Building Financial Skills for the Future: Forward Vision Games Collaborates to Strengthen Community Capacity

Financial and economic concerns dominate the thoughts of Canadians today, as rising living costs, housing affordability, job security, and the global impacts of tariffs and inflation create significant pressure. In this complex financial landscape, acquiring sound decision-making skills is essential—not merely a luxury—for fostering stable households, enhancing workforce productivity, and nurturing resilient communities. Unfortunately, many individuals lack access to these crucial skills.

Recent research highlights this educational gap. A 2024 Simplii Financial poll indicated that Canadians aged 18 to 34 rated their financial management abilities the lowest compared to older cohorts, with younger individuals nearly twice as likely to express a need for improved financial education. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s 2023–2024 Annual Report revealed that fewer than half of Canadians feel financially knowledgeable, underscoring the pressing need for more robust financial education initiatives.

"Like all important skills, financial skills are not innate. They must be learned," asserts Meaghan Daly, President and Founder of Forward Vision Games (FVG). This learning is especially vital for young people today who face a complex financial environment rife with digital banking and Buy Now Pay Later schemes, often lacking foundational knowledge necessary for informed decision-making.

To address these challenges, Meaghan Daly is committed to improving financial literacy and capacity within communities. FVG develops financial simulation games designed to teach essential financial skills crucial for the future workforce and entrepreneurship. These games provide participants with realistic scenarios where they make financial decisions and observe the outcomes, promoting experiential learning without the risk of real-world financial pitfalls. FVG partners with schools, training organizations, and workforce development programs to deliver scalable financial skills programming, specifically targeting participants aged 15 to 35. The platform measures outcomes, allowing partners to evaluate impacts on youth employment and worker readiness.

"Most people learn through experience, which can be costly when it involves money," Daly explains. "We offer a safer environment for learning, using pretend money to build financial acumen in an engaging way." This innovative approach helps fill the financial knowledge gap for those starting their economic lives without a safety net, fostering resilience and future success.

Daly's career began not in education but as a Senior Equity Trader on Bay Street, where she witnessed firsthand the ripple effects of economic crises like the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. Conversations during that time revealed a widespread lack of financial understanding among individuals across various wealth levels. This experience motivated her to volunteer in financial literacy initiatives, leading her to identify outdated teaching methods that failed to adapt to modern financial realities. Thus, Forward Vision Games was born to revolutionize financial education.

FVG also prioritizes Economic Reconciliation, integrating Indigenous perspectives on finance in its simulations. Over 50% of its participants identify as Indigenous, and in 2023, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indigenomics Institute to enhance economic empowerment through reconciliation. FVG is also expanding to include tailored learning tracks for newcomers and women.

"Our current vision is to leverage data effectively," says Daly. "Our gameplay style enables us to gain insights into participants’ financial behaviors, improving learning outcomes and allowing delivery partners to better serve their communities."

Forward Vision Games actively seeks partnerships with community training groups, employment programs, and organizations focused on skills development. Daly emphasizes the importance of collaboration among passionate educators and community leaders to foster financial empowerment for all.

As a woman-identifying founder in tech, Daly advises fellow entrepreneurs to cultivate curiosity about the journeys of successful founders. This approach has proven beneficial for expanding her network effectively.

With a strategic focus on data-driven scalability and partnerships, Forward Vision Games aims to foster a financially empowered future for everyone. For more information or to explore partnership opportunities, visit their website.