FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions that come up most. Still unsure? The intro call is free.
I already have an accountant. What do you add?
You keep them. I work alongside your accountant and lawyer, from the same financial plan document. Planning decides the direction for the year; your accountant and lawyer carry it out.
What’s the minimum to work together?
It depends. Financial planning has no asset minimum, for business owners or retirees, and the flat fee is quoted in writing before any work begins. Investment management, the optional second step, starts at $1.5 million in investable assets for retiree households.
Can we work together if I’m not in Victoria?
Yes. I meet clients in person in Greater Victoria and virtually across the provinces where I’m registered, in English and in French.
Do you offer service in French?
Oui. Planification complète en français, y compris les documents et les séances de groupe.
Are you a flat-fee advisor?
No. I charge a flat onboarding planning fee. If you move investments to me, I’m also paid a percentage of the assets I manage for you, on a tiered schedule. And