Parents
Build education savings gradually while children are growing.
RESP & EDUCATION PLANNING
Help build a brighter future for your children.
A Registered Education Savings Plan can help families save for a child's future education while potentially benefiting from government incentives. Gisele can help you create a practical education savings strategy that fits your family's goals and budget.
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Education Savings
Build dedicated savings for your child's future education.
Government Incentives
Eligible contributions may attract government incentives such as the CESG.
Flexible Planning
Choose a contribution strategy that works with your family's budget.
Long-Term Growth
Starting earlier can provide more time for savings and investment growth.
What is an RESP?
A Registered Education Savings Plan, or RESP, is a registered account designed to help save for a beneficiary's post-secondary education. Contributions can be invested within the plan, and eligible families may receive government education incentives that can add to their savings.
Who is an RESP designed for?
RESPs can be useful for families who want to intentionally set aside money for a child's future education.
New Parents
Starting early provides the longest possible saving horizon.
Growing Families
Coordinate education savings alongside other family financial priorities.
Newcomer Families
Understand how Canada's education savings system and incentives work.
Grandparents & Family
Family members may want to contribute toward a child's future education.
Why starting early can make a difference
Education may feel years away when your child is young, but starting earlier gives your contributions more time to accumulate and potentially grow. It can also make education savings easier to manage by spreading contributions over a longer period instead of trying to catch up later.
Small contributions made consistently can become part of a much bigger opportunity for your child.
What can an RESP help you prepare for?
RESP savings can support eligible post-secondary education costs when the beneficiary attends a qualifying program.
Tuition
Help prepare for future college, university, or other eligible education costs.
Books & Supplies
Education savings can help reduce pressure from study-related expenses.
Living Expenses
Help support eligible education-related living costs.
Transportation
Education costs can extend beyond tuition, particularly when students study away from home.
Financial Flexibility
Create a dedicated education fund instead of relying entirely on future household income.
Reduced Borrowing Pressure
Building savings can help reduce reliance on future student borrowing.
How RESP savings can grow
An RESP combines your family's contributions with potential investment growth and, when eligible, government education incentives.
Your Contributions
You decide how much and how often to contribute within applicable RESP rules.
- Regular or occasional contributions
- Strategy can reflect your household budget
- Contributions can change as circumstances change
Government Incentives
Eligible RESP beneficiaries may receive government incentives such as the Canada Education Savings Grant.
- CESG may add to eligible contributions
- Additional incentives may be available depending on eligibility
- Detailed calculations belong in the RESP Guide
Investment Growth
Funds inside an RESP can generally be invested according to the available plan options and your strategy.
- Longer timelines may provide more opportunity for growth
- Investment choices should reflect time horizon and risk tolerance
- Strategy can become more conservative as education approaches
How education planning works
The goal is not simply to open an account. It is to build an education savings strategy your family can maintain.
Define your education goals
Discuss your child's age, expected timeline, family priorities, and the amount you hope to save.
Build a contribution strategy
Determine a realistic contribution approach based on your household budget and available incentives.
Choose an investment approach
Select appropriate available investment options based on your timeline and circumstances.
Review as your child grows
Adjust contributions and investment strategy as education gets closer and family circumstances change.
What affects your RESP strategy?
Unlike insurance premiums, RESP planning is primarily about contribution capacity, timeline, incentives, and investment strategy.
Child's Age
The number of years before post-secondary education affects the savings timeline.
Starting Balance
Existing education savings affect how much additional saving may be needed.
Contribution Amount
Your regular contribution level has a major impact on projected savings.
Government Incentives
Eligibility for CESG and other programs can affect the overall strategy.
Time Horizon
More time before education generally provides greater planning flexibility.
Investment Approach
Expected growth and investment risk depend on the options selected.
Why work with Gisele?
Education planning involves more than choosing an RESP. Gisele can help you understand how education savings fit alongside your family's other priorities and create a contribution approach that feels sustainable.
- Understand RESP fundamentals in plain language
- Learn how government incentives fit into your strategy
- Set a realistic contribution target
- Coordinate education savings with other family goals
- Review and adjust the strategy as your child grows
Common questions
PLAN AHEAD
RESP & Education Guides
Go deeper into contribution rules, grants, withdrawals, and education planning.
RESP: The Complete Guide for Parents
Understand how RESPs work, government incentives, contributions, and withdrawals.
Read More
How the CESG Works
Learn how eligible RESP contributions can receive federal education grants.
Read More
RESP Contribution Limits Explained
Understand contribution limits and how they affect long-term education planning.
Read More
Give your child's education more time to grow.
Talk with Gisele about building an RESP contribution strategy that fits your family, your timeline, and your financial priorities.