Charla Smith & Company Ltd.

11/02/2026

Happy Financial Literacy Month!

With AI increasing in use and sophistication, achieving financial literacy may be easier than ever. Just a couple of prompts, and you can find out everything you want to know about a financial topic. Right???

Well, hang on...

Be careful relying on AI for financial advice. It is not yet good enough to produce correct answers, especially if your question is at all complex.

Read our blog for more information on this:

https://csmithco.ca/pages/be-careful-trusting-ai-with-financial-advice

09/19/2026

At Charla Smith & Company, we have seen first-hand the negative impact that private career colleges sometimes have.

For many students, enrolling in a private career college involves taking on student loans or other debt, leaving or reducing paid work, and trusting that the program will lead to real job opportunities. Too often in Alberta, the benefits have failed to materialize while the costs have been very real.

We are optimistic that stronger rules, greater transparency, and more government support will reduce the risk of private career college students ending up in an untenable financial situation.

For more information, see our blog: https://csmithco.ca/pages/alberta-new-rules-for-private-career-colleges-2

07/18/2026

Excelling in your trade doesn't automatically prepare you to run a successful business. That requires a whole new set of skills.

If you're getting started as a business owner, the right planning and professional guidance can help you avoid business insolvency and build a company that thrives for years to come. Read our blog for advice on getting started.

https://csmithco.ca/pages/how-to-avoid-insolvency-when-starting-your-own-business-as-a-tradesperson

06/12/2026

Just as money problems can strain relationships, the breakdown of those relationships can lead to debt. In this blog, we discuss why and what you can do to manage money and debt in the wake of a relationship breakdown.

https://csmithco.ca/pages/the-debt-impact-from-relationship-breakdowns

05/09/2026

In 2024, 137,295 Canadians filed for insolvency.

Anyone who works in the field of insolvency knows that the profile of a person who makes an insolvency filing doesn’t fit one stereotype.

However, the latest release from the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy on the Canadian Consumer Debtor Profile from 2024 provides some interesting summarized information about debtors.

https://csmithco.ca/pages/debt-reality-in-canada-consumer-debtor-profile

04/11/2026

We regularly meet with people who have a long history of managing their finances responsibly, but everything changed after an unexpected health challenge entered the picture. When you combine reduced income, higher expenses, and delays in support, it is not hard to understand why debt becomes a part of the picture.

Health issues and disabilities can change a person’s life in ways that go far beyond the medical diagnosis. When those changes lead to debt, making a plan to deal with the debt helps you focus your energy on fixing the situation, and the reduction of stress may even help you in managing your health issues as well.

https://csmithco.ca/pages/medical-issues-and-debt-how-medical-issues-and-disability-can-lead-to-debt-and-what-support-exists

12/05/2025

Financial Literacy Month is over, and we thank you for checking out our series of new blogs during November.

It's time to announce the latest organization that Charla Smith & Company is supporting:

THE CALGARY FOOD BANK

The Calgary Food Bank is the first line of emergency food support for people facing crisis. They receive almost no government funding and instead rely mainly on donations.

If you are able, please consider supporting the food bank. If you are struggling to afford food, there are many organizations that can organize a referral to the food bank for you. Reach out to us if you need more information on this.

Together, we fight hunger and its root causes because no one should go hungry.