A new education program hopes to teach youth about investing and managing money expectations.
The Financial and Consumer Services Commissions of New Brunswick wants to create the campaign to target Gen Z.
The campaign is part of Investor Education Month, which happens every year in October, a national initiative that focuses on educating people about investment decisions, according to a news release from the commission.
The commission says young adults tend to use social media for investment information instead of the more traditional method of investment professionals.
A report on the 2024 Investor Index by Canadian Securities Administrators says 82 per cent of investors between 18 and 24 use social media for to find their investments.
“In an age where information is abundant and often overwhelming, it’s more crucial than ever for young people to have access to objective, unbiased resources,” wrote Marissa Sollows, the Commission’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs, in the release.
Sollows says the group wants to make sure young people think critically about finding information on social media, where “unqualified financial advice abounds.”
The commission is a self-funded crown corporation established by the provincial government in 2013. They regulate 40,000 people and businesses in the finance sector who “make their living working with New Brunswicker’s money,” according to the commission’s website.
For the 2024 campaign, the commission will release a series of videos designed to connect with young people on social media.
The commission will also create presentations for high school classrooms.
Sollows said this generation “tends to focus on living in the moment and prioritizing short-term satisfaction over long-term planning.”
“With the rise in fraudulent players in the investment world, it’s more important than ever to equip people with the tools they need to make informed decisions,” Sollows wrote.
