Access the 2026 Financial Stress Index Resources 


 

The Financial Stress Index is an annual national survey that tracks trends in Canadians’ financial stress, behaviours, and challenges over time. It highlights how sustained cost-of-living pressures are affecting households, and measures the impact of professional financial planning advice on stress levels and financial confidence.

 

Now in its ninth year, the 2026 Financial Stress Index shows that while financial stress remains elevated, Canadians are increasingly responding with practical action—and those who work with a financial professional continue to report measurably better outcomes.

 

 

Key Findings

  • Money remains the top source of stress for Canadians, with 43% reporting that it’s their biggest concern
  • Grocery prices continue to rank as the top external financial stressor for Canadians, unchanged year over year (64%), while concern about rising housing prices are growing, increasing from 20 per cent in 2023 to 25 per cent in 2026
  • Canadians who work with a financial professional, such as a CFP® professional or a QAFP® professional, are less likely to report money as their top source of stress than those who don’t (34% vs. 48%). They’re also less likely to report losing sleep due to financial worries (41% vs. 55%).

 

 

 

 

2026 Financial Stress Index Insights and Resources

Get more from the survey results with our full suite of resources.

Gain Insight

For a deeper dive into the Financial Stress Index, read the press release and full survey report.

View the Press Release


Download the Survey Report

See the Full Picture

Get the whole story visually by downloading the infographic.

Download the Infographic

Unpack the Survey Results

Read our Financial Stress Index article. You’ll find out what’s really on the mind of Canadians and how these insights can inform your practice.

Read the Article



Start a Conversation on Social

Share the 2026 findings with your network and start meaningful conversations about financial well-being with current and prospective clients:

  1. Download the social posts for CFP professionals or QAFP professionals
  2. Open the ZIP files and select the Word document titled “FSI 2026 Social Posts” 
  3. Select the social posts and corresponding images you would like to use 
  4. Copy and paste your preferred posts and upload the images onto your social media platforms of choice    

Resources for All Canadians

Visit the Financial Stress Index page on our consumer website, where you can access and share consumer-facing content related to managing financial stress



Visit our Consumer Website