Invested & Connected: Bringing Financial Literacy to Life for the Next Generation
Invested & Connected is based on a simple idea: if we give young people basic investing skills and tools, we can help them achieve financial success for life. These sessions provide students with more than just theory. They offer real-world insights and hands-on experiences. Students gain the confidence to navigate their financial futures clearly and purposefully.
That belief came to life on June 25th. We brought Invested & Connected to the Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto, a dynamic, in-person workshop on financial literacy created specifically for students. Over 100 students from universities and colleges throughout Ontario gathered with us for an evening filled with learning and networking.
How Our Interns Helped Bring the Event to Life
Our summer interns, Olivia Robinson and Sophie Fell, played an instrumental role in building this event from the ground up. From early brainstorming and planning to managing event logistics and coordinating speakers, their work shaped the attendee experience.
They approached the event not just as organizers, but as members of the target audience. Their perspectives helped us tailor content, anticipate the kinds of questions students might ask, and design educational and engaging activities. Their leadership, enthusiasm, and attention to detail helped transform the vision for Invested & Connected into a reality.
We designed the event to move beyond passive learning. Through a mix of presentations, activities, and open dialogue, we aimed to create a space where students could learn by doing, connect with professionals they might not otherwise meet, and leave with practical knowledge and a sense of excitement about their financial futures.
Why Now? The Rising Need for Practical Investing Skills
We’re living in a time when financial decision-making is more complex than ever before. For young Canadians entering adulthood, the stakes are high: record inflation, uncertain housing markets, increased tuition and student debt, and the rising cost of living all make financial literacy not just helpful, but essential.
At the same time, traditional education systems rarely provide the financial tools students need in the real world. Many young adults graduate with degrees in business or science but still feel unsure about how to open an investment account, what a TFSA is, or how credit scores work.
What we heard from students in the lead-up to this event was clear: they don’t just want financial theory; they want real, practical guidance. They want to know how to start investing, what mistakes to avoid, and how to build wealth gradually without feeling overwhelmed.
A national survey conducted by MNP Ltd. found that 32% of Canadians feel that they are living paycheck to paycheck, with younger individuals between the ages of 18 and 34 being among the most affected (Bazian).
Similarly, research done by H&R Block Canada revealed that 85% of Canadians now consider living paycheck to paycheck as the new normal. Of those, 74% are concerned that they are not saving enough, and most anticipate even fewer savings in 2025 (“Are Emaciated Canadian Piggybanks”). This is why it’s so important to help the younger generation build the skills and confidence to make informed financial decisions early on.
With so many at risk of financial stress or instability, we believe it’s never too early, or too late, to learn how to take control of your money.
That’s why Invested & Connected focuses on delivering real-world lessons at a time when they matter most: when students are just beginning to form their financial identities and have the power to set strong habits in motion.
Designing the Content for Where Students Are
We structured Invested & Connected to meet students where they are: curious, motivated, and open to learning, but often unsure where to begin. Instead of assuming a base level of knowledge, we broke concepts down into digestible, easy-to-understand building blocks.
Our content focused on five key pillars:
- Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs): What they are, who can open one, how contributions work, and why they’re such a powerful tool for young investors.
- Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs): When to start contributing, how to think about retirement even in your 20s, and how RRSPs can help with things like home ownership through the Home Buyers’ Plan.
- Investment vehicles: From stocks and ETFs to mutual funds and GICs, we explored the types of investments available and how they work in a portfolio.
- Budgeting frameworks: We walked through simple, sustainable approaches to budgeting and cash flow management, without relying on rigid spreadsheets or apps.
- Portfolio foundations: How to start building an investment portfolio with your first $100, $1,000, or $10,000. We discussed diversification, long-term growth, and risk tolerance.
Students didn’t just learn about these tools, they saw how they fit into real-life decision-making, from managing part-time job earnings to planning future milestones like travel, education, or buying a home.
Real Talk, Real Tools, Real People
We opened the evening with a relaxed networking session over food and drinks, allowing students to get comfortable and start conversations with peers and Barometer team members. This informal setting helped break down barriers and set the tone for an approachable, engaging event.
From there, Dave Burrows, Barometer’s Chairman and Chief Investment Officer, took the stage to deliver a keynote talk. Dave shared why starting early matters, how the magic of compounding works, and what it means to develop healthy financial habits. His examples, from the power of consistent saving to the long-term benefits of investing in what you understand, struck a chord with the room.
Next, Jessica Barford, a young investment professional, shared her own investing journey. She spoke candidly about the fears she faced early on, the small steps she took to build confidence, and how her approach evolved with experience. Her message: start small, stay consistent, and don’t be afraid to learn from mistakes. This helped make investing feel not only doable, but empowering.
Less Theory, More Practice: The Power of Hands-On Activities
We didn’t want students to just hear about investing; we wanted them to try it.
- Pick a Stock Activity: Students were challenged to pick a company they believed in and make the case for why it might be a good investment. They researched business models, evaluated products and leadership teams, and learned to think like analysts. The exercise sparked lively debate and gave students a framework for evaluating investments beyond just stock price.
- Kahoot Quiz: We ran a high-energy, interactive investing quiz using Kahoot. This helped reinforce the information from the earlier presentations while adding a layer of friendly competition and fun. Students lit up as they answered questions and saw where they stood on the leaderboard.
Open Networking: We closed the evening with unstructured networking, where students could ask questions, exchange ideas, and hear directly from Barometer professionals. From portfolio managers and operations specialists to marketing leaders and analysts, every person brought a unique perspective, and every student left with a new connection.
Feedback from Students: What Stuck
These comments remind us that it’s not just the content, it’s the experience, the tone, and the people that make the difference.
Investing in the Next Generation
We believe deeply in supporting young Canadians as they learn how to grow their wealth with confidence. And we believe the earlier this learning begins, the stronger and more secure the future becomes, not just for individual students, but for the economy and society as a whole.
Financial literacy isn’t about memorizing charts or beating the market. It’s about understanding the tradeoffs in front of you, asking the right questions, and having the confidence to make decisions that align with your values and goals.
Invested & Connected marks the beginning of a broader commitment from Barometer. We’re not interested in one-off events. We’re building a movement: one that makes finance accessible, inclusive, and empowering for every student we reach.
What’s Next?
We’re already planning future events, with expanded topics and more opportunities for students to connect with industry professionals. Whether you’re a student curious about where to begin, a professor looking to bring financial literacy into the classroom, or an institution interested in partnering with us, we’d love to hear from you.
Together, we can build a generation of informed, confident investors, one conversation at a time.
Future investors. Current learners. Lifelong confidence.
