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Privileges enjoyed by Canadians, including owning a home, opening your own business, or learning a trade require a basic understanding of our complex financial system. While many new Canadians are proficient in their skills upon arrival, many get discouraged as our systems of credit, taxation, and licencing are so vastly different from those they are used to. Not every advisor in the financial industry can be trusted, and not every New Canadian is aware of that. It can be hard to ask questions when you aren’t even sure which questions to ask! As CIRPs, we often see the fallout of poor decisions, bad advice, or ignorance of taxation rules and deadlines. Countless times we hear, “I didn’t know I had to….”, or “I was told…”, and face a debtor who is as wary of our advice as that which put them in the situation in the first place. What if we could change that dynamic? What if we could start new Canadians on the right foot – by understanding the importance of credit history, the effect of pledging assets as security and safeguarding of personal information such as access codes? The reality is, that as CIRPs, our skills are a natural complement to do exactly that. November has been designated as Financial Literacy Month, and as CIRPs, we can do our part to strengthen the financial literacy of all Canadians, and empower them to manage money and debt wisely, create savings, and understand their financial responsibilities. How do you get involved? Check out the Canadian Financial Literacy Database (https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/financial-literacy-database.html), the November Calendar of Events (found here) or search for #FLM2018 on your social media. In the alternative, check out the Financial Literacy Seminars available free of charge from CPA Canada (https://www.cpacanada.ca/en/the-cpa-profession/financial-literacy/financial-literacy-education), and collaborate with a local member to host a session in your community, a local school, or organization. The seminars are targeted not only at new Canadians, but include sessions designed for children, Seniors, and Entrepreneurs.