Reviews

This profile includes reviews for Embark's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

close

Find a Location

Embark has 7 locations, listed below.

*This company may be headquartered in or have additional locations in another country. Please click on the country abbreviation in the search box below to change to a different country location.

BBB accredited

Near

Country

USUnited States

Please enter a valid location.

Filter

• 

  Embark

  1000 - 50 Burnhamthorpe Rd W Mississauga, ON L5B 4A5

• 

  Knowledge First Financial Inc.

  250 Charbonneau Crescent Winnipeg, MB R2X 1E2

• 

  Embark

  5 Fountain Creek Dr Sherwood Park, AB T8A 0A1

• 

  Embark

  203 10240 124 St Edmonton, AB T5N 3W6

• 

  Knowledge First Financial

  P.O. Box 997 Halifax, NS B3J 2X2

Review Details

• Review fromAngela B

  Date: 14/09/2023

  1 star
  Extremely disappointed! This company took over the company that I originally signed up with. No communication and I can’t get logged into my account online. I finally received my money but it was way less than I though I would be getting. ***** *** **** ******** Very poor customer service and they fees they take on your invested money is ridiculous.

• Review fromEmma R

  Date: 29/08/2023

  1 star
  Not Impressed At All!!!! So unfortunate that this was changed from Knowledge First Financial. For over 15 years, I had a representative that was available, personable, honest and attentive to all saving needs for child's secondary education. Each time I have contacted Embark in last couple months, I've been on hold for at least 20 minutes, only to find out I need to be transferred to another representative that is not available and will call me back - sometime within 24 hours. What!?!? It has been less than an year and I'm not impressed at all. * ********* *** ** **** ******** *** ******* *** ********* ***** *** ***** ********* ***** **** ********

• Review fromKristine T

  Date: 22/08/2023

  1 star
  We had 5 kids in 3.5yrs (2001) and invested $10,000 in each account for first 5 yrs with ***. Over the years *** sold twice. EMBARK is terrible to deal with! Do not invest! We were assured that if any of our children decided on a trade they would not lose their money as they still attend school for 8 weeks and would need the money for tools, rent etc. Embark no longer allows that. 1st child was able to withdraw all his funds for school, which of course the government taxed him on. Now for 7 months we have been fighting to get our initial investment back ($10,000 less the fees) and we keep getting the run around. Forms were filled out and sent, ignored. We've been emailing them every 2 weeks and now weekly. 3 phone calls this month alone to get that money, we keep getting told it takes 2-5 business days. Ok so its been 7 months now, NO one works at this company. Beware! The investments we were shown when we signed up. Minimum was $30,000 over the years to age of maturity they got $14,000. Less than half the minimum promised.

• Review fromViolet C

  Date: 11/08/2023

  1 star
  This company is difficult to deal with.. We started to save our children educational plan in 1998. We deal with heritage education plan then they change their company name to knowledge first financial and now Embark. I was not happy with the interest and fees, but life goes on . My daughter enrolled her first semester in university. Our first Agent with first knowledge financial was a lady. She was so polite and answer all my questions. In few days we received the funds. Next semester our Agent customer service was a guy very terrible experience and getting worst during the pandemic. My daughter called crying because her tuition fee was due and the university will cancel her enrollment on line. This Agent argue with my daughter. So we decided not to withdraw anymore and pay our own pocket. Next semester same problem. We got the funds but was so difficult. So my daughter get tired calling the knowledge financial ..Thank God my daughter apply for different company for scholarship and government schoolarship grant she got it. This year 2023 we would like to get the remaining balance and now Embark. My daughter was trying to login to her account. She is having a hard time to submit her proof of enrollment . So I called last July 2023 . He gave instruction, but same problem. August 10. 2023 . I dial the customer service embark I waited 1 hour and 25 minutes no answer so decided to call today August 11, 2023 to ask why my daughter can't log in on her account same problem last July. Today I have bad experience with the agent ..I just hope the company knows their staff. Through my experience bank is best to invest education plan.

• Review fromVu T

  Date: 01/08/2023

  1 star
  As per conversation with the Embark gent, she told me that because my kid finished her university degree, my daughter won't be able to withdraw any money she had left in her RESP account. Or if my daughter wants to withdraw this money, she must go back to college or university. My sister withdrew all the money from RESP after her daughter completed her University degree without any questions/trouble. Her RESP is with the bank. Not with the embark. Why the Embark is different from the bank; The Embark does not allow to withdraw money after finishing her university degree.

• Review fromSamten C

  Date: 21/07/2023

  1 star
  ********* *** *** ****** ******** *** ********* **** ******** This company was previously Knowledge First Financial. When you call, it's like a loop, does not send you to the right department until you just keep pressing zero many times, very frustrating. Secondly, they are advertising this 2 business days processing for an online application, but their staffs does not even know where to find the consent box to check, by the way, it's not even in the form, they finally explained it to me that it is the direct deposit, it's not even there, what a waste. I did a manual application which took a long time. I had updated my bank info. but somehow, it is still showing in my account and the withdrawal went to the wrong account. I did called though to confirm if there is any missing info in the form and the funds will go to the bank account I want since the old account has issues, twice confirmed it's fine. But it is not. They don't even bother to make a quick call to their clients to verify if something missing in the application. When I log in, my information is different from them, very irritating. It is a BAD EXPERIENCE.

• Review fromApril R

  Date: 27/06/2023

  1 star
  Lousy at communication. They’ll fight you when you try to withdraw your funds. Ask you a question, you reply and then wait 2 days for an answer. *** **** ***** ********* ***** ***** **** *******

• Review fromBalwinder C

  Date: 14/06/2023

  1 star
  I am very disappointed to read that Embark takes 45 business days to process RESP transfer to another institution. In my opinion, this is clearly a money grab, incovenient to the requesting client and vindictive. Other institutions, on average, take 20 business days to transfer; why does Embark require 45 business days? Additionally, Embark website says it is non-profit; then why is Embark transfer fee $250 whereas the highest transfer fee charged by other institutions in $150? The plan has been changed so many times resulting in broken promises to the purchasers of the original University Scholarship plan and Heritage plan. * **** **** * ***** ** **** *** * *******

• Review fromThuy N

  Date: 09/04/2023

  1 star

  Thuy N

  Date: 09/04/2023

  Extremely high fee at front, with negative earning over years. After 7 years investment, we lost 2.5 k fir our son. After 12 years, we luckily saw earning =fee+lost, which means their investment is very bad. **** ** **** ***** I wish i notice their upfront fee before signing. I thought they know what they are gmdoing so that is why they charge a lot, but not. ** ** ***** ** *** *** ********* *** ** ***** 

  Embark

  Date: 04/07/2023

  Thank you for expressing your concerns. Embark takes customer satisfaction seriously and we are glad to hear from you. First, we would like to apologize for the frustration you have been experiencing and want you to know that we appreciate your feedback. It will allow us to resolve any problems that occur and help us to improve our services. We value our customers' opinions and would like to thank you for bringing this to our attention. Please feel free to contact our Customer Care team at ********@*******ca if you have any further questions.

• Review fromPaige M

  Date: 10/02/2023

  1 star
  They don't tell you they take 2/3 of everything you put in. Thankfully I noticed, after 2 years but atleast I can put my money somewhere where they can't gouge it. * ****** *** *** *****. I'm getting back less than half what I've put in.