FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A financial planner can provide valuable guidance and expertise to help you make informed financial decisions. They can help you create a roadmap for your financial future, optimize your financial resources, and navigate complex financial matters. A financial planner brings objectivity, knowledge, and experience to help you achieve your financial goals more efficiently and effectively.
The financial planning process typically involves several steps. First, we’ll have an initial consultation to understand your financial situation, goals, and concerns. Then, we’ll gather necessary financial information using our innovative platform and perform a thorough analysis. Based on this analysis, I’ll develop a personalized financial plan that outlines recommended strategies and actions. We’ll review and discuss the plan together, making any necessary adjustments. Finally, I’ll assist you in implementing the plan and provide ongoing support to monitor your progress and make updates as needed.
Financial planning helps you gain clarity about your current financial situation, identify your goals, and develop a roadmap to achieve them. It provides a structured approach to financial decision-making, helping you prioritize and allocate your resources effectively. A financial planner can offer insights, strategies, and personalized recommendations that optimize your financial resources and increase your chances of reaching your goals.
An advice-only, fee-only financial planner, like myself, is only compensated directly by the client for the services provided. I do not earn commissions or receive compensation from the sale of financial products, ensuring that my recommendations are unbiased and solely focused on your best interests. In contrast, a commission-based advisor earns commissions from selling financial products, which may create potential conflicts of interest.
If you’re feeling unsatisfied with your current financial advisor, we offer a fresh perspective and a personalized approach to financial planning. We can provide an independent and objective perspective, as well as outline all costs associated with the services with your current advisor, including any subscription fees, AUM fees, fund management fees, front-end load fees, deferred sales charges (DSC which are now banned in Canada), low-load fees, or ongoing account fees. You will have a clear understanding of what you are paying for and the value you receive in return.
Questions about Finovo
No, I do not sell any financial products (or insurance products) or receive any commissions for recommending certain products or services.
No, we do not have any minimum investment or asset requirements. We actually have asset maximums; if you have over $2,000,000 in investable assets, we will help guide you to financial planning expert more suitable for your situation.
We offer a number of financial planning packages and sessions that will provide you with a customized insights to help you achieve your financial goals. Please check out the Services & Fees page to learn more.
Yes, as a Certified Financial Planner and advice-only / fee-only financial planner, I am held to the highest ethical and fiduciary standards.
Here is the Fiduciary Pledge I have taken as a Founding Member of the Financial Planning Association of Canada:
“I pledge to act as a fiduciary in all my dealings with my clients. By making this pledge, I am promising:
- To put the needs of clients first, ahead of my needs or the needs of any other party.
- To work to help my clients achieve their goals and dreams by acting with the skill, care, prudence, diligence, loyalty and good judgement of a fiduciary, rooting my professional practice in evidence-based advice.
- To avoid and minimize conflicts of interest, and to manage and disclose those conflicts which cannot be avoided.
- To fully and transparently disclose all sources of my compensation in all of my dealings with clients.
- To uphold the code(s) of conduct of the issuing body of my financial planning designation, and to continuously work to improve my skills and practice, and the financial planning industry as a whole.
- To encourage other financial planners to uphold the standards and values embodied by this Association, and to aid this and subsequent generations of financial planners to fulfill on the Association’s vision for the financial planning industry.
- And to help to build awareness of the good that financial planners can do for their clients.”
My fees are based on the scope and complexity of the services provided. I offer transparent and competitive fee structures. During our Discovery Meeting, we’ll discuss your specific needs, and I’ll provide a clear understanding of the fees associated with the services you require.
I specialize in helping young families in Western Canada navigate the complex financial landscape and achieve financial security and independence.
This will depend on your individual needs and goals. Most clients choose to work with us on an yearly ongoing basis, while others only need a one-time session, and some just like doing the planning themselves on our platform with ongoing support from our team.
To get started, simply go to the START HERE page and sign up for a Free 14-Day Trial and experience our innovative financial planning platform.
Questions about the Platform
Our financial platform is a user-friendly online tool that allows you to input your financial information and goals, and it generates a personalized financial plan for you. It also allows our team to work on the plan and collaborate on financial planning solutions together.
Our financial planning platform is interactive and personalized. It begins with a discovery phase where we get to know you, your values, goals, and any specific questions you have. Based on this information, we will guide you on what additional data we need to complete your Financial Snapshot.
With our expertise, we take care of the complex tasks such as optimizing taxes and integrating government programs, allowing you to focus on your financial goals and aspirations.
Here’s the minimum suggested information to complete in order for us to generate your Financial Snapshot:
- Income Section – Monthly Net Employment Income
- Expenses Section (rough estimates) – Monthly Housing, Monthly Transportation, Monthly Personal, Monthly Savings/Debts
- Assets Section (rough estimates) – Financial Assets, Real Assets
- Debts Section (rough estimates)
- Upload Documents – Upload as many documents as you like; multiple documents are allowed for each category; images and PDFs both will work. These help us fine-tune the information and create a more exact financial plan.
It is recommended to update your financial information on the platform regularly, especially when there are significant changes in your household, including job changes, promotions, upcoming major purchases, growing your family, etc. This ensures that your financial plan remains accurate and relevant.
There are no hidden fees or charges associated with using our platform. The subscription fee covers access to all the features and support included in your chosen service level.
Yes, our platform offers the option to collaborate with a financial planner. You can schedule meetings, exchange messages, and receive personalized guidance within the platform.
We provide comprehensive customer support to assist you with any questions or issues you may have while using the platform. Our dedicated support team is available via email or phone to ensure a smooth experience.
The platform helps you track and monitor your progress towards your financial goals through intuitive charts, graphs, and progress indicators. You can easily see how you’re doing and make adjustments as needed.
You have the ability to export or download your financial data from the platform in CSV format, allowing you to keep a local copy.
The platform is highly customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your specific financial needs and goals. You can adjust settings, prioritize certain goals, and customize the level of detail in your financial plan.
