Success Stories

We are so glad we decided to join Debt Freedom back in 2004. At the time, Dawn was a stay-at-home mom, while Jeff for many years worked at a local automotive plant. It was really tough making ends meet on one full-time income; but with the price of daycare, we could not see the benefit in Dawn working outside the home—then we learned about Debt Freedom.

At that time, we had no idea what the future held for us. We were not business people, but were always ready to learn something new, and were excited (although a bit nervous) about this new venture. Dawn had planned to start on a part-time basis, but given the market, was quite surprised at how quickly got busy, and we soon received our promotion to ESDs within the company.

Although Jeff’s job at the automotive plant has supported us quite well, we never really began to live until we started our own business!!! Now, the harder we work, the more we get paid. We have so much flexibility with our schedule, to be able to attend every hockey game, dance recital and field trip we want to. Our family (kids included) view this as OUR family business, and take great pride in helping families. We work as a team because we all have the same goal—to help many families on our way to financial independence.

We can’t imagine where we would be today without our Debt Freedom business. Where else can average, ordinary people own their own business and make a difference in the community as well as their own family? The cash flow we are earning is not something we could have possibly earned elsewhere, without having to sacrifice many hours together as a family. We’re excited about what the future holds for us here as we see our income double each and every single year!

By following the DFC Business Building System, we were able to become unlicensed Executive Sales Directors in 120 days, earning $100,000 the first year in business. We currently oversee four other offices, and will launch another office in early 2009. DFC has allowed us to take charge of our own destiny and has given us the ability to earn unlimited income.

Opening offices across the country has allowed us to build an extended family of friends and business partners. We enjoy helping our business partners open their own office and take charge of their destiny as well.

We have two children and three grandchildren. Denis is 60 years old and Deanna is 45 years old. Deanna has a BA in Math, with an accounting background. She has held positions such as Quality Manager and Business Unit Manager, and has taken extensive statistical training. Denis has been a trainer/facilitator with several multinational companies and within the education system. He has served in the capacity of Chairman & Executive Director on a number of provincial training boards, advising government agencies on training needs.

After reading financial books such as ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’, we decided that having a job working long hours was not going to get us where we wanted to go. We also discovered that, most of the wealthy people in Canada, derived their wealth from a business. For two years, we looked for the ideal business. Twenty minutes into an Open House presentation given by the President and CEO of Debt Freedom Financial Services, John Podlewski, in London Ontario, we decided to join the company. John had stated that 86% of Canadians were not keeping up with, or falling behind, the cost of living. We knew we had found a huge market potential.

We were looking for specific criteria before engaging, and DFC offered all of them: the ability to leverage, a mentor that had already been successful in financial services, the best compensation program we had seen, and the ability to give Canadians an opportunity to take control of their own financial future. We have found the business that will allow us the time and financial freedom that we desire. We are taking control of our future together.

In 2004, Joe’s position at a company in Aylmer ended due to closure of the plant. He re-located to the Windsor area. Even with his qualifications, he could not find a permanent position in the area. Joyce had built a substantial client base for Canadian/US income tax, and was searching for a way to help her clients with their personal financial needs. Having been affiliated with a large financial investment firm for 12 years, she realized they were failing with average clients, but excelling with high worth clients.

We knew at the first meeting we attended, that Debt Freedom offered exactly what we needed—the opportunity to meet the needs of those clients neglected by mainstream financial services. We believe 100% in our crusade to educate clients so they can change and control their financial futures, in all areas. It is amazing the gratification we feel when we watch the transformation of a distressed client into a client with peace of mind. Knowing we do not get paid unless we have helped a family, is something of which we are very proud.

We can now choose when we will visit our four children, who live all over North America. We also know now that we can actually visit them more often, because we control our income with our efforts. We don’t have to depend on someone giving us a raise or telling us when we can go on vacation.

The trips we have taken with DFC have created so many wonderful memories. We have built friendships and participated in events we only ever dreamed of before. We are so proud to be part of such a company. We work together, learn together, and have some of the most interesting conversations about our days and our meetings. When we think back before DFC, there really were not very many positive conversations about work. We enjoy and look forward to what each day will bring to us. We feel we are helping our community in a way that no one before us has ever done. Thank you Debt Freedom Financial Services!

Paul came from a manufacturing background, Sherry came from a variety of backgrounds, all of which were in some aspect of a customer-service field, ranging from administration/clerical to the quality sector in the automotive/manufacturing sector. For 10 years, she worked for a local real estate office, which she enjoyed because she thoroughly likes working with and meeting people. When Sherry moved into the manufacturing world, through a closure of the real estate company, it was an adjustment and a world of change. She audited quality systems, which she found difficult, as people in that position are often not well liked or well respected. As the pay was very good, Sherry maintained her role there for 10 years.

