We help individuals and families with diverse personal and professional goals to proactively manage their evolving financial situations.

Business owners and entrepreneurs

From startup, to restructuring, to sale, we work with business owners and entrepreneurs across a range of industries to create and protect value in their businesses. And we will help you use that value to maintain your lifestyle now and into retirement, making sure the business you’ve worked so hard to build, keeps working for you.

 

Families

We take a multi-generational approach to managing family wealth, guiding clients to the most tax-efficient approach to transferring assets, and helping the next generation understand the potential impact of sudden-wealth events (such as inheritances) and how to prepare for them. We facilitate conversations that align goals and expectations, and help ensure the wealth planning needs of all family members are properly addressed.

 

Health care professionals

As a health care professional, you face business challenges that other entrepreneurs do not. Caring for patients and staying current with medical advancements leaves little time to focus on the financial aspects of the business, or your present and future wealth management needs. The complexity of your wealth-related decisions also tends to grow with your practice. We can help you establish — and stay on track with — wealth management strategies that suit your busy life and unique circumstances.

Pre-retirees and retirees

You have spent your working life building your family’s wealth. Now, as you consider transitioning into retirement, you also need to change how you think about and manage your assets. Continuing to grow your net worth, while also protecting it from market volatility becomes increasingly important as more of your income is drawn from savings over time. We will help you formulate a plan that will help you enjoy your chosen lifestyle throughout your retirement, and ensure the people and causes you care about are taken care of over the long term.

Executives

As you’ve moved up the corporate ladder, the complexity of your financial situation — which might now include holdings in various pension plans, short- and long-term stock incentives, and taxable benefits — has likely increased in step. So has the complexity of your tax return. We specialize in tackling complexity to provide a clear path to a comfortable retirement and attain your other financial goals. Our team, backed by regional and head office experts, can show you the way.

Lawyers

While working with lawyers, associates, equity partners and members of the legal community, we engage, help develop and integrate their corporations into financial planning to make the most of investment opportunities to save on tax. We bring a lawyer’s holistic plan into focus in areas of lending, insurance, tax planning and investments, which ensures you’re provided expertise on the personal and corporate side of your financial plan.

Having a plan in place today can help ensure that your assets are protected, your business carries on profitably, and your wealth potential is maximized.

Business owners and entrepreneurs

Business owners sometimes say, “My business is not complex or big enough to warrant a tax and estate plan.” But quite often this is not the case – when a plan is implemented, its value is maximized even before it is truly needed. Think about it. If we do not worry about creditor protection until there is a known creditor threatening to sue, or we do not plan for the succession of the business until there is a medical emergency, fewer planning opportunities may be available.

We assist business owners in many key areas, as outlined below.

 

  • 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.

  • Ongoing consultation, reviews, and accessibility

    • Regular, scheduled portfolio and planning review meetings, directly with Jonathan Davies
    • An accessible and responsive client service and administrative support team with a combined 50+ years of experience
    • A commitment from our entire team to support, educate, and advocate for your financial well-being
    • Consultation and engagement with your other tax and legal professionals

  • Events, education, and engagement

    • Invitations to financial education and social events
    • Access to our suite of video education and social media platforms
    • Ongoing training and virtual support from our team

As an incorporated business, how can I protect the value of my business through tax and estate planning?

Download our free guide to see how 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.

Families

We believe that strong communication between different generations is critical, because as the values and goals of all members are heard, conversation among them becomes easier. By taking the time first to ask questions in a comfortable environment, we learn about your life goals and your family dynamics. We then customize an investment plan that confirms where you are financially and where you want to go.

While working together, clients and their families not only benefit from a lower fee, but they also have peace of mind that their kids and grandkids receive strong financial advice, helping them through life’s challenges. We will be there to help reduce the overall family tax burden, and transition family wealth while protecting it for the next generation. Here are just some of the key areas in which we assist high net worth families:

Family group pricing

We understand the importance of having a full picture of your family’s financial well-being. Multi-generational pricing is another way we provide clients even greater value. In addition to lower fees, your close family members can benefit from comprehensive financial advice, tailored solutions, and dedicated service.

Family group pricing

Charitable giving program

Transfer of wealth to the next generation

Family law

Creditor protection

 

Do you have cash and investments that are not needed to fund your own lifestyle needs?

Download our free guide to see if a family investment trust might be right for you.