Canadians might be struggling with the high cost of living and heavy debt loads, but their investment strategies and discipline make them some of the most financially astute people globally, according to new ranking.

Canada ranks third among the most money-savvy nations in the world, behind only Switzerland and Sweden, according to a report from investor comparison site BrokerChooser, which combined household savings and financial assets into a “financial discipline score.”

Overall, Canada finished with a score of 8.77 out of 10, with the average household saving about 5.8 per cent of their income, and nearly 22 per cent of their investment funds going into financial assets.

Canadians also have US$236,004 in financial assets per household and an asset to gross income ratio of 6.29, both of which helped the country score highly.

“Canada takes the bronze medal, boasting the highest per cent of residents’ investment funds in financial assets,” the report said. “More than a fifth (21.96 per cent) of the country’s assets are in the form of investments, reflecting previous findings from BrokerChooser demonstrating Canadians’ common curiosity into stocks and shares.”

Top-ranked Sweden scored a 9.54 out of 10. Belgium (8.66) and Denmark (8.52) rounded out the top five.

“(Switzerland) ranks high for several metrics analyzed by BrokerChooser, and leads for the per cent of household income in savings,” the report said. “Almost a fifth of the nation’s income goes into savings: more than triple the amount of Canada in third place.”

The United States with a score of eight came in eighth, while the United Kingdom (6.25) finished 24th of the 31 nations studied.

While the report suggests Canadians are smart investors, it may not tell the whole story. More than half of Canadians would struggle to pay their bills if they missed a single paycheque, according to a recent

report from Employment Hero.

Meanwhile, 45 per cent of Canadians say just one unexpected expense would hurt their finances, while 32 per cent say a single $5,000 expense would put them into debt, according

to Fig Financial Inc.

Additionally, Equifax Canada reports that close to 1.4 million Canadians missed a credit card payment in the second quarter of 2025.

BrokerChooser recommends Canadians looking to grow their savings accounts automate their investing, create feasible investment targets, invest early and review finances monthly.

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Many Canadians may be living without access to California wines or Kentucky bourbon, but it’s a sacrifice they seem willing to live accept.

Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia are among the provinces to boycott U.S. booze in a measure meant to fight back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The boycott has cost the U.S. industry billions in sales.

Jack Daniel’s maker Brown‑Forman Corp. said net sales in Canada plummeted more than 60 per cent in the first half of the 2026 fiscal year.

Today, nearly 75 per cent of Canadians still support the move, with 20 per cent indicating it might be time to reintroduce U.S. alcohol to store shelves.

Read more here.

  • Today’s Data: Statistics Canada population estimates, U.S. retail sales for November, U.S. existing home sales for December
  • Earnings: Bank of America Corp., Wells Fargo & Co., Citigroup Inc.

 

  • ‘Toronto is on fire’: Canada’s biggest office market seeing surge in demand as workers return
  • David Rosenberg: When no one is calling for a recession or market crash, here’s what usually happens
  • China to offer canola relief for easing EV curbs during Carney visit
  • Canada isn’t the only one proposing a wealth tax, but it can learn a lesson from this American example

“Lifestyle drives everything.” If you are struggling to decide whether you have enough saved for retirement, FP Answers lays out the steps you need to take to determine if your savings will meet your bills in the future.

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Interested in energy? The subscriber-only FP West: Energy Insider newsletter brings you exclusive reporting and in-depth analysis on  one of the country’s most important sectors.

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Are you worried about having enough for retirement? Do you need to adjust your portfolio? Are you starting out or making a change and wondering how to build wealth? Are you trying to make ends meet? Drop us a line at wealth@postmedia.com with your contact info and the gist of your problem and we’ll find some experts to help you out while writing a Family Finance story about it (we’ll keep your name out of it, of course).

McLister on mortgages

Want to learn more about mortgages? Mortgage strategist Robert McLister’s

Financial Post column

can help navigate the complex sector, from the latest trends to financing opportunities you won’t want to miss. Plus check his

mortgage rate page

for Canada’s lowest national mortgage rates, updated daily.

Financial Post on YouTube

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YouTube channel

for interviews with Canada’s leading experts in business, economics, housing, the energy sector and more.

Today’s Posthaste was written by Ben Cousins with additional reporting from Financial Post staff, The Canadian Press and Bloomberg.

Have a story idea, pitch, embargoed report, or a suggestion for this newsletter? Email us at 

posthaste@postmedia.com

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  • Tightening our belts is becoming a Canadian way of life
  • Why 2026 may mark an ‘inflection point’ for Canada’s economy

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