Resolve Counselling is located in the Unison Place building, located at 417 Bagot Street in downtown Kingston. Photo via Google Maps.

Investment portfolios, interest rates, dividends, TSFAs, GICs… for the many people living pay cheque to pay cheque or struggling to get by, these terms blur into a daunting confusion that seems almost irrelevant when trying to stay afloat.

Even for those with secure and good paying jobs, financial literacy – understanding the concepts and skills of managing money – can be challenging. So much so, in fact, the Government of Canada launched a five-year plan “to create a more accessible, inclusive and effective financial literacy ecosystem” for Canadians called ‘Make Change that Counts: National Financial Literacy Strategy 2021-2026.’

Household debt is one of the Canadian economy’s largest financial vulnerabilities, according to the Bank of Canada (2019), and a survey by Edward Jones in 2024 found that 84 per cent of Canadians feel that financial education in school would have helped them manage their personal finances with less stress today. That same survey found that 64 per cent of Canadians say they did not learn about money management during their younger years.

Addressing these concerning statistics, Resolve Counselling Services here in Kingston offers a Financial Wellness Program and, on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, Resolve announced that the program will expand in the new year, thanks to a grant from TD Bank.

According to the announcement, TD Bank has made a three-year funding pledge of $90,000 towards the Financial Wellness Program offered by Resolve Counselling, allowing them to offer financial counselling to more people locally, regardless of their financial status or background.

As Resolve Counselling explained, the program supports individuals and families who may be facing increased financial stress at the start of the year.

“January is when many people take a hard look at their finances. With TD’s support, we can expand access to financial counselling and education for those who need it most,” Executive Director of Resolve Counselling, Stafford Murphy, said in the announcement.

“This funding will have a real and lasting impact on our community.”

Resolve explained that their Financial Wellness Program provides free and low-cost financial education and counselling from certified financial counsellors in a supportive, non-judgemental environment. The workshops, one-on-one sessions, and personalized coaching allow participants to “learn to take control of their money, reduce stress, and plan with confidence,” the organization said.

The Financial Wellness Program offers clients consultations to help determine which Financial Wellness supports would be most beneficial for them, free of charge. However, the funding promise from TD Bank is specifically meant to support the financial wellness programming for “individuals living on lower incomes.” The funding will allow eligible low-income participants to access the services – including financial education, assessment, budgeting, and coaching supports – free of charge, Resolve Counselling said.

“Thanks to this funding, we are also able to offer our coaching programs on a sliding scale based off income.  So, not only low-income clients benefit, but middle-income clients can benefit from reduced fees,” Jeri Bittorf, Resolve’s Financial Wellness Coordinator, told Kingstonist.

Those behind the grant said they are proud to support Resolve Counselling in “delivering accessible programs that make a meaningful difference.”

“At TD, we recognize the importance of financial literacy in helping people feel more confident about their future,” said Michelle Wilson, District Vice President of TD, in a statement.

Resolve’s Financial Wellness Program includes:

Financial literacy workshops on budgeting, debt, credit, and savingsPersonalized financial assessments to identify challenges and goalsOne-on-one money coaching to create practical financial plans.

“Money stress is one of the leading causes of anxiety for Canadians,” said Bittorf.

“The good news is that small, consistent steps can make a big difference — and our program helps people take those first steps.”

For more information or to register, visit www.resolvecounselling.org or email Resolve Counselling at [email protected].