MY ROLE AS AN ADVISOR
I take my role as a financial advisor very seriously, and strive to put the best interests of my clients first at all times. With my knowledge of insurance and investment planning, access to a variety of products, and an emphasis on personal service, I have the tools and expertise to help my clients integrate insurance and investment strategies to realize a comfortable and secure retirement.
The Financial Planning Pyramid
Arrive With Confidence
Planning for financial security is the process of helping you imagine your destination, explore your possibilities, understand your course and reflect on your journey so that you arrive with confidence.
The Financial Planning Pyramid is a widely accepted, simple navigational tool for building your financial plan. The pyramid illustrates how developing a financial plan proceeds in an orderly fashion and is built on a sound foundation.
The pyramid demonstrates the priority with which financial planning issues are typically addressed. As you move up the pyramid, the opportunity for higher yields increases; however, risk also increases and liquidity reduces.
By understanding the risks associated with each component as it pertains to each client’s unique situation, we construct a customized plan with an appropriate risk/reward balance.
The Value of a Financial Advisor
If you've ever wondered about the value that working with a professional financial advisor can provide, here's a short video that explains the benefits you'll receive with an advisor in your corner.
The Value of Advice
In an effort to stay healthy, you make seeing your doctor a priority. Your doctor knows your medical history and, if there is a problem, can recommend a course of treatment. The same concept applies to your finances – regular checkups with an advisor can go a long way towards improving your financial health. Whether your goal is to reduce debt, buy a house, save for retirement or simply pay the bills, you don't have to go it alone.
Regardless of your stage of life or amount of wealth, you can benefit from the professional counsel and services of an advisor. In fact,71 per cent of advised households started working with an advisor when they had less than $50,000 in investable assets.1 Milestones such as buying a first home, starting a new job or having a child are all good opportunities to address new financial needs and begin working with an advisor.
Start with a consultation
An advisor starts by understanding your objectives and doing a thorough analysis of your complete financial situation. Next, he or she will work with you to put a strategy in place to help reach your goals. A comprehensive plan allows you to balance today's needs with your goals for the future, easily adapt to changes in circumstance and plan ahead for emergencies, as well as helping you be in control of your financial well-being.
An advisor may be able to help by doing some or all of the following:
- Creating a disciplined savings strategy including cash flow planning and debt management
- Designing and implementing a customized investment strategy
- Proposing tax reduction strategies
- Facilitating will and estate planning
- Reviewing and recommending insurance products, including life,disability and critical illness
- Providing access to a network of professional resources such as accounting and legal services
A prescription for long-term success. As you develop your plan, it's important to be realistic about your expectations. An advisor won't magically make your debt disappear or guarantee double-digit returns on your investments. He or she will, however,provide ongoing support and guidance so you can remain focused on your goals through the ups and downs life throws your way.The Value of Advice Report 2012 by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada found that households that receive financial advice are:
- 1.5 times more likely to stick to theirfinancial decisions
- More confident about theirfinancial future
- More than twice as likely to participate in Registered Retirement Savings Plans, Registered Education Savings Plans and Tax-Free Savings Accounts
As you can see, those who work with an advisor have a clear advantage –both in terms of increased financial benefits and level of confidence about their overall finances.
Regular checkups: Your financial well-being depends on them
Getting started early on with an advisor and scheduling routine reviews can provide a considerable financial advantage in the long run. Be sure to ask questions and get the information you need to feel a high level of trust and comfort. After all, the healthiest and most rewarding relationship is one that will benefit you not just today, but well into your future.
1 Claude Montmarquette and Nathalie Viennot-Briot, Econometric models on the value of advice of a financialadvisor, CIRANO, July 2012.