BREAKING NEWS: CAFE CONNECT – Empowering AFCCs to Grow and Transform Communities

Start Today and Grow with CAFE CONNECT

YOUR ALL-IN-ONE FINANCIAL PRACTICE IN A BOX

The Canadian Association for Financial Empowerment (CAFE) is proud to announce the launch of CAFE CONNECT, an innovative platform built exclusively for Canada. Designed to empower AFCC Alumni, Candidates, and professionals across industries, CAFE CONNECT is more than a tool—it’s a movement to bring equity, accessibility, and impact to financial counselling and beyond. It’s not planned for 2025, it’s available TODAY

Developed through the collaboration of William Moores, CEO of CAFE, and Sam Ingrassia, CEO of BudgetSimple, CAFE CONNECT bridges the gaps in client services, providing a uniquely Canadian, client-centric solution. This historic initiative empowers professionals to plant seeds of change in their communities, grow their practices, and transform the lives of Canadians when they need it most.

What is CAFE CONNECT?

CAFE CONNECT is a business-in-a-box platform that empowers professionals to create, grow, and manage their practices seamlessly. With unlimited client licenses, built-in Learning Management System (LMS) tools, pre-certified calculators, and customizable options, this platform adapts to any vision—whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey.

This platform was created to provide capacity where it didn’t exist before. For too long, individuals and agencies with a passion to serve their communities have been held back by resource limitations, inefficient tools, and inaccessible solutions. CAFE CONNECT changes all of that.

For AFCC Alumni: Elevate Your Practice

As a certified AFCC, you already hold Canada’s most trusted designation in financial counselling. Now, CAFE CONNECT enables you to elevate your work, expand your reach, and better serve your clients:

• Launch Your Practice Today: With a white-labeled platform that feels uniquely yours, you can start working with clients right away. Tailor your services to your brand and voice while offering best-in-class tools and calculators.

• Seamless Payment Processing: Simply connect your Stripe account to process payments for services, programs, or fee-for-service counselling directly within the platform.

• Create Customized Services: Use the LMS tools to develop courses, assessments, and resources tailored to the specific needs of your clients and community.

• Expand Your Reach: Build your practice ethically and sustainably while delivering value to your clients from Day One.

For AFCC Candidates: Build While You Learn

CAFE CONNECT bridges the gap between education and experience, offering candidates the opportunity to start their practice while working toward their certification hours:

• Earn Your Experience Hours: Every hour spent working with clients or delivering educational programs counts toward the 1,000-hour experience requirement for your AFCC designation.

• Launch Your Practice Immediately: Register your CAFE CONNECT platform and begin building your business while you pursue your designation.

• Learn While You Serve: The platform offers pre-built tools, calculators, and CAFE-certified courses so you can focus on growing your skills and confidence as you help your clients grow too.

By the time you’ve earned your designation, you’ll have a thriving business ready to take off.

Built for More Than Financial Counselling

While CAFE CONNECT was created with financial counselling in mind, its versatility makes it a powerful tool for professionals across industries.

• For Financial Institutions and Credit Unions: Build customized educational programs, mentor clients, and engage them like never before using the platform’s tools and CRM functionalities.

• For Multi-Service Agencies: Streamline operations and align services under a single system, from housing and mental health to financial literacy and addiction recovery.

• For Social Service Professionals: Offer tailored courses, manage client interactions, and measure progress—all while expanding your capacity to serve.

This platform ensures everyone has access to the tools they need to empower others, regardless of their background, focus, or size.

Features That Set CAFE CONNECT Apart

1. Unlimited Client Licenses: Work with as many clients as you need—no caps, no additional fees.

2. Seamless Payment Processing: Accept payments effortlessly through Stripe for all your services.

3. Customizable Course Builder (LMS): Create courses, resources, and assessments tailored to your passion, from financial counselling to niche areas like trauma recovery or divorce mediation.

4. Certified Tools and Pre-Built Content: Start engaging clients immediately with 20+ pre-certified tools, calculators, and CAFE-vetted courses.

5. Privacy and Security: Built for Canada, CAFE CONNECT meets the highest standards of data protection, ensuring trust and safety for you and your clients.

6. Website Integration: Whether it’s your first platform or an addition to your existing website, CAFE CONNECT integrates seamlessly and scales with your business.

A Movement for Canada: Planting Seeds of Change

CAFE CONNECT reflects our belief that empowerment grows from community and care. Like planting seeds in fertile soil, this platform enables professionals to nurture their clients’ growth, one step at a time.

Every professional who uses CAFE CONNECT adheres to the CAFE Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, creating a nationwide network of human-centric service providers united in their mission to empower Canadians.

“When an industry is united, communities are empowered.”

Start Today and Grow

The time to act is now. Whether you’re an AFCC Alumni ready to grow your practice, an AFCC Candidate eager to build your future, or an organization seeking to align services and expand your reach, CAFE CONNECT provides the tools to turn your vision into reality. Visit cafe-acaf.org today to get started.

Plant seeds of change in your community. Grow in your excellence. Help Canadians thrive when they need you most.

A Call to Organizations: Help Us Empower Canadians

At the Canadian Association for Financial Empowerment, we thrive on partnerships and support. As a nonprofit, we invite organizations who wish to sponsor our mission to join us in creating capacity for those who thought they couldn’t.

By sponsoring CAFE CONNECT or other initiatives, you contribute directly to building stronger communities and creating lasting, positive change.

If your organization feels the call to help, please reach out to us at partner@cafe-acaf.org.

When we grow, you grow. Together, we are stronger. When an industry is united, communities are empowered.