Sophia Wealth Academy History
History of Sophia Wealth Academy
From our first day in business at Sophia Financial Group, we made two promises: to deliver honest, transparent and effective financial advice and portfolio management services for our clients; and to be a source of financial wisdom, education and empowerment for women. We committed to giving one day a week of pro bono financial advice to anyone, regardless of their economic circumstances or life situation. New Canadians, seniors, single parents, the unemployed, hard workers who can’t get ahead, you name it, they have all graced our offices, along with Vancouver’s wealthiest citizens.
We’ve given our nights and weekends to deliver financial educational workshops to women’s organizations, not-for-profits, professional associations and networking groups. Anything that might assist a woman to improve her and her family’s ability to achieve their goals and have a better life, we taught ourselves or brought in an expert to teach. We became a community hub for knowledge and wisdom sharing.
We are stronger together than apart. And we will never lose sight of the power that is generated by women helping women help women. [TRACY THEEMES]
By 2010, it was clear that the biggest obstacle preventing people from accessing financial education was time. Our solution? Sophia Wealth Academy: a one-day event covering all the fundamentals of finance a woman needs to know. We started out at a community centre and all money raised went back to the centre. We value community.
As the money increased, we realized we needed to be more intentional about our gifting. At a networking event, I met the Executive Director of Dress for Success. She passionately explained her programs and the needs of the women they served. I looked her in the eyes and said, “Do you need money?” When she took me on a tour through their offices and showed me the hardhat and work-boots room, I was hooked.
We have enjoyed a partnership with DFS for over a decade. The money raised has helped countless women find their financial footing through career advice and ongoing professional coaching. We love the DFS mission, and we love the impact of their programs and the problems they solve. Every $199 Sophia Wealth Academy registration fee goes directly to Dress For Success, so a day of financial empowerment qualifies for a tax receipt of $125. Bonus!
We’re committed to giving every woman the opportunity to attend, even if it’s not in her budget. We’ve created a program where women can help their fellow women by sponsoring an attendee who can’t afford the fee. This ensures the room is inclusive, welcoming and diverse. We are all in this together. We will never lose sight of our guiding principle — women helping women help women.
For Sophia Wealth Academy 11, we’re back and better than ever! A welcoming space, recognized speakers and specialists, empowered learning, and connecting with others! We are humbled by the level of willingness to help and the degree of generosity people have in their hearts when they know they are needed.
Thank you. We look forward to seeing you there! It’s going to be a blast!