It’s Never Too Late to Start an RESP, And It’s About More Than Just Saving
When it comes to saving for a child’s future, it’s easy to think, “We should have started this sooner.”
Maybe your child is already in school. Maybe they’re a teenager. Maybe you just became a grandparent and are wondering if you can still help.
The good news? It’s never too late to start looking at an RESP.
An RESP — Registered Education Savings Plan — is designed to help families save for a child’s post-secondary education, including university, college, trade school and other eligible educational programs.
But an RESP isn't simply about putting money away and hoping it grows.
It’s about creating future options.
Post-secondary education can be expensive. Tuition, books, housing, transportation and everyday living expenses can add up quickly.
Starting an RESP gives you an opportunity to build an education fund over time and potentially take advantage of government education savings incentives, depending on eligibility.
And the earlier you start, the more time your savings potentially have to grow.
But if your child is older, don't automatically assume you've missed your opportunity.
There may still be options available.
What if my child is already a teenager?
This is one of the questions I hear often.
Parents sometimes think, “They're 15 — what's the point now?”
The answer is: let's look at what can still be done.
Every family's situation is different. The amount you contribute, your child's age, previous contributions and eligibility for government incentives can all affect what may be available.
That's why I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.
As an independent financial advisor, I want to understand your family, your goals and where you're starting from — and then help you determine what makes sense for you.
An RESP can be part of a bigger financial plan
Saving for education doesn't have to compete with every other financial goal you have.
Your family may also be thinking about:
Buying a home
Paying down the mortgage
Building retirement savings
Protecting your family with life insurance
Preparing for unexpected expenses
Helping your children become financially independent
The goal isn't simply to open an RESP and forget about it.
It's about making education savings one piece of your family's overall financial plan.
And sometimes the biggest gift isn't the money.
It's the opportunity.
An RESP can help give your child more choices when they graduate high school.
Maybe they want to go to university.
Maybe it's college.
Maybe it's a trade.
Maybe their plans change completely.
We don't know exactly what their future will look like — and that's okay.
We're not saving for one specific future. We're helping create possibilities.
And right now, there’s an extra reason to get started!
From September 1 to October 15, 2026, I'm running an RESP Contest for families who open a new RESP with Jubinville Financial.
Whether your child is newborn or 17, it's worth having the conversation.
Don't let the thought of “we should have started sooner” stop you from starting now.
Small steps today can help create big opportunities tomorrow.
If you've been thinking about opening an RESP or you're wondering whether it's still worthwhile for an older child, let's talk.
I'm here to make the process simple, personal and easy to understand.
Jubinville Financial
📲 Contact Kristin at Jubinville Financial to learn more about starting an RESP for your child or grandchild.
Contest eligibility and winning is based on number of entries. Government grant eligibility is subject to applicable program rules.
