"Taking early first steps to earn, save & invest" is a dominant theme of essays in 2014 Bridgehouse Scholarship Program

Nearly 5,000 Canadian students vie for ten $2,000 scholarships from Bridgehouse Asset Managers

Bridgehouse Asset Managers President Carol Lynde calls top submissions "encouraging, smart and indicative of growing investor knowledge among young Canadians"

TORONTO, Aug. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - Canada's youth are expressing their money personalities in ways that Canada's Bridgehouse Asset Managers President Carol Lynde calls "encouraging, smart and indicative of growing investor knowledge among young Canadians." For the third consecutive year, the Bridgehouse Scholarship Program (BSP) outpaced previous year submissions and today releases the winning essays at www.bridgehousescholarship.com/2014-winners/.

"The lessons I have learnt are these: continue budgeting, deepen my personal education on investment plans, inquire with a trustworthy professional and begin now," writes 20-year-old winner Caroline, one of nearly 5,000 Canadian students between 16-22 who took the Money Personality Quiz and submitted a 400- to 500-word essay explaining what they learned about their inner financial self. Winner Alexandre writes that the BSP is "an eye-opener to the fact that I am 21 years old and ready to take the first steps into the world of investing."

"I feel empowered to make small, smart investments that can earn money for me and lead to a more financially stable future," writes 20-year-old winner Kari.

The 10 winning submissions, selected by a panel of investment advisors who are passionate about promoting financial knowledge to young Canadians, showed off an eclectic mix of money personalities, but all had one thing in common—growing investor knowledge. 

The BSP (formerly known as the Brandes Scholarship Program) is designed to impart lifelong lessons in investment knowledge and is aimed at helping young Canadians as they move into their earning—and saving—years. With this year's award value doubling to $2,000 per student, Canada's future investors got creative with even greater incentive to learn more about finances and investments and, in the process, to secure the cognitive tools to implement sound financial strategies.

"Since the BSP began in 2012, we are seeing more and more young Canadians ready, willing and able to take those important early first steps to earn, save and invest," says Lynde. "It is imperative the next generation takes responsibility for its financial future and we're starting to see this happen."

The 2014 BSP winners are:

Paige, 21, British Columbia	Alexandre, 21, Ontario
Steven, 20, Ontario	Tia, 21, Alberta
Kari, 20, Manitoba	Thanisara (Sarah), 17, Alberta
Imanjit, 22, British Columbia	Caroline, 20, Ontario
Alana, 18, Ontario	Julianna, 22, British Columbia

The 2014 judging panel includes:

Carol Lynde (Bridgehouse Asset Managers), Annie Desrosiers (Vachon Group), Rod Tyler (Tyler & Associates), Jean Marier (Laurentian Bank Securities), Don Macfarlane (Assante Financial Management), Jeremy Clark (Clark Hetherington Financial Limited) and Natalie Sears (National Bank Financial Wealth Management).

About the Bridgehouse Scholarship Program:
This program is Bridgehouse Asset Managers' initiative to advance investor knowledge and financial responsibility among Canadian youth. The Bridgehouse Scholarship Program and the Money Personality Quiz were specifically developed to address recommendations from the federal Task Force on Financial Literacy. In February 2010, the Canadian government launched this Task Force to investigate the financial literacy of Canadians of all ages. It released its recommendations on how to improve financial literacy for all Canadians in its February 2011 report, Canadians and Their Money.

About Bridgehouse:
Bridgehouse Asset Managers (Bridgehouse), a trade name of Brandes Investment Partners & Co., offers time-tested investment solutions to Canadians, leveraging the expertise of three world-class investment managers. In everything it does, Bridgehouse is committed to partnering with investment professionals to help Canadians reach their financial goals and become smarter investors.

Bridgehouse is defined by its:

• Independence in ownership and thinking, which enables it to truly align with clients' goals, and do the right thing for client portfolios and businesses today and tomorrow.
• Dedication to advancing investor knowledge, demonstrated through its commitment to developing investor knowledge initiatives that help Canadians make informed decisions.
• Commitment to its community, dedicating time and financial support to charities that positively impact the lives of Canadians and make a real difference in their communities.

For more about Bridgehouse, visit: bridgehousecanada.com.

Image with caption: "Birdgehouse Scholarship Program (CNW Group/Bridgehouse Asset Managers)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140815_C2205_PHOTO_EN_4868.jpg

SOURCE: Bridgehouse Asset Managers

Jessica Patriquin, H2 Central Marketing & Communications, 416.862.2800 x 269, [email protected]