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In 1994, I traded in my hammer and saw for a new set of tools. After 10 years renovating homes, I embarked on a new career in financial planning. Renovating homes was rewarding, but I couldn't face the prospect of working through yet another cold Canadian winter. So I set off to Toronto to learn my new trade and even though the environment couldn't have been more different, the lessons I had learned in the previous decade would be a huge benefit in the years to come.

The renovations I performed always involved tearing down existing structures. Opening up walls, highlights the benefits of careful planning and prudent construction. It's easy to work on a well-built home with a solid foundation. On the flip side, I saw many examples of shoddy building that led to modifications, cost overruns and missed deadlines. The reasons for the "tear down" were different for each job (structural problems, updating to code, or simply homeowners wanting a change). The tricky part was that until you opened up the wall, you were never entirely sure what conditions you were going to face. Once you busted through the dry wall, you had passed the point of no return. (A great way to learn problem solving skills)

In one of my current roles I help our clients "tear-down" their estate plans. Whether you know it or not, you already have an estate plan in place, and chances are it is not "exactly" what you want. The good news is that we don't have to bust any drywall to fix it. How can I be so sure that your estate plan needs to be renovated?

1) Structure - some plans simply don't accomplish what YOU want
2) Updating to code - taxes and laws change over time, your plans need to adapt
3) Life - has anything changed since your last estate plan (family, finances, feelings?)

Regional Director, Insurance, Western Canada for Manulife Securities Insurance Inc.

Role is to work with Financial Advisors to increase their understanding and knowledge with respect to insurance based solutions. As an understanding of Estates is essential to proper planning, I include educational opportunities that include estate planning as much as possible.

I am a Certified Senior Advisor and LLQP licensed.

Based in Kingston Ontario, PhilanthroPlan offers full-scale legacy and estate planning services to prospective donors of charitable organizations and foundations that serve to enhance and strengthen their gift planning programs. 

We work with strategic donors. We function as a comprehensive gift planning outsource service for small-to-medium sized charitable organizations. We support the planned giving staff in their important work. But what we really do is ask donors the right questions—guiding them toward making the most of their legacies through the gifts they give to heirs and if desired, to charity.

Gordon is a Certified Financial Planner (1999) with extensive knowledge and progressive experience who is entrusted with providing financial services for his clients. Gordon's primary goal is to assist you to achieve peace of mind through the development of your comprehensive plan. Together as a team, through understanding your unique needs, identifying your goals, and addressing your questions, the process of building the foundation of your customized financial plan is set in motion.

As a respected professional with more than 30 years' experience in the financial services industry, Gordon's advisory expertise and customized planning for his clients have created the cornerstone of his success. Gordon is recognized by his clients as an individual who possesses exceptional listening skills, presents all options, builds on facts, is realistic, family oriented, and demonstrates a high degree of integrity. He is a life long learner and continues his education through seminars, conferences, print media, internet resources, money manager symposia, personal development, professional development, and collaboration with his colleagues.

Most people are not aware of the responsibilities they face
when somebody dies.  With unsurpassed
technology, a complex list of tasks is accurately processed and securely
transmitted.  We make this as simple as
it should have been in the first place.

Rob Gawthrop - President, CFP, CLU, CEA 

Rob is a certified financial planner, CEAN.ca chapter board member, and the co-author of “Paycheques & Playcheques: Retirement Income Solutions for Canadians.” As the founder of Gawthrop Financial, and with over 30 years of experience in finance, Rob is dedicated to helping his clients answer their most important financial questions. As a believer in lifelong learning, he speaks to groups and individuals about how to accomplish their financial dreams. Rob is a qualifying & life member of the Million Dollar Round Table, and a professional musician, (he's currently in a David Bowie tribute band) a husband of 36 years and the father of four grown daughters. 

A civil litigator and expert in dispute resolution, Harold advises clients on business disputes and financial issues, including allegations of breaches of contracts, negligence and other financial matters.

Harold has a unique perspective, in that he represents both advisors and their clients. On the one hand, he advises stockbrokers, mutual fund representatives, insurance agents and financial planners (and their respective corporate entities) on liability, compliance, regulatory, errors and omissions insurance and commercial issues. On the other hand, he sues stockbrokers, mutual fund representatives, insurance agents and financial planners to recoup client losses arising from advisor negligence or to recover life insurance, annuities and disability benefits when insurers fail to pay claims.

Harold is a well-known financial industry commentator, a continuing education provider for various insurers, investment and mutual fund dealers, and financial industry licensing organizations. He is a co-administrator of www.foradivsorsonly.com. He is a member of the Financial Planners Standards Council's committee reviewing FPSC's Standards and Ethics. He has been a consultant to the Advocis Best Practices Committee, is a member of the Best Practices Committee for Advocis's Ottawa Chapter and sits on the OSC Investor Advisory Panel.

Harold is also a member of Conference of Advanced Life Underwriting Associate Member and a member of the Financial Planning Standards Council. He is an elected council member of the Canadian Bar Association Ontario and the Regional Representative on the Ontario Bar Association's Class Action Section Executive Committee. He is a member numerous legal associations, including the County of Carleton Law Association.

Harold obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Queen's University, and his law degree from Dalhousie Law School. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1993.

My Core Values

To always live by the "Get By Giving" philosophy.

To always make my client's #1 goal, my #1 goal.

To always live up to my standards despite temptations to lower them.

To always be willing to work toward a common good.

To always do what I say I will do, sometimes more, just never less.

Susan has been involved in the investment industry for over
10 years and has been a Branch Manager with DW Good Investment Co Ltd since
2011. 

Susan is also a certified life coach and public speaker.