Playing with FIRE: Why financial independence looks different for young Canadians + MORE Mar 27th

Dilys D’Cruz didn’t grow up around open discussions about money. But now, she found a career in finance as the senior vice president of retail and wealth at Meridian Credit Union. She found that understanding and talking about money enables her to do what she loves, like travelling the world. With over 13 years of experience in the financial industry, D’Cruz now works with her own financial advisor to guide her with her budgeting, planning and financial goals. Here she shares her money heroes, her early memories about money, lessons and mistakes and more.

Newsletter

Get free MoneySense financial tips, news & advice in your inbox.

subscribe now

Who are your money/finance/investing heroes?

Likely a combination of many…

Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin first kindled the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) in their 1992 book Your Money or Your Life (Penguin Books), encouraging people to save aggressively, live frugally and challenge the bounds of a 9-to-5 work week. 

The idea flared up again around 2017, making personal finance headlines and going viral on social media. Minimalism gained traction, and young Canadians sought out work-life balance and financial freedom. Beyond its true adherents, FIRE remains a highly clickable topic. Who isn’t curious about the possibility of retiring decades ahead of schedule?  

Generation Z and millennials are all about finding financial independence—not just for early retirement but for flexibility and financial security. But while the aspirations may be there, reality has its own plans. A new study by advisory firm Edward Jones shows Canadians are feeling the pressure of the high cost of living and mounting debt. Fewer Canadians plan to contribute to their retirement savings this year (39%, down from 49%)…