The Kowalski family had two kids heading toward university in six and eight years. They'd heard about RESPs but kept putting it off because it felt complicated. After our February 2026 workshop in Moncton, they opened accounts within a week. What helped? Breaking down the government matching into actual dollar amounts instead of percentages. They're now contributing monthly and tracking growth in a shared spreadsheet the whole family can see.
The Bergströms wanted their investment approach to be visible to their kids without turning family time into finance lectures. They started buying dividend-paying Canadian stocks in a non-registered account. Every quarter when dividends arrive, they sit down as a family and decide together whether to reinvest or redirect funds. Their 15-year-old daughter now tracks which companies increased payouts and asks why some didn't. It's become an ongoing conversation rather than a one-time lesson.
When the Nováks came to our March 2026 session in Fredericton, three generations showed up—grandparents, parents, and two teenagers. They designed a connected investment structure where each generation has specific roles. Grandparents contribute to TFSAs earmarked for future education. Parents manage the core portfolio. Teenagers research potential investments and present findings monthly. It's more complex than most families need, but it works for them because everyone chose to participate rather than being assigned tasks.
None of these families had investing experience when they walked into our workshops. The Kowalskis thought you needed tens of thousands to start. The Bergströms weren't sure if investing meant stocks, bonds, or something else entirely. The Nováks had tried reading investment books but found them either too basic or incomprehensibly technical.
What changed? They saw specific examples of what other Canadian families were actually doing. Not aspirational stories about early retirement or seven-figure portfolios. Just regular households deciding that saving in a regular bank account wasn't enough anymore.
We documented their first six months. The questions they asked. The mistakes they caught early. The moments when concepts finally clicked. That documentation became the foundation for how we structure our current workshops—because abstract investing principles don't stick the way real family experiences do.
These projects don't happen in isolation. Families work with mentors who've been through similar investing journeys.
Workshop Coordinator & Family Investment Mentor
Derek spent 14 years as a financial advisor before he got tired of selling products families didn't need. He shifted to education-focused work in 2019 and hasn't looked back. What sets him apart? He actually remembers what it felt like to be confused by investment terminology. His workshops focus on translating concepts into language that makes sense around a kitchen table, not a boardroom. He works with about 15 families at a time—enough to give real attention, not so many that it becomes impersonal.
The families featured here all worked with Derek during their first year. He's the person they email when markets drop and they're not sure whether to panic or stay calm. Usually the answer is "stay calm," but he explains why in ways that actually help.