About

In the fall of 2017, a small group of volunteers got together and partnered with YWCA FOCUS@Work to put on free finance workshops for women in Vancouver, BC.

We are motivated by the fact that financial literacy is an area that many people would like to improve and a study by Statistics Canada carried out in 2014 showed that Canadian women have lower levels of financial literacy and less confidence in their ability to manage their finances than Canadian men.  Since we also believe that women would feel more comfortable talking about money in a group composed of other women, we decided to hold the workshops for women only.

Focus@Work’s goal is to help women achieve economic and employment sustainability. FAW is a free 12-week job search program for women that includes three weeks of skills enhancement workshops followed by nine weeks of one-to-one career coaching and group and peer support.   The program establishes a structured place for women to move out of an isolated job search to a place where they build connections, showcase their strengths, express their challenges and participate in a safe environment that fosters accountability, confidence and self-esteem. For more information about the FOCUS@Work program please call 604-699-1788

Please keep in mind that the information offered in our workshops or other material is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Upcoming Workshops

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

June 2023 Webinar Series

**Session 1: Financial ABCs

Do these roadblocks to financial success feel familiar?

– Do money beliefs, personality and trauma inform your financial decisions?

– Do you feel like budgeting isn’t enough?

– Are you looking to better manage your cash flow and discover debt reduction and credit management strategies?

The first step to taking control of our financial lives involves getting a handle on our relationship with money. Once we understand WHY we do what we do, we have clarity to support our financial decision-making. Whether you’re going through a life change, or are curious about your financial progress, by comparing best practices with your personal situation, you’ll feel empowered to make specific tweaks to your financial life: You CAN get ahead!

To learn more, we invite you to join the conversation on Wednesday, June 7th from 6:00pm-7:15pm.

The upcoming session is offered for self-identifying women and is open to non-binary or gender diverse people. We warmly welcome members of the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+and Disabled communities.

Presenter:

Our presenter, Paige Brettle, is an experienced millennial personal finance educator on a mission to bring healing and empowerment to our money relationships. She has worked for over a decade as an associate financial advisor with a top financial planning firm in downtown Vancouver which specializes in intergenerational wealth transfer. Paige’s financial planning and investment acumen are backed by the Canadian Securities Course with insurance specialization rooted in the Life License Qualification Program from IFSE Institute. Paige is a Certified Health Specialist designation holder and is a current candidate for the Financial Planning Standards Council Certified Financial Planner Level 1 Certification. She is skilled in Business Planning, Coaching, and Asset Management, and is a long-term program facilitator of the Dollars with Sense Program, Economics for Success, Business of Our Own, and the Personal Finance program provided via Junior Achievement of British Columbia.

Register Here:
June 2023 Webinar Series: Financial ABC’s Wednesday, June 7, 2023 | 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm Online on Zoom

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

June 2023 Webinar Series

**Session 2: Stocks & Bonds 101

This workshop is suitable for those who are interested in learning the basics of stocks and bonds along with simple investment portfolio construction concepts.

– What are bonds and why do people buy them?

– Why are interest rates important for bonds?

– What are stocks and why do people buy them?

– Why do companies issue stocks?

– What are the potential benefits and risks of owning stocks?

– How do you use stocks and bonds in an investment portfolio?

To learn more, we invite you to join the conversation on Wednesday, June 14th from 6:00pm-7:15pm.

The upcoming session is offered for self-identifying women and is open to non-binary or gender diverse people. We warmly welcome members of the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+and Disabled communities.

Presenter:

Lucy So – Vice President, Institutional Sales | Client Relationship Manager

Lucy joined Nicola Wealth in October 2022 as a member of the institutional client group.  With over 12 years of experience in the asset management industry, Lucy leads the firm’s institutional client efforts and oversees all institutional marketing and client relationship activities. Prior to joining Nicola, Lucy worked at Connor, Clark & Lunn Investment Management’s Quantitative Equity Team with a focus on institutional client relationships.  Ms. So also worked as Vice President, Business Development at Connor, Clark & Lunn Funds, where she enhanced the firm’s product development capabilities and managed relationships with key clients. Lucy earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and is a CFA charterholder. 

Register Here:
June 2023 Webinar Series: Stocks & Bonds 101 Wednesday, June 14, 2023 | 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm Online on Zoom

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

June 2023 Webinar Series

**Session 3: Retirement Planning

In this workshop for women, we discussed key retirement concepts including:

– Knowing where you stand today.

– The importance of starting as early as possible.

– What is asset mix and why is it important.

– What are the different types of retirement plans.

For the most part, the information is presented at a basic level but there is scope for in depth discussions on areas of interest to the participants.

To learn more, we invite you to join the conversation on Wednesday, June 21st from 6:00pm-7:15pm.

The upcoming session is offered for self-identifying women and is open to non-binary or gender diverse people. We warmly welcome members of the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+and Disabled communities.

Presenter:

Angela Huck is a wealth advisor with more than two decades of experience in the financial industry. Angela holds a B.A. in Psychology and an MBA, as well as the Chartered Investment Management (CIM), Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist (CFDS) and Master Financial Advisor Philanthropy (MFA-P) designations. Angela is a Director on the board of Coast Mental Health Foundation and was previously a Director on the board of One Girl Can.

 Angela has taught financial literacy seminars for years with the belief that financial literacy is important for women to achieve financial security and independence, to advocate for themselves in life and in the workplace and to make informed decisions about their future. 

Register Here:
June 2023 Webinar Series: Retirement Planning Wednesday, June 14, 2023 | 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm Online on Zoom