More In Return.

Partnering with the right financial advisor - a three minute read

Money is a constant dialogue. Open your eyes, and there it is again; ready to bestow anxiety, power, joy and frustration onto you at any moment. Day-to-day financial stresses like, ‘do I opt for office-brewed coffee or hit up Starbucks in lieu of going out for lunch?’, exist in all of our lives. So much so that the very thought of doing something ‘smart’ with our investments can feel entirely overwhelming. 

There is a better way forward – I promise. You should be getting more in return from your advisor than simply returns on investment.

Less in Return

Unfortunately, people have been given plenty of reasons to mistrust financial institutions. Every second TV commercial is yelling that you are paying too much in fees for nothing in return; they – "The Man" in the fancy suit at the big desk – must be out to get you!

Sadly, it has become easier to mistrust a financial professional than to trust one. As an industry, historically we have not done ourselves any favours by hiding fees and getting lazy when it comes to service.

How can you really know you are invested in the right places and saving enough to obtain your goals if you barely hear from your advisor once per year? Life happens, plans change—does your advisor involve them-self in your life, your plan? Or, is your advisor the most junior person at the bank and does not even have a picture of their family in their office because they move offices and branches so often?

Are you selecting your family’s investments from the thousands that are available to you as a Canadian, or picking from a list of five because that is what your bank offers to your ‘level’ of wealth?

When you are involved in a lukewarm relationship with someone who only knows you by your client ID#, you are paying too much – regardless of what the fee is. 

A Return to More

There is a better way, and it starts with clarity and connection.

Clarity creates strong, lasting relationships that cut through the BS. Talking about one’s money and retirement can be confusing, jargon-filled, and intimidating. A good advisor will communicate in terms that make sense to you, they won’t hide during volatile times, and, if there is a less complicated way to invest your money, he or she will find it. 

It does not have to be complicated and you do not have to feel guilty for "not knowing enough about your investments", I swear.

Connection - money is always personal. How were we raised to approach money—how much we have, don’t have, or aspire to have—our personal experiences with it, such as good and bad investment decisions in the past. These points all factor into an individual’s risk tolerance and financial goals.

A good advisor values the relationship first and foremost, because you will be better served when he or she understands you as a whole person.

Decisions around your money are very rarely best made with just numbers; they are too important for such a narrow point of view. A good advisor will draw out the why from you, not just show you the how.

True connection is not transactional. It takes work and care. Connection is bigger than the stock market. Connection is the personification of getting ‘More in Return.’

Trust More

Money is a source of comfort, stress, burden and responsibility—I help untangle people’s complicated relationships with it and serve as an ally who has your best interests in mind.

When you are with the right advisor, you will know it. Fancy degrees do not necessarily equal trust, and trust is absolutely the first place you need to start when selecting someone to manage your money and plan for your family’s future. Proven track records and results matter, a lot, but those bragging rights should be scrutinized only after you have determined you are dealing with the right person.

Money is important, and the right advisor should help you afford the freedom and time to focus on all the things that aren’t for sale.

More in Return

I operate as an independent financial advisor, and it’s my first, second and third job to understand the complete picture in order to create plans that makes sense for you and your family. I know that money is a means to do the things that actually give your life significance and flood it with true wealth.

Reach out and let’s talk. A great investor-advisor relationship starts and ends with trust. It can be a coffee, a quick phone call, or an hour at your kitchen table; I am happy to tell you more about my practice, but even happier to listen to find ways I can help you and your family.