Choosing a financial advisor is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make. Before entering into any partnership, we recommend asking a number of questions and ensuring you are comfortable with the answers.
Below are a number of fair questions we’ve been asked over the years. With transparency being a guiding principle of ours, we’ve offered our answers hoping to bring light to who we are and the partnership we look to build.
Are you licensed advisors and if so, for what products?
We are, in fact the team is registered with the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) allowing us to trade and advise on all securities (stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, alternative investments, etc.) as well as options.
We’re also registered with the provincial regulator for Life Insurance as well, which is all part of our holistic offering.
What experience does the team have?
Together, our team has collectively worked more than 90 years within the financial services industry.
David has been a Wealth Advisor for the past 28 years, all of which with CIBC which he is very proud of and is a reflection of his confidence in the firm and their forward looking vision. He has managed clients successfully through multiple market cycles and has always focused on building long-standing relationships built on trust and integrity.
Eric, our team's Senior Associate, spent the first 8 years of his career between two global asset management firms where he consulted with wealth advisors and portfolio managers on various investment and financial planning matters. In addition, Anne and Mel carry 45 and 15 years of experience within the industry along with a wealth of knowledge and positive attitudes we all endear.
Do you have any accreditations, if so which ones and why would they be important?
Our team has a number of accreditations, each of which a result of the ongoing commitment we have towards servicing our clients.
Together, the team has two Chartered Investment Managers (CIM) designations, the Personal Financial Planner (PFP), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Certified International Wealth Manager (CIWM) and Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI). As previously mentioned as well, we are Life Insurance licensed (LLQP) and licensed in trading options.
We believe these are important and key differentiators because it is through these designations we develop and refine our technical expertise, which is then applied across our clients’ entire wealth management strategy. For example, a recent study by Financial Planning Canada found that Canadians who work with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) sleep better, are more confident, and report lower levels of money-related stress vs Canadians who don’t. (FP Canada. 2022 FP Canada Financial Stress Index).
What type of products can you invest in?
As part of the full service, brokerage arm of the bank (CIBC Wood Gundy) we have numerous options when creating portfolios for our clients.
We use an open investment platform meaning we are not limited to proprietary products, allowing us to invest in stocks, bonds, GICs, mutual funds, ETFs, hedge funds, liquid alternatives, private equity, private debt, annuities, structured products, etc.
This is incredibly important because it provides us the flexibility to invest in the product that will position you best to achieve your goals.
How do you get compensated?
From day one our commitment to our clients is that our interests will always be aligned. In fact, with the above mentioned accreditations we have what’s called a “fiduciary duty” meaning, beyond our personal commitment we are legally bound to always act in your best interests, in every decision we make.
This commitment carries well into how we work with you. We manage what’s called a “Fee Based” practice, meaning our fee is a percentage based on the size of your account. As a result, all parties maintain a powerful vested interest in not only growing, but more importantly protecting your assets. In short, we are fully transparent and proudly operate with clients knowing exactly how much they pay for the full suite of services we deliver.
What type of clients do you work with?
While we’re always happy to have a conversation with anyone looking for advice or guidance, typically our clients have unique situations requiring sophisticated guidance. Many of whom fall in the following categories:
- Busy professionals, executives, business owners & entrepreneurs looking to build and protect their wealth
- Young professionals & entrepreneurs taking their career to the next level
- Retirees seeking a conservative investment savings & income strategy
- Established families with complex intergenerational financial situations
How often will I communicate with you?
At a minimum we want to engage in a full review of your portfolio and situation at least once a year to see if we’re on track and or if any material changes have occurred. However, ideally we recommend reviewing semi-annually along with multiple touch points throughout the year.
We’re flexible too, while we’d love to host you in our office, we’re more than happy to come to you, meet virtually, communicate through email or simply over the phone. We pride ourselves in always being available to serve our clients so it will be very rare (if ever) for you to call our office and not get a hold of at least one of us.
We also believe it’s important to keep our clients “in the know,” so many of our touch points include monthly market and economic updates and outlooks, in-house and 3rd party articles highlighting various wealth management strategies and topics that may be relevant to you and your family.
Do I have to be from the GTA to be a client?
No, we’re licensed to serve clients from all across Canada and have many currently living in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia as well as internationally.
Like what you see?
If pleased with our team and the type of relationship we strive to build, contact our office to start the conversation and discover how having a private team can elevate your wealth management experience.
Start the conversation here