Save while you (don’t) sleep.
Being a parent means you’re always on. The Embark Student RESP is always on too. It’s the only RESP that adjusts to maximize savings as your child grows.
Easy to open. Fast to grow.
$0
upfront cost to get started
8 minutes
to open an RESP online
18.33%
investment return in 2024¹
$7,200
or more in federal and provincial government grants
Children grow fast.
Your RESP should too.
A best-in-class RESP
An Embark RESP uses a Glidepath strategy, built to grow your savings early and protects it as school gets closer. We’ll watch over your investment, while you focus on what really matters—raising your kids.
Government grants are our specialty
We make sure you get every dollar you qualify for. Add to your RESP and get a 20% government grant match, up to $500 a year and $7,200 total (or more, depending on where you live). No grant money gets left behind.
The most flexible RESP
Whether it’s every month or once a year, you set the schedule that works for you and your budget. You can stop or change or withdraw contributions from home, anytime.
Not all RESPs are created equal.
At Embark, we do one thing, and we do it better than anyone else: helping you get the most out of your education savings.
| Embark | 5 big banks² | |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5+ stars on Google | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time to open | 8 minutes | 1 hour³ |
| Minimum investment | $0 | More than $400⁴ |
| Investment fees | 1.65% | 2.02%⁵ |
| Glidepath investment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Intelligent alerts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Personalized goals | ✓ | ✗ |
| RESP Gifting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Online withdrawals | ✓ | ✗ |
| Exclusive offers from our partners | ✓ | ✗ |
More than just an RESP
Digital-first
No money left behind
RESP gifting
No minimums
Add as you grow
Exclusive offers
What is a Glidepath strategy?
Our best-in-class Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is designed to maximize growth potential in the early years and reduce risk as school approaches – so you can plan for their future with confidence.
Early Years
When your child is young, we focus on higher-growth investments to help build your savings.
Middle Years
As your child gets closer to high school, we gradually shift to a more balanced mix of growth and stability.
Final Years
As post-secondary approaches, we prioritize protecting your savings by moving into lower-risk investments.
Big futures, real costs.
Tuition & Books
The average cost of university tuition in Canada is $7,100 a year. Saving just $100 a month puts you on track to cover three years. And if they go to college instead? You’ll be covered.
Residence & Meals
Living on campus can cost up to $30,000 a year. Saving around $208 a month helps you maximize your grants, and could cover most of those residence costs.
Save for the unexpected
One year of college or eight years of university? We’ll help you build the right savings plan no matter what they choose.
Around 60% of Canadians save for tuition first and
contribute an average of $100 a month.
Today, you pack lunch.
Tomorrow, you pay tuition.
Most banks make withdrawing from your RESP complicated: Think paperwork, appointments, and endless waiting. But with Embark, accessing your savings is simple, smart, and stress-free.
Easy online withdrawals
Withdraw online anytime—no paperwork, no branch visits. Track your money in real time and know exactly when it’s arriving, so you can stay focused on what matters most.
Smart withdrawal strategies
We help you withdraw grants and earnings first, so your contributions last longer and you minimize taxes. More savings for them, fewer surprises for you.
Planning for every child
Have more than one child? No problem. We help you manage your RESP carefully so there’s enough for every child’s education.
Frequently asked questions
If not now, when?
Saving even $5 per week could add up to a full term of tuition. The earlier you start, the more you benefit. Get started now, it only takes a few minutes.
Useful resources
Legal disclaimers
1. *Returns reflect cohort with children born 2024-2026 which has a 90% equity allocation. Past performance is not an indicator of future returns.
2. Big 5 Canadian Banks: BMO, TD, RBC, Scotiabank and CIBC.
3. Based on estimated in-branch RESP Onboarding, including completion of new account opening and RESP forms.
4. Average Canadian mutual fund minimum investment. Per 2024 Series A Fund Facts: BMO Targeted Education 2040 Portfolio; BMO Select Trust Conservative.
5. Average per 2024 Series A Fund Facts: BMO Targeted Education 2040 Portfolio; BMO Select Trust Conservative Portfolio; RBC Targeted Education Fund 2040; RBC Select Choices Conservative Portfolio; Scotia Selected Balanced Income Portfolio; Scotia Partners Balanced Income; TD Comfort Balanced Growth Portfolio.
6. In compliance with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ (“IESBA”) Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, the auditor is required to publicly disclose the audit and non-audit fees charged to public interest entities, including Embark Student Plan and Embark Select Conservative Plan, on an annual basis.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, fees paid or payable to KPMG LLP and its network firms for the audit of the financial statements of Embark Student Plan, and Embark Select Conservative Plan were $282,500. Fees for other services were $172,980.