Paul worked three shifts, which he disliked, and could never get adjusted to the varied sleep patterns.  Again, the pay was what kept him there.  No matter what field we were in, just like everyone else, we were at the beckoning of our ‘boss’. We asked for time off, for appointments or vacation, and then had to submit a request for the time. If we couldn’t get the time off we had requested, we had to submit our second choice, which may or may not have been when we wanted. 

In 2000, the world we had always felt we had control of, came crashing down, as both of us worked at the same manufacturing company, which closed its doors without warning.  Our hearts go out to those who are going through the same thing during these stressful economic times. This gave us a push into taking charge of our destiny and we started looking at opportunities. We ‘dabbled’ in a few opportunities and worked hard on a part-time basis to make them work.  What we found were people could not, or would not, pay for products that didn’t fit into their budget or their lifestyle. When DFC was presented to us by some good friends, we were thrilled to learn we could help families see benefits that could dramatically impact their lives, short term and long term.  From there, the rest is history in the making.  We love working together in something that is benefiting people.  Sherry gets to work with and help people again – something which gives her great satisfaction.  Paul gets to work regular hours and doesn’t have to adjust every two weeks to a different schedule.  We have so much more in common as we choose to grow our business to suit us.  No more asking a boss if we can take two weeks off to go on vacation.  The biggest decision that we made was making the decision to try!

We were married in 1991 and we have two children. Our son was born in 1997, and our daughter in 2001.

Sue’s first career was as a travel consultant, where she worked for two different travel companies. After four years as a travel consultant, she had the opportunity to apply for a position with a major airline. Being bilingual was an asset to obtain that position. Sue’s career there lasted 10 years as a Customer Sales and Service Agent. When packages were offered to downsize the workforce after a period of bankruptcy protection for the airline, Sue accepted it so she could pursue a fulfilling career as a self-employed entrepreneur. She said good-bye to shift work and seniority dates for career advancement in a union environment!

Paul started his working career as an auto body mechanic with a dream of pursuing a career in law enforcement. He was driven to be accepted into the ranks of the Police Service, and began to change his career path to gain experience in that field, working various positions related to his ultimate dream job. While he was engaged in the lengthy application process for the police force, he did volunteer work and worked in security until he had the opportunity to accept a position as a Police Constable and train at the Police Academy as a new recruit. He continues that career today.

With both of us juggling shift work schedules and raising a young family, we felt we were living for our obligations and not our priorities. We were presented with the opportunity of expanding the Debt Freedom brand in Manitoba, and took on the challenge with great enthusiasm and faith. We know full well we would be pioneers in this province, and that great commitment and short-term sacrifices would have explosive long-term gains for our family. We continue that journey today, and are proud of our team of consultants, as together, we have helped many families. We have also personally grown as a family, as we work towards our goals together as life and business partners!

We have only scratched the surface of the potential here in Winnipeg, and look forward to finding more key personalities who will work with us to expand this brand and help thousands of families in the future!

We were both raised in neighbouring small towns in New Brunswick, and met later on while Marco was visiting his father one summer. Tania pursued a Business Commerce education, and Marco obtained his B.A. in International Relations in 1997, followed by his Master of Business Administration degree in 2005.

Tania has worked in several areas of retail and the hospitality industry. She managed a well- known billiards establishment in Moncton, New Brunswick just prior to moving to Windsor, Ontario. Then she had a supervisory role within a local automotive marketing firm.

Although Marco worked in the hospitality industry for a few years, most of his 10-year professional career had been spent in the auto industry, as a business development manager and program manager. He acquired his Project Management Professional designation in 2006.

To us and our two boys, Debt Freedom represents the opportunity to stand for something bigger than we are. We now have the ability to stand up for middle-income Canada, which has not been receiving necessary consideration when it comes to personal finances. In doing so, we are building a reputable business that we can be proud of. Our business is allowing us to plan for the dreams we’ve only hoped could become a reality at one point in our lives; we now know they can.

A successful career can be defined in many ways. One can have a great paying job, but the questions to ask yourself are: Am I fully able to support the goals and dreams of my family? Do I enjoy what I do? Have I made a difference in the world I live in? If you can somehow combine all three, you ARE a success.

Shortly after Debt Freedom helped us manage our debt, the plant where Doug worked closed, and we decided to become Associates of Debt Freedom and help families just like ourselves. Since then, we have helped dozens of families manage their debt, with a financial plan that will help them weather any economic storm. We have also seen our income rise beyond our expectations; plus we enjoy the added bonus of freedom that business ownership brings to our family.