When it comes to money, most people put more time and thought into planning a 2 week vacation, than into financial planning the remaining 50 weeks in the year.

Planning is understanding where you are right now, learning where you want to be and your wants in life. I will work with you through the process to help you close any gaps in achieving your goals. The purpose of life planning is to clarify your vision of life and discover how to achieve that vision. Your insights will help you make informed decisions and feel in control. You create a satisfying vision of life in four areas: home, lifestyle, family and career.

Financial planning is a process that provides you with impartial assistance in analyzing and organizing personal financial affairs in order to achieve financial and lifestyle goals.

Financial planning consists of six distinct steps. Understanding what they entail and finding out if your planner understands how to use them to develop the best plan for you will help you determine if you are receiving the guidance you should expect. It is a six step process!

Do you need a financial plan?

• Do you carry any debt where the interest is not tax deductible?
• Do you make RRSP contributions in February primarily for the tax savings?
• Do you feel that you may be paying more than your fair share of income taxes?
• Do you ever worry that your investments are not performing the way they should?
• Do you have any concerns for your family's ability to maintain their lifestyle if you died or became disabled?
• Are you self employed or a shareholder of a small business.
• Do you want to maximize tax advantages through Planned Giving
• recognize philanthropic objectives
• maximize tax advantages
• Am I paying more than I should on my taxes?
• Are there any strategies to help me to reduce them further?
• Are my investments secure?
• Am I getting the best returns?
• Are you taking care of the family OR taking care of the government?

Common mistakes consumers make when seeking financial planning advice:

• Confuse financial planning with investing.
• Neglect to evaluate their financial plan periodically.
• Neglect to set measurable financial goals.
• Think financial planning is the same as retirement planning.
• Expect unrealistic returns on investments.
• Don't understand how advisors are compensated.
• Are looking for a quick financial fix instead of a long term strategy.
• Don't understand that good professional planning advice is largely dependent on good information from clients.
• Believe financial planning is primarily tax planning.
• Think they'll lose control over their decisions if they use a planner

Why do you need a financial planner?

People seek help from financial planners for a number of reasons, including but not limited to:

• estate planning
• planning for retirement
• finding the best way to finance a new home
• saving for children's/grandchildren's education
• to get help putting finances in order
• intergenerational planning

Whatever your needs, working with a financial planner can be a helpful step in securing your financial future.

Elder Planning Counselor

If you are you part of Canada's largest, growing population segment, the 55 Plus crowd – The Golden Generation - then you'll profit by working with an EPC. As an established and elder Canadian, you have earned the right to deal with business and professional advisors who are educated in issues important to you. These people:

• Know and understand the issues and alternatives that are important and unique to senior life.
• Respect your circumstances and confidentiality.
• Provide guidance and assistance with your best interests in mind.
• Create solutions that acknowledge your concerns and challenges.
• Inconspicuously accommodate any age appropriate physical challenges and impairments that you may have to ensure your needs are met.

What Do I Believe?

I believe that working with my established and elder clients requires an overall understanding of all their relevant concerns. These needs evolve from their wage-earning years and continue to change as they get more established and age.

I adhere to this "Code of Conduct":

Your needs and interests are always my first priority.

All of your personal and business information is completely confidential and will be used exclusively to help you and will not be released to anyone.

Through regular continuing education, my business recommendations will take into account the latest expertise that applies to your situation.

I will abide by not only the letter but also the spirit of the law or any applicable regulations when working with you.

You'll get the same service I'd give my mother in the same circumstances.

When you deal with an EPC you know you are dealing with someone who has your best interests at heart and is committed to excellence.

Financial Divorce Specialist

The process of divorce is never easy.  It presents a host of practical challenges, each of them complicated by emotional stress.

Usually both parties in a divorce assume a 50/50 split of assets, but experience shows that an uninformed split is often unfair in its outcome.  Too often, one or both parties are not aware of long-term tax, liability and pension issues.  A fair divorce settlement must incorporate a dynamic view of the current value of assets and future financial capacity. 

I am an experienced financial planner who is trained in issues related to divorce, and who is required to meet high standards for continuing education.  I identify the personal preferences, expectations and opportunities that my clients bring to the table, and to help design a settlement proposal that will maximize my clients' satisfaction within the available options. 

In particular, I offer the following services: 

• Educating the client about the tax and other financial consequences of retaining or giving up certain assets;
• Understanding the value of pension plans and other investment instruments;
• Developing a range of possible settlements or scenarios, and modeling the various long- term outcomes through the use of specialized software; and,
• Counselling the client on budget management during a difficult period of transition. 

Clients receive the following benefit from working with me:

• Data is tailored to the individual's situation;
• I provide an objective viewpoint in an emotional situation;
• The identification of available financial options provides for a speedier settlement that is acceptable to both parties, and it reduces stress for other family members.
 

Other professionals receive the following benefits from working with me:

• A broader perspective on financial and property options;
• Precise modeling of agreements;
• Enhancement of the positive working relationship between client and attorney;
• A stronger legal position; and,
• The availability of an objective expert.

"The process of divorce offers the promise of a new start, but too often this promise is threatened by an unfair or poorly-considered property settlement.  My role is to provide information, develop and point out alternatives that suit the client's needs, offer objectivity, leave time for sober second thought, and help the client come to a decision.  My goal is to enhance the quality of the client's professional team."