On Oct. 8, the world paused to observe World Financial Planning Day—an annual event meant to raise awareness of the power and importance of having a financial plan.

Yes, I assume you celebrated it by consulting your spreadsheet, burning a candle or at least thinking about your retirement savings. But no shame if you didn’t, you’re likely in good company.

In Canada, the concept of a global “financial planning day” may not land with fireworks or ticker-tape parades but there’s real value behind the idea.

World Financial Planning Day is organized by the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) and its network of CFP professionals worldwide. The goal? To spotlight how planning your finances—rather than just winging it—can make life more manageable, more confident and, yes, more enjoyable.

So now that the official day has passed, what does that mean for you? More importantly, how can you use that momentum to build or refresh your financial resilience? Let me break it down—for every life stageand in every financial situation.

Why financial planning matters for all of us

Some people assume financial planning is only for the wealthy or for retirees staring at their RRSP statements. In truth, every stage of life—student, early career, midlife, nearing retirement—benefits from a plan, even if that plan is modest.

• Early career / starting out: You may have student debt, low income, and dreams (travel, home, etc.). A financial plan helps you prioritize: how much “bad debt” to pay down, how much to save........

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