Post-secondary education planning shouldn’t begin and end with the opening of a savings account. For affluent families, the challenge isn’t just saving—it’s aligning education planning with a broader financial picture. At McEachnie Matthews Group, Waterloo financial advisor and financial planner, we believe in more than RESP contributions and tuition estimates. We bring precision, foresight, and a relentless focus on making education planning a cornerstone of your wealth strategy, not an isolated checkbox.
Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs)
An RESP is more than a bucket for school expenses—it’s a powerhouse for growth and opportunity. But tapping its full potential requires a strategy. Grants, contributions, timing—each decision shapes the outcome.
Lifetime Contributions
With a $50,000 lifetime cap per child, we’ll help you decide when to contribute, how much, and in what intervals. With our guidance, every dollar aligns with both education needs and long-term goals.
Grants That Work for You
The Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) offers a 20% match on the first $2,500 contributed annually, capped at $7,200 per child. Missed years? No panic. CESG room carries forward, giving families room to catch up when it suits them.
Flexibility for Life’s Twists
Plans change. Futures evolve. RESPs adapt. If one child veers away from traditional post-secondary paths, funds can often pivot—to siblings, family RESPs, or even RRSPs under specific conditions.
Provincial Add-Ons
Some provinces sweeten the pot with additional grants. Living in Ontario? We ensure every possible resource boosts your education savings, leaving no stone unturned.
Integrating RESPs: Where Education Meets Comprehensive Wealth Planning
An RESP is part of a larger financial ecosystem. At McEachnie Matthews Group, we connect education savings with taxes, estate planning, and retirement goals. Think of it as a living plan, responsive to changes and geared for growth.
Tax-Optimized Contributions
Every contribution decision intersects with tax implications. We consider the broader implications to ensure your RESP isn’t just growing but growing smartly within the contours of your financial life.
Estate Strategy Alignment
Who inherits unused RESP funds? How are they taxed? These questions need answering before they’re relevant. We ensure education planning dovetails with estate objectives seamlessly.
Retirement and Education, Together
Funding education without eroding retirement plans is a balancing act. We manage both, ensuring today’s tuition doesn’t undermine tomorrow’s security.
Beyond Tuition: Anticipating True Costs
Housing, books, travel, even groceries—these are the silent contributors to financial strain for students. By forecasting these costs, we transform surprises into solvable problems. And when those expenses crop up unexpectedly? You’ll have a plan that’s ready to adapt.
Your Wealth, Your Values, Your Strategy
Education means different things to different families. Maybe you’re covering costs for multiple grandchildren. Perhaps you want to fund specialized programs or gap-year pursuits. At McEachnie Matthews Group, we reject cookie-cutter solutions. Each family’s plan reflects their values, their vision, their story.
Grandparent Gifting Strategies
Looking to pass wealth down through education funding? We structure gifts to maximize impact while minimizing tax consequences.
Customized Withdrawal Timelines
Education isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither are RESP withdrawals. We build withdrawal strategies that adapt to your family’s reality, whether traditional or unconventional.
A Team That Streamlines Your Process
Coordinating advisors, lawyers, and accountants can be overwhelming. Miscommunications and missed opportunities often arise when each professional works in a silo. At McEachnie Matthews Group Private Wealth Management, we centralize these efforts, becoming the hub that keeps every spoke aligned. Your accountants understand your grants. Your lawyers anticipate RESP transitions in estate plans. It’s seamless because it’s connected.
Always One Step Ahead
Tax codes change. RESP rules evolve. Family priorities shift. As your Waterloo financial advisor and financial planner, we remain vigilant, always adapting strategies to reflect new opportunities and challenges.
Accountability and Expertise at Every Turn
We believe that trust is earned, not given. That’s why our process is structured, disciplined, and transparent. Every strategy we propose is backed by logic, and every recommendation is aligned with your broader financial goals. Guesswork has no place here—just results-driven planning.
Ready to Rethink Education Planning?
At McEachnie Matthews Group, we don’t see education planning as an add-on. It’s a central pillar of wealth management. Integrated. Thoughtful. Effective. Let us help you transform aspirations into actionable plans.
Connect with us today. Education is an investment. Make it count.