Three-tier financial safety net illustration

Building a Three-Tier Financial Safety Net

When people talk about a financial safety net, they usually mean an emergency fund. But if you zoom out a bit, there are actually three layers to a proper safety net. And one thing quietly ties all three together: your saving rate. First layer: Employment Insurance (EI) Before you say “duh”, pause for a second and ask yourself: do you actually know how long your EI would last? Different countries have different EI policies. As of this writing, Canadians can receive up to 55% of their earnings, capped at $695 per week, for a maximum of 45 weeks. ...

December 29, 2025 · 5 min · Junlin