Investing vs. trading: investing is long-term and based on company performance; trading is short-term and extremely risky.
TFSA (age 18+): a Tax-Free Savings Account lets you invest with an annual limit (~$7,000) and withdraw profits tax-free.

Build your own budget using the 4-step framework: Goals → Income → Expenses → Variables.
Open a TFSA when you turn 18 so you can invest and grow your money tax-free.