About The Parent Money File

Hi, I'm Penny.

My family came to Canada when I was young. My parents worked hard to build a life here, but English has never come easily to them, and neither has technology. So, like a lot of kids in immigrant families, I took on grown-up responsibilities early. That included a lot of the family's paperwork, and a lot of its money.

Nobody sat me down and taught me personal finance. I learned it on my own, for myself, a little at a time. I was raised to value education, and that's what led me to become a scientist. Science taught me to go straight to the primary source, check every fact, and validate everything. It's how I taught myself about finances, and it's how every guide on this site is researched. As I figured out how to make the most of my own money, I started helping manage some of my parents' finances too.

Why I started The Parent Money File

When you're the one helping a parent with money, the questions come thick and fast. What does this letter from the government mean? What will the bank need to see? Who do I call, and what do I bring? What happens next?

The answers are out there, but they're scattered across government websites, bank pages, and law firm articles, each covering one small piece. What I wanted, and couldn't find, was one place that explained the whole thing in plain language, in the order it actually happens.

So I'm building it.

You don't need a finance degree for this

Whether your parents came from across the world or grew up down the street, whether you're an only child or one of six, whether you live next door or a plane ride away, this job tends to land on someone. If it has landed on you, you don't need to be an expert to do it well. You need clear information, a bit of organization, and someone to walk you through it one step at a time.

That's what this site is for.

What you'll find here

• Guides that walk through each task from start to finish, from the first conversation with your parents to settling the estate.
• Canadian information, starting with Ontario, with every guide labelled with the province it covers.
• Official sources for everything, linked at the end of each guide so you can check for yourself.
• A date on every guide, and a schedule for rechecking them, because rules and amounts change.

What you won't find here

I'm not a lawyer, an accountant, or a financial advisor, and this site doesn't give legal, financial, tax, or investment advice. I also can't answer questions about your family's situation. When a decision needs a professional, the guides will say so and explain what kind of professional can help. You can read more about how the guides are researched and reviewed.