The Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick published findings from its latest consumer survey indicating that gender, disability and newcomer status are key barriers to financial confidence and effective engagement with financial products, alongside growing risks linked to increased online financial activity. Respondents living with disabilities reported lower confidence in managing their finances (72% versus 89% for those without disabilities), while 11% of women described themselves as very knowledgeable about financial matters compared with 33% of men. The survey also found persistent comprehension and cost issues across financial products, with 25% reporting unexpected fees, 23% struggling to understand contract language and 22% finding products confusing, with newcomers and people with disabilities most affected. Online channels are increasingly used for borrowing and investing, including nearly one in five recent borrowers obtaining a loan online, and a shift toward DIY or hybrid investing as reliance on financial advisors fell by nine percentage points. Against this backdrop, the share of New Brunswickers reporting monetary losses to scams rose by four percentage points in 2024, with cryptocurrency scams accounting for 23% of incidents and newcomers representing 20% of those who lost money. The survey was completed online by 601 New Brunswick adults between February 15 and 27, 2025, with results weighted by age, gender and county and a stated maximum margin of error of plus or minus 4.0 percentage points. The Commission noted the findings are used to inform its financial literacy and consumer protection programming.

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