Different clients want different kinds of help. Both paths begin with understanding what matters to you.
Investment planning matters, but it is not the starting point. First, we need to understand your goals, financial position, priorities and the decisions you are facing. Investment recommendations can then be developed in that context.
A defined planning engagement
Professional analysis, recommendations and a clear action plan for clients who want advice without committing to ongoing investment management.
You decide how and where to implement the recommendations, and no investment transfer is required.
Planning and investments managed together
An ongoing relationship combining financial planning, specific investment recommendations, implementation and continued monitoring.
The relationship continues as your goals, investments and circumstances change.
A defined professional engagement with an agreed scope, flat fee and clear action plan.
Identify the decisions and planning areas that need the most attention.
Review the information, model options and consider how decisions interact.
Explain the observations, recommendations, priorities and action items.
Implement independently, remain with an existing provider or seek additional help.
A standalone plan may address goals, time horizons, risk tolerance and capacity, asset allocation, account strategy and diversification. Specific security, fund or product recommendations and portfolio implementation are not included in the standalone planning engagement.
The difference between the three levels is primarily breadth, depth and complexity - not the quality of the advice.
Focus on the financial decisions that matter most.
For relatively straightforward circumstances or a smaller number of important decisions. These areas receive the primary analysis and recommendations. Relevant issues elsewhere may still be considered when they affect the plan.
Connect the major pieces of your financial life.
For situations in which several decisions interact. The additional area may be Insurance & Risk Management or Estate Planning. This level provides broader integration and additional modelling.
Understand the full financial picture.
A detailed review with greater depth, integration, scenario analysis and modelling where appropriate. Designed to show how the different parts of the financial picture affect one another.
The scope determines which areas receive the most detailed analysis, but relevant issues in other areas may still be considered when they affect your recommendations. Retirement decisions can affect taxes, investment choices can affect retirement outcomes, and cash-flow analysis may reveal insurance needs.
Incorporated businesses, multiple rental properties, trusts, complex estates, unusually detailed tax planning or extensive scenario modelling may require a customized scope and fee.
Financial planning, investment advice, implementation and continued monitoring are handled as one ongoing relationship.
Understand what you want your money to accomplish.
Develop a clear picture of your current financial position.
Analyze the decisions, opportunities and trade-offs that matter.
Review the observations, recommendations, priorities and action items.
Develop specific investment recommendations that support the financial plan.
Implement the agreed recommendations and establish the accounts and portfolio.
Monitor the portfolio, goals and planning decisions as circumstances change.
Financial planning is part of the ongoing service rather than a separate standalone engagement. The relationship evolves as goals, markets, taxes and personal circumstances change.
The purpose is not simply to manage a portfolio. The investment strategy is designed and managed in support of the broader financial plan.
Both are legitimate ways to work together. The distinction is the kind of help you want after the planning work is complete.
Comfortable managing investments, but wants help with retirement timing, CPP/OAS, spending, withdrawals and taxes.
Likely fit: Standalone Financial Planning
Wants a retirement plan, investment strategy, implementation and continued management afterward.
Likely fit: Ongoing Wealth Management
Already works with another institution but wants an independent review before making a major decision.
Likely fit: Standalone Financial Planning
Wants investment recommendations based on goals, retirement, taxes and the broader financial picture.
Likely fit: Ongoing Wealth Management
No. Standalone planning does not require an investment transfer.
Yes. It is a complete professional engagement with an agreed scope and action plan.
You can implement it yourself, work with your current provider or return later.
Yes. You may move from standalone planning to an ongoing relationship as needs change.
You can still use standalone planning for additional support or an independent perspective.
By this point, one relationship may feel more natural for the way you want to manage your financial life.
Advice through a defined engagement
May suit you if: you want professional planning advice while continuing to manage investments yourself or through an existing provider.
Planning and investments managed together
May suit you if: you want one continuing relationship to connect the financial plan, investment strategy, implementation and monitoring.
I want to understand what your money needs to accomplish before deciding how it should be invested.