Education
Start saving when they’re young with a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and have enough to pay for college or university.
Invest in a child’s future with an ATB RESP.
Help grow their education savings with a tax-deferred RESP from ATB. See how much to save for school with our RESP calculator.
Maximize their RESP with grants
Take advantage of government grants while saving for your kid's education—whether they end up going to university, college, an apprenticeship program or trade school.
Connect with an ATB Wealth advisor.Pick your own investment solutions
Choose from a range of investment savings options, registered GICs and mutual funds. See your education savings grow over time and in time for graduation.
See investment optionsGuided online investing for RESPs
Open a child’s RESP online with ATB Prosper® to save for their education. Start with just $100 and enjoy an annual bonus and guided support from financial advisors.
Find out moreFind the education investments that work for you.
Invest for a fixed term
Non-Redeemable GIC
Feel secure knowing your returns are guaranteed. With available terms from 30 days to 5 years, select one that's right for your retirement goals.
Invest by year
Springboard GIC®
A GIC with flexible terms and reliable returns. Redeemable annually, so you decide how long to make your money work for you.
Invest for the greatest potential growth
Compass™ Maximum Growth Portfolio
Invest in an internationally-diversified group of equities offering the highest potential growth of any Compass Portfolio.
Invest for higher equity, higher rewards
Compass™ Growth Portfolio
Play the long game with a collection of Canadian and international equities with higher risk and higher potential returns.
Invest for sure and steady growth
Compass™ Balanced Growth Portfolio
Weather market fluctuations with a diverse group of equities balancing low-to-medium-risk investments designed for stable growth.
Invest for the long haul
Compass™ Balanced Portfolio
Balance risk and reward with longer-term, lower-risk income investments that produce modest, stable returns.
Invest for income and steady growth
Compass™ Conservative Balanced Portfolio
Build income and capital appreciation with fixed-income investments and a small exposure to equity for steady growth potential.
Invest for stable, steady returns
Compass™ Conservative Portfolio
Get a high percentage of fixed-income securities plus a small exposure to equity to help shield you from market fluctuations.
Invest in fixed-income securities
Fixed Income Pool
Enjoy a steady stream of income with modest growth aimed at preserving your savings.
Invest in Canadian equities
Canadian Equity Pool
Round out your portfolio with Canadian equities. Customize the balance of your investments and your exposure to Canadian markets.
Invest in US equities
US Equity Pool
Round out your portfolio with US equities. Customize the balance of your investments and your exposure to US markets.
Invest in international equities
International Equity Pool
Invest beyond borders with international equities. Customize the balance of your investments and your exposure to global markets.
What is a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)?
Education and RESP advice for parents and guardians
Understanding RESP options in Alberta
RESP overview: Limits, grants, and what to do if life plans change.
Read article
What do I need to set up an RESP?
There are three basic documents needed to set up an RESP.
Read article
Maximize your RESP contributions
Government grants: your contributions are matched up to 20%.
Read article
How to withdraw money from an RESP
To withdraw funds you'll need to complete some steps for validation.
Read articleFrequently Asked Questions
When saving for your child's education through an RESP, the Government of Canada will help with special saving incentives including the Canada education savings grant (CESG) and the Canada learning bond (CLB).
Current rules allow you to contribute a lifetime maximum of $50,000 per child. There's no annual contribution limit.
No you don't—the choice is yours. You can choose from individual plans (one beneficiary/child) or family plans (multiple beneficiaries/children).
All money in the plan grows tax free until it’s withdrawn for your child to use for post-secondary school. Government contributions along with interest income on both personal and government contributions are taxable as income upon withdrawal. Personal contributions were taxed prior to making the contribution, and so are exempt from further taxation when withdrawn. The bottom line: because most students fall within a lower income bracket with little to no income, the income tax students typical pay on money withdrawn from their RESP is low.
We get it—plans change. Your options include:
- Designating an alternate beneficiary
- Transferring the income earned (up to a maximum of $50,000) into an RRSP, provided there is unused contribution room in the RRSP
- Withdrawing the funds
- Donating the income earned to a post-secondary institution
Yes, anyone can contribute—not just the parents of the child.
ATB Wealth is a specialized division of ATB Financial.ATB Wealth is proud to serve 113,700 clients across more than 250 advisors, with over $43.2 billion in assets under administration.1
ATB Wealth is committed to making innovative and inclusive wealth management approaches available to everyone—not just a select few. With disciplined investment strategies, proactive advice and deeply personalized service, ATB Wealth transforms the advisor-client relationship and helps clients grow their investments and improve their financial wellness.
Offering guidance and solutions to help our clients navigate life confidently, ATB Wealth is the partner for deeply personalized planning and advice that evolves as priorities or the markets change.
ATB RESP calculator
The RESP calculator allows you to figure out how much you need to save for post-secondary education.
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1As of June 2026.
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Mutual Funds and other securities are offered through ATB Wealth.
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