Help clients build better financial plans

Out of a score of one hundred, Canadians get a grade of 69.3 when it comes to their overall financial situations, finds BMO Wealth Management’s national wealth index.

The index provides a snapshot of people’s finances by looking at whether they have:

• financial plans that they review;
• household debts and assets;
• rainy day and retirement savings;
• insurance;
• estate plans that they review; and
• sustainable financial situations.

With a score of 72.9, residents of Saskatchewan came out on top. Next up were residents of Quebec (71.1), Alberta (70.6), and Newfoundland and Labrador (70.4).

Read: Millennials have less debt than Gen X

On a national scale, respondents scored highest when asked whether they have financial strategies (81%) and life insurance plans in place (66%). In contrast, they scored the lowest when asked about the following:

• The effectiveness of their financial plans. More than two-thirds (67%) haven’t used a professional to draft their plans.
• Whether they’ve prioritized retirement savings. More than half (65%) don’t consider this a top priority.
• Whether they’ve purchased critical illness and/or disability insurance. Only 35% and 39%, respectively, have adequate coverage.

Still, most respondents say they’re prepared to deal with life changes such as getting married and having children. More than half (62%) say they’d be financially prepared, while 31% say they’re ill prepared or not ready at all.

Read: Canadians increasingly optimistic about financial goals

Provincial Breakdown of results

Province	Index Score
National	69.3
Saskatchewan	72.9
Quebec	71.1
Alberta	70.6
Newfoundland & Labrador	70.4
Nova Scotia	70.0
Ontario	69.2
Manitoba	68.4
PEI	66.7
B.C.	66.3
New Brunswick	58.9

NOTE: Survey results cited in this report are from online interviews with a random sample of 1,403 Canadians, 18 years of age and over, conducted between April 10^th and 13^th, 2015. As a guideline, a probability sample of this size would yield results accurate to ± 2.6%, 19 times out of 20. Results have been weighted using the latest census data to be representative of Canadians as a whole.

Read:

Most Canadians have never checked their credit

Clients need written financial plans

Should clients contribute to an RRSP or TFSA?