The FP Canada™ Money & Milestones Survey

November is Financial Literacy Month. So, FP Canada decided to survey Canadians and learn about which life milestones they care most about, and the steps they’re taking to afford them. Our research gives you a solid view of how Canadians are feeling and offers professional financial planners important background information you can use to start conversations about saving with your clients.

What is a milestone?

While every life is unique, many people share common milestones. A milestone is a significant event or achievement that marks an important stage in your life that contributes to your personal growth or identity. Milestones can be anything from paying for a university education, saving for a house, or having a baby to traveling the world or saving for retirement.

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Confidence in the Face of Uncertainty

According to the FP Canada Money & Milestones survey, Canadians demonstrate remarkable confidence in their ability to afford some of life’s key milestones—even amid economic uncertainty. Whether planning for retirement, travel, or homeownership, they report actively saving and seeking guidance to stay on track.

Most Canadians (68%) feel confident they’ll afford their milestones
The majority (52%) are actively saving
Top savings tools include long-term savings (36%) and RRSPs (34%)

Why Canadians are Saving

What are the most common financial milestones Canadians are putting money towards? The top three goals are:

Retirement – 50%
Travel – 42%
Homeownership – 19%

While it’s encouraging to see Canadians saving for these milestones, 41% say they don’t have enough money left after covering essential expenses to save. Others cite economic uncertainty (35%) and debt repayment (31%) as key barriers.

i am confident in my ability to afford these milestones

The Impact of Professional Financial Advice

Canadians who work with financial professionals, such as Certified Financial Planner^® professionals or Qualified Associate Financial Planner™ professionals, report significantly higher confidence levels in affording their life milestones (79%) than those who don’t (59%). Additional benefits of working with financial professionals include:

Understanding how finances work – 83%
Simplifying financial decisions – 82%
Feeling confident about finances – 82%
Having peace of mind – 79%

These findings underscore the value of personalized financial planning in helping Canadians navigate complex decisions and achieve long-term goals.

Money & Milestones Survey Resources

Get the Whole Story

See all the results in our press release.

View the Press Release

Gain Insights

Learn how you can leverage our research to build meaningful client relationships.

Read the Article

Visualize the Results

Clearly understand the survey results in our easy-to-read infographic

Download the Infographic

Consumer Resources

Visit our consumer website for more information about our survey. You’ll also find a wealth of client-focused articles and insights. Share them to help your clients gain a better understanding of how working with a financial planning professional helps them achieve their milestones.

Visit our Consumer Website

About the Survey

The Money & Milestones survey was conducted for FP Canada by Leger. The survey was completed between August 15 and August 18, 2025, using Leger’s online panel, receiving 1,512 Canadian respondents nationwide.

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