• Why should I work with a financial advisor?

    Financial planning is complex and it can be daunting to tackle it on your own when you have a lot of other things competing for your time. We ask the relevant questions, offer an objective perspective when it comes to making wealth-related decisions, and work with you to create a financial plan you can follow. We will be with you at every turn to adapt your plan as needed, and help ensure you are always well-positioned to reach your goals, regardless of changing priorities and market shifts.

  • What questions should I ask when choosing a financial advisor?

    How long has the advisor been in the business? What certifications, education and/or designations do they have? Do they have strong understanding of financial planning for both small businesses and personal planning? Do they focus on all aspects of wealth management, such as tax, accounting, succession and insurance-related issues, with easy access to a team of experts in those fields? Is their fee structure transparent?

  • What information will you need from me to create my comprehensive financial plan?

    We will start by discussing your current and future goals, followed by any initial concerns you may have. Next, to ensure we can provide a comprehensive plan, we will need current investment and bank account statements, insurance policies, and details on outstanding debts and monies owed, your most recent tax returns, a household budget (if you have prepared one) and plans for travel, large purchases, or helping children with education, home ownership or other pursuits.

  • Planning within a corporate structure

    You, as a business owner, have put significant time, resources, and effort into making your business successful. So how do you proceed with protecting that value? A proper tax and estate plan works with you and your business throughout its life cycle to ensure you are maximizing wealth and minimizing taxes, both now and in the future.

  • Income splitting

    Directing income from your business to members of the family who participate in the business can be an effective strategy for reducing the family’s overall tax bill. For distributions to non-business family members, there are exceptions to the TOSI rules which may be relevant to reduce the family’s overall tax bill.

  • Creditor protection

    There are two types of creditors: known and unknown. Your bank, credit card company, and supply vendors are all known creditors and are part of normal business operations. It is the unforeseen creditor that leaves the profits of a business vulnerable.

  • Succession planning and estate freezes

    A key aspect of estate planning is asking: How does the business or shares of the corporation pass to the next generation? Various considerations are taken into account in deciding if and when to hand the business or corporation over to the next generation.

  • Sale of a business

    There are two ways to sell a business: through either an asset sale or share sale. In an ideal world, all business owners would prefer to sell shares. Selling shares generally provides the best after-tax result to the business owner. In other words, more cash in your hands personally. If you are expecting a significant amount of growth in the market value of your business in the coming years, having a plan in place could be a crucial part of decreasing your overall tax.

  • Will planning

    A properly drafted will is one of the key documents used to ensure that your intentions and wishes are carried out upon your death. The will is also a key component of succession planning. As a business owner, you have a wide range of issues to consider when preparing your personal and corporate will.

  • Shareholder agreements

    While shareholder agreements typically set out the division of duties and how decisions are made regarding financing, compensation and other important matters, a well-drafted shareholder agreement also deals with unexpected events.

  • Corporate & personal life insurance

    Life insurance can be a useful planning tool in many different aspects of retirement and estate planning for the owner-manager. Understanding your estate value, distribution requirements, and taxation of the overall estate will be key factors when determining the appropriate level of life insurance coverage for your needs.