Take Control of Your Finances & Build Your Best Life
Are you ready to take the reins
of your financial future?
The Plan Your Finances Project (PYFP) is your roadmap to financial confidence. Created by Marcel LeBlanc, CFP, CIM, this online learning academy simplifies complex financial concepts, providing you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and achieve your goals.
Why Choose The Plan Your Finances Project?
Learn from an Expert:
Marcel LeBlanc: CFP®, CIM®, financial advisor
with 15+ years experience.
Comprehensive Curriculum:
Learn finance: budgeting, retirement, investments & more. For everyone.
Accessible and Convenient:
Learn years of financial wisdom in hours online.
Go at your own pace.
Course Overview
Module 1:
Financial Planning Essentials:
Master cash flow management, personal insurance, debt reduction, and key financial concepts.
Module 2:
Retirement Planning Explained
Develop a foundation for retirement planning and learn to use the Financial Checkup tool.
Module 3:
Saving & Investment Options
Explore mutual funds, ETFs, RRSPs, TFSAs, and other savings and investment products.
Module 4:
Savings & Investment Strategies
Develop a framework for retirement planning and learn to use the Financial Checkup tool.
MEET YOUR FINANCIAL COACH
Hey, I'm Marcel!
I'm a financial planning advisor and entrepreneur dedicated to empowering individuals through financial education.
Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Finance)
Certified Financial Planner (CFP®)
Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®)
Stephane
Absolutely love Onvisor! I’ve completed all of their video modules, and they have been incredibly helpful in expanding my understanding of finances. The modules cover everything from saving and budgeting to investing and beyond. The content is clear, well-structured, and easy to follow, making complex topics much more approachable. I feel so much more confident about managing my finances now.
Highly recommend to anyone looking to improve their financial literacy! Five stars all the way!
Alicia
Since arriving in Canada, I have been researching for good financial advice. I had taken some courses but they all mostly focus on US stuff, or very basic info. Marcel’s course has everything and more! He explains finances, cash flows, investments and types of accounts and makes it very easy to understand.
His coaching sessions are a wealth of knowledge and the one-on-one advice is highly appreciated. He will tell you things as they are and help you understand the different pathways one can take.
Matt
Super helpful and easy to understand! I went through the Financial Planning coaching program, and Marcel was awesome. He answered every single question I had and made sure I really understood everything we talked about. The course itself was super straightforward, easy to follow, and covered everything I needed to know.
Would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to further enhance their knowledge in a way that isn't too demanding!
Module 1 Learning Lessons
Section 1: The 4 Stages of Financial Planning
Stage 1: Cash Flow
Stage 2: Financial Security - Protect your Net worth from uncontrollable circumstances with insurance & legal documents.
○ Life, Long Term Disability, Critical IllnessI, Health, Long Term Care
○ Will & POA
Stage 3: Financial Advancement: Move on to build your Net worth confidently with savings & debt reduction. ○ Savings (Emergency, Retirement, Education, RRSP, TFSA, RESP, Etc.) ○ Debt (amortization, revolving vs structured, etc.)
Stage 4: Wealth, Speculation & Estate planning.
Section 2: Key financial concepts
Cash Flow
○ Key to financial planning
○ The impact financial baggage, identity, & habits can have on your outlook
Financial Security
○ Needs Assessment
○ Group Plans vs Personal coverage vs Lender coverage
○ Term vs Permanent life insurance
○ Critical Illness vs Disability insurance
○ Will & POA
Personal debt management
○ Revolving vs Structured debt
○ Credit Score
○ Good vs Bad debt (utility factor)
○ Snowball vs avalanche methods
○ Paying debt vs Investing
Saving & Investing
○ Saving vs investing
○ Real vs Nominal returns
○ Compound interest
Module 2 Learning Lessons
Introduction to Retirement Goals & Planning
Goal = Target Many ways to seek the same answer.
Not the starting point (common mistake)
Common misconception: Straight answer / solution. One-time thing.
It’s a project and involves a lot of work, assessing and estimating.
Retirement Planning in 3 Steps
Step 1: Measure & track personal Net Worth
Financial Snapshot - where you stand
(+) Assets (-) liabilities (debt)
What most will use to produce retirement income (converting assets to cash)
Starting point for retirement planning (one end of the gap - distance from target)
Growth vs Cost assets
Good vs bad debt
Step 2: Manage current and future Cash Flow (*Govt Benefits)
Current free cash flow = influences your progress (your ability to build up your net worth)
Future expenses / cash flow = influences your goal (how much you will need to have build up to support your lifestyle)
Build ratio = % of income not needed for lifestyle expenses at retirement.
Habits - Think module 1 (keep or improve your build ratio; debt to savings)
Step 3: Establish & monitor required Retirement Savings Goals
The last step - putting things together
Moving target (influenced by cash flow & build ratio)
Assess how far you are from your target (gap)Estimation of how things might play out
Validate current efforts & realities (Build ratio, investment allocation, time horizon, etc.)
Module includes The Financial Checkup Assessment Tool (Free Calculator sent separately)
Learn how to calculate your personal Net Worth & Analyze your Cash Flow with the use of this easy to use tool.
Module 3 Learning Lessons
Introduction to Saving & Investing
Saving & Investment Account Types
Registered vs Non-registered accounts
Accumulation Accounts
RRSP - Registered Retirement Savings Plan
TFSA - Tax Free Savings Account
FHSA - First Home Savings Account
RESP- Registered Education Savings Plan
LIRA - Locked-In Retirement Account
Non-Registered & Entities
RRSP vs TFSA illustration
Decumulation Accounts
RRIF - Registered Retirement Income Fund
LIF - Life Income Fund
Types of Saving & Investment Products & Assets
Guaranteed Savings (Cash, GIC, Notes, insurance products & others)
Fixed Income (Bonds & Preferred Shares)
Equities (Stocks)
Alternative (REITs, Hedge Funds, Private Equity, Etc.)
Investment Portfolio Management Strategies
Risk/reward
Diversification
Balanced portfolio
DYI vs Managed
Active vs Passive
Investor Considerations
Real vs nominal returns
Investor Costs (MER & Commissions)
Investment Income Taxation (Interest, Dividends, Capital Gains)
Module 4 Learning Lessons
Introduction to Accumulation & Lessons Recap
The 2 Zones of Accumulation:
Lifestyle Spending
Long Term Accumulation
The 3 Steps of Accumulating Savings
Step 1: Plan Short-Term cash savings (bucket 1)
2 approaches: comfort level (amount of cash savings that helps you sleep better)needs level = amount needed for planned short-term expenses
Step 2: Plan for Emergency Savings (bucket 2)
For unforeseen circumstances (job loss, illness, etc.)
Potential for larger liquid needs (up to 6+ month income)
Should be Invested in low-moderate riskTax Free Savings Account (TFSA) can make the most sense
Step 3: Long-term & Retirement Savings (bucket 3)
Invested over longer time horizonsLess need for liquidity
Can take on more investment risk (more time to recover losses)
RRSP and other plan types are typically used here
The Onvisor Accumulation Framework Illustration
The Cascade of Retirement Savings
Savings flowing from expenses to buckets 1 through 3
The Fountain of Retirement Income
Using assets in buckets 1 & 2 to fund lifestyle & bucket 1