New to Canada
New to Canada? Here's where your money should start.
You're earning well. Everything is sitting in a chequing account. Everyone says RRSP, TFSA, insurance, and nobody explains the order. We do.
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Sound familiar?
If any of this is you, you're in the right place
You're earning well and everything sits in a chequing account
That's the most common situation we see. It's also the easiest to fix, once someone shows you the order.
You support family in two countries
Money going home every month changes how much protection you need and how much you can save. Your plan has to account for it.
You don't know which account to open first
RRSP, TFSA, RESP, FHSA. They sound alike and do very different things. The right first one depends on your income and your goals.
What we do about it
Protection first, then accounts, then growth
- Protect the people who depend on you. If your income stopped, who would feel it? Coverage for that comes before investing.
- Open the right accounts in the right order. TFSA, RRSP, RESP for the kids, FHSA if you're saving for a first home. We tell you which one first and why.
- Start growing. Once the basics are in place, invest for the long term in a way you understand.
- Cover visiting family. Parents coming on a super visa need at least $100,000 of medical coverage. We set it up.
Visitors to Canada
Insurance for parents and relatives visiting you
Visitors aren't covered by provincial health care. A hospital stay can cost thousands of dollars a day. Visitor medical insurance covers emergencies while they're here.
For a super visa, the government requires at least $100,000 of emergency medical coverage, valid for one year from entry, from an approved insurer. We arrange policies that meet the requirement and send you the certificate for the application.
What it covers: emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, prescriptions for emergencies, and repatriation.
What it costs: depends on age, health and coverage amount. We'll quote several insurers.
What it costs
The plan costs you nothing
You will not receive a bill for the call, the written plan or the yearly reviews. When we put your plan into action, we're compensated by the financial institution it's placed with. We explain exactly how that works before you decide anything, and there is no obligation after the call. Full details here.
Who you'll work with
Planners who've sat where you sit
Most of our advisors built their careers after arriving in Canada. We know what it's like to earn well and have no idea how the system works here. Meet the team →
Answers
Questions people ask us before they book
I just moved to Canada. What should I set up first with my money?
In this order: SIN and bank account; protection for anyone who depends on your income; a TFSA; then RRSP as Canadian income create…
Read the answer →Do my parents need insurance to visit me in Canada on a super visa?
Yes. For a super visa, the government requires private medical insurance of at least $100,000 CAD, valid for at least one year fro…
Read the answer →I send money home every month. How do I still build savings in Canada?
Treat the money you send home as a fixed expense in your plan, not an afterthought. Then protect your income first (because two fa…
Read the answer →Common questions
Questions people ask us
What should I set up first after arriving in Canada?
In this order: get a SIN and a bank account; protect anyone who depends on your income with life and disability coverage; open a TFSA (any Canadian resident 18 or over can contribute, currently $7,000 a year); then, as you earn Canadian income, use the RRSP room it creates. If you have children, open an RESP to collect the government grant. Zenith Advisory walks newcomers through this at no cost.
Can I get life insurance as a permanent resident or on a work permit?
Permanent residents can apply right away. Many insurers also accept work-permit holders, sometimes after a short waiting period in Canada. Rules vary between insurance companies, which is why we compare several.
What's the difference between an RRSP and a TFSA?
An RRSP gives you a tax deduction now and taxes the money when you withdraw it in retirement; your room comes from Canadian earned income. A TFSA gives no deduction, but growth and withdrawals are never taxed; everyone 18 and over gets the same room ($7,000 in 2026) regardless of income. New arrivals often have little RRSP room, so the TFSA frequently comes first.
Do my parents need insurance to visit me in Canada?
For a super visa, yes: at least $100,000 of emergency medical coverage valid for one year from entry, from an approved insurer, and you must show proof with the application. For a regular visitor visa it's not required but strongly recommended, since visitors aren't covered by provincial health care.
Do I need to be in Saskatoon to work with you?
No. We meet most newcomer clients by video across Canada. If you're in Saskatoon, you're welcome at our downtown office.
Get started
Your next step is a 30-minute conversation
- Book your free call. 30 minutes, no prep, no obligation.
- Get your written plan. Where you are, where you're going, and exactly what to do, in one document you can read.
- Put it to work. We implement it with you and review it every year.