willms was born in the alberta countryside in 1987. his mother linda worked as a revenue property manager, and his father dave ran a welding-equipment company. according to his mother, willms developed an early interest in business and trade. at the age of 3 or 4, whenever he went along with his mother to the grocery store, he would make her guide him through each step in the money transaction. a few years later, he spent his paper route wages on business books, learning about how various well-known businessmen, like warren buffett, had attained their fortune.