Building Financial Confidence Since 2018
We started with a simple belief: everyone deserves to understand their money without the jargon, pressure, or false promises.
Explore Our Approach
Our Story Began with Real Questions
Back in 2018, I was sitting in a coffee shop in Edmonton, listening to a friend stress about her retirement savings. She had decent income but felt completely lost about investing. The financial advisor she'd met with earlier that week had thrown around terms like "asset allocation" and "risk tolerance" without really explaining what they meant for her life.
That conversation stuck with me. Why should understanding money feel so intimidating? And why do so many resources either oversimplify to the point of being useless, or overcomplicate things with industry speak?
Oldex Ancient grew from that frustration. We wanted to create something different – education that respects your intelligence while actually making sense of the financial world.
How We've Grown
The Beginning
Started with weekend workshops in Sherwood Park community centers. Our first group had twelve people – mostly neighbors and friends who wanted to understand investing basics without the sales pitch.
Going Digital
Moved online during the pandemic and discovered we could reach people across Alberta and beyond. Our decision-tree approach to learning really clicked in the digital format.
Expanding Content
Added specialized tracks for different life stages and goals. Turns out, a 25-year-old just starting out needs different guidance than someone planning retirement in five years.
Community Focus
Launched our peer learning groups where participants help each other work through real financial decisions. Some of our best insights come from these discussions.
What We Actually Do
Decision Trees
We walk you through financial choices step-by-step, like choosing between RRSP and TFSA contributions based on your actual situation.
Real Examples
Every concept comes with practical scenarios – not theoretical cases, but situations our participants actually face.
Sequential Learning
Start with emergency funds, move to debt strategy, then basic investing. Each step builds naturally on the previous one.
No Sales Pressure
We don't sell financial products or earn commissions. Our only goal is helping you make informed decisions.
We focus on the fundamentals that actually matter for most people: understanding risk, building diversified portfolios with low-cost options, and matching your investments to your timeline and goals. Nothing fancy, just solid principles explained clearly.
Meet Our Founder
The person behind Oldex Ancient's approach to financial education
Marcus Thornfield
Founder & Chief Education Officer
Marcus spent twelve years in corporate finance before realizing he preferred teaching people about money over managing it for institutions. He holds a CFA designation but believes the best financial education happens in plain English. When he's not developing curriculum, you'll find him hiking in the Canadian Rockies or experimenting with sourdough recipes. He started Oldex Ancient because he thinks everyone deserves to feel confident about their financial decisions, regardless of their starting point or account balance.