Financial Skills Series

Are you a graduate student looking for additional ways to fund your education? Join us for an engaging webinar where we explore less common funding sources that can help you achieve your academic goals without the burden of excessive debt. This webinar is designed to provide you with practical tips and strategies to find and secure funding from diverse sources. Whether you’re just starting your graduate journey or looking for additional support, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the funding landscape effectively. 

Learning Outcomes:

• Discover a list of corporations that offer various scholarships, grants, and fellowships.
• Review different non-profit funding sources.
• Explore a variety of smaller grants and sources of funding.

This webinar will show you how to create a budget given your income level. It covers the main pitfalls of not budgeting and will show you ways to stay on track. Learn how to effectively monitor and cut costs using various free online tools and apps, and how to automate your savings. Join us for this engaging webinar to learn how small changes in your daily spending can lead to major savings down the line. 

Note: This webinar is also relevant for international students & newcomers to Canada as it covers many of the basics about the different types of bank accounts available to you.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn how to create a budget and stick to it.
• Learn about various ways to cut costs of essentials (groceries, housing, and services).
• Familiarize yourself with various apps & tools that can save you money.

This webinar will cover the ins and outs of credit cards, various types of loans, and the benefits of debt consolidation. Participants will learn how credit cards work, select the best credit card given their specific circumstances, and familiarize themselves with the key features of lines of credit. Finally, we will go over various strategies to help you pay off your various debts. We will also review the importance of credit scores, how debt utilization can affect credit scores, and review various ways to boost them. 

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn about different types of debt (credit cards, personal loans, and lines of credit).
• Acquire strategies to pay off your debts more effectively (debt consolidation, snowball method, and debt avalanche method).
• Identify important aspects of credit scores and how to obtain a free copy of your credit reports.
• Learn the steps to take to boost your credit score.

Are TFSAs, RRSPs, GICs, and ETFs a mystery? Does investing in the stock market feel like a gamble? In Part I of a two-part workshop, this webinar demystifies banking jargon and guides participants through the essentials of mutual funds and ETFs and discuss the benefits of Canadian versus global diversification. In addition, this workshop will assess some of the most tax-efficient investments available, looking at various examples of how to increase one’s returns by reducing feeds and legally eliminating or deferring taxes.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the difference between saving, investing, and speculating.
• Learn about the different investment assets (stocks, bonds, ETFs, MFs) and their associated risks.
• Review different investing accounts (RRSPs, TFSAs, FHSAs) and their features.

Participants will learn to master the intricacies of investing mutual funds and EFTS in this two-hour workshop! Part II of Building Wealth for Your Future focuses on optimal portfolio balances, diversification strategies, and age/risk tolerance adjustments. Gain insights on selecting a top-notch financial advisor, setting up a financial plan, and understanding the services advisors offer to better manage an individual’s finances. This hands-on session will equip participants with the knowledge to make informed investment decisions.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn how to make sense of key information covered in mutual fund & ETF Fact Sheets.
• Become familiar with the pros and cons of mutual funds, robo-advisors, and managing one's own ETF portfolio.
• Know what key questions to ask when selecting a financial advisor.

Would you like to better understand tax slips and learn how to file your income taxes? Then this webinar is for you. We will first start with a brief overview of the Canadian tax system covering topics such as: types of different taxes, tax brackets, and how different types of income get taxed. We will review key tax slips (see list below) and show you how to make sense of them through live examples. Finally, we will cover various tax credits and deductions available to you. 

Learning Outcomes: 

• Learn about the different Canadian tax brackets, what counts as taxable income, and how different types of income get taxed. 
• Develop a basic understanding of the information contained on key tax slips (T4, T4A, T5, T2202, RL-1, RL-3, RL-8, RL-19, RL-24, and RL-31). 
• Learn about common tax deductions and credits available to you. 
• Learn about various free tax filing resources and software. 

Are you a postdoctoral fellow who is filing their first income tax return? Do you wonder what needs to be reported during your first year in Québec? Would you like to better understand tax slips and learn how to file your income taxes? Then this webinar is for you! We will first start with a brief overview of the Canadian tax system covering topics such as: different types of taxes, tax brackets, and how different sources of income get taxed. We will review key tax slips (see list below) and show you how to make sense of them through live examples. We will also go over the Québec Tax Exemption process for postdocs, including eligibility criteria, required documentation, and the application procedure. Finally, we will cover various tax credits and deductions available to you.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn about the different Canadian tax brackets, what counts as taxable income, and how different types of income get taxed.
• Develop a basic understanding of the information contained on key tax slips (T4, T4A, T5, RL-1, RL-3, RL-8, RL-19, RL-24, and RL-31).
• Understand the Québec Tax Exemption process for postdocs and review eligibility criteria and the application procedure.
• Explore common tax deductions and credits available to you.
• Review various free tax filing resources and software.

Graduating is an exciting milestone but it also comes with new financial responsibilities. In this informative webinar, we’ll explore practical strategies to help you navigate your finances as you transition into the next phase of your life. Whether you’re starting a job or embarking on a new entrepreneurial venture, understanding how to manage your money effectively is crucial. Explore budgeting essentials, student loan management, credit building, investment strategies, and real estate analysis. Learn how to set financial goals, navigate taxes, and secure your financial future.

Learning Outcomes:

• Review how to maintain a reasonable budget and avoid lifestyle inflation.
• Learn about various student loan repayment strategies.
• Become familiar with Canadian real estate basics.
• Calculate the costs of starting a family in Canada and review various government benefits (QPIP and CCB).
• Learn about the various retirement plans in Canada: QPP/CPP, OAS, GIS, and pensions.

Join us for an insightful webinar where we delve into the essential strategies for effective lab budgeting. Learn how to prioritize your expenses by identifying critical research needs, equipment maintenance, and personnel costs to allocate your budget more effectively. Discover the art of negotiating with vendors, centralizing purchasing, and involving your scientific and technical teams in cost-saving initiatives. We’ll also cover the importance of tracking your costs to identify less productive activities and cut back on unnecessary expenses. This webinar will provide you with practical tips and strategies to ensure your lab operates efficiently. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your lab management skills and drive your lab’s success!  

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn how to prioritize expenses.
• Review different strategies to negotiate with vendors.
• Learn about different ways to tracking costs and staying on budget.
• Review various personnel managing strategies.

Ready to transition from academia to the professional world? Gain a solid understanding of workplace budgeting and fiscal management in our upcoming webinar, designed for beginners. Dive into the essentials with an engaging overview of key finance terms, ensuring you grasp the foundational language and concepts. We’ll explore how budgeting practices differ in the corporate, public, and non-profit sectors. Whether you’re aiming to understand the basics or looking to enhance your skills, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to excel in your future career. Join us and take the first step toward mastering workplace budgeting - don’t miss this opportunity to set yourself up for success! 

Learning Outcomes:

• Overview of key finance terms and concepts such as: asset allocation, amortization, time value of money, and net present value.
• Review key concepts relevant to the corporate sector including: shareholder value, capital structure, and mergers and acquisitions.
• Become familiar with terminology and concepts relevant to the public and non-profit sectors such as mission-driven finance, programmatic budgeting, and government accounting.