Congratulations! Now that your Bankruptcy or Consumer Proposal is completed, you are in the next phase of taking control of your finances.

Does this sound all too familiar? You started out with the usual plan for most Canadians — get a job, buy a home and save for retirement. As retirement approached, you expected your mortgage would be paid off and you would have a pension or nest egg....

Many life-changing events are unpredictable. Coping with them is taxing enough without adding steep financial challenges into the mix.

Serious debt is rarely a stand-alone problem. It’s often the result of other factors which either parallel or contribute to financial distress.

​When someone starts talking about financial goals what's the first thing that comes to your mind? Money for retirement? Investing? Taking a cruise around the world? Saving for university for your children?

Sometimes life doesn’t turn out the way we expected and we find ourselves overwhelmed with debt.

Owing money to a family member or friend can spark anxiety. You may believe you don’t have to include these types of debts in a Bankruptcy or Consumer Proposal.

Buying a home is an important life event for many Canadians. However, this will generally consume a significant portion of your family’s income to service the mortgage, pay property taxes and utilities and stay on top of repairs and maintenance.

Often, people are uncomfortable speaking openly about their debt and its impact on their personal well-being.

Despite the Bank of Canada stating it will keep interest rates stable until next year, more than 6 in 10 (62%) Atlantic Canadians say they are more concerned about their ability to repay debts than they used to be — the highest proportion compared to...