FAQ

A: We seek partnerships with clients based on shared values, mutual trust and a strong commitment to build and protect long-term asset growth.

Our diverse clientele includes:

• Many women, perhaps because I grew up in a family full of them. They include widows, divorcées and single women as well as women who have strongly led the household finances for years.
• Affluent individuals and families.
• Pre-retirees and retirees who seek a steady stream of retirement income for life.
• Incorporated professionals.
• Business executives and owners.
• Foundations.
• People who have lost a spouse and need an extra measure of sensitivity, compassion and guidance.

A: No. Trying to time the markets is nothing more than guessing. There is no way to know reliably when to sell and when to buy back – and this requires being correct twice. I am not a short-term trader but a long-term investor who only holds investments in high-quality companies. More than a century of data very clearly indicates the effectiveness of this approach.

A: That is a good question because having the right fit is important – we must align for this relationship to work on a close, long-term basis.

• We will have an initial meeting to discuss your needs, goals, beliefs, previous wealth experience, risk tolerance, overall working style, and family or business complexities.
• We normally work with clients who have a minimum of $500K to invest, based on total household assets (i.e., RRSP, TFSA, non-registered accounts, etc.) but we may make exceptions based on individual situations.

• A: We charge a percentage of the value of your total asset base. This places us on the same side of the table: when you succeed, we succeed.
• This fee includes trading costs and services, from portfolio management to Total Wealth Planning services, including financial planning, tax planning, retirement and estate planning, trust services, business banking, commercial banking, business succession planning, philanthropic strategies, insurance solutions, and more.
• Private banking services are also available for a nominal fee.
• I do not receive any other fees from any other parties (i.e., no referral fees, incentives, bonuses or kickbacks).

A: Since I love airplanes, I like to use the analogy that I pilot a 747 with a limited number of seats.

• My services are boutique, and my exclusive clientele allows me the opportunity to provide first-class wealth solutions.
• I do not engage in short-term trading or market timing. I am instead focused on your long-term goals, integrating them with time-tested investment advice.
• I will encourage you to use and enjoy your assets when you can, while most advisors urge their clients to build assets because that is how they build their business.

A: We typically serve clients with a minimum of $500K to invest, based on total household assets (i.e., RRSP, TFSA, non-registered accounts, etc.) but we may make exceptions based on individual circumstances.

A: I am not a fan of the multiple-advisor approach. We prefer you to consolidate your assets.

• We then have the visibility to track all your assets properly according to your overall plan and can add the most value.
• This avoids duplication or inadvertently overweighting positions/sectors.
• By having a larger asset base, you pay a lower fee percentage.
• I won’t compete with other advisors based solely on investment performance because investments are only one part of the big picture in proper wealth management.

A: Yes and no:

• We do not like to co-mingle speculative positions with your core portfolio simply because we do not want it to affect the results of your plan.
• We would prefer that you do your speculative investing separately via a discount investment account; we recommend Scotia iTRADE®.

A: No – each component of the portfolio has been chosen carefully to complement the whole package. Making changes damages the integrity and balance of the portfolio.

A: We are human and every time we look at our account balances we are either happy (joyful) because our accounts are up or stressed (in pain) because our accounts are down. In this age of instant information, it is always tempting to check your accounts more often than necessary.

I analyzed market data going back 40 years and found that:

• If you look at your accounts daily, you will be up from the previous day 53% of the time and down from the previous day 47% of the time. Over a 30-year period that translates to 16 years of joy and 14 years of pain.
• Looking at your balance weekly translates to 17 years of joy and 13 years of pain. Monthly (the frequency of your statements) works out to 19 years of joy and 11 years of pain. Quarterly works out to 21 years of joy and 9 years of pain. Finally – looking at your account annually translates to 24 years of joy and only 6 years of pain. Which one would you prefer?
• The year 2020 was a perfect example. If you had looked at your account on January 1, 2020 and then one year later on January 1, 2021, you would have had a decent rate of return without the stress of the market drop and subsequent recovery. Click here to see the newsletter on this topic.

A: No:

• I am not rewarded or motivated by ScotiaMcLeod® to sell internal product. I am completely free of bias and make my own choices and provide advice with total objectivity.
• My approach is called “product agnostic:” I only select products that serve my clients well – no matter where they come from.

A: We all have our different beliefs and convictions – and that is okay. This is what makes the market work – opposing opinions. For every buyer there is a seller and vice versa.

It’s important to work with someone who is aligned with your values and whose process and offering resonates with you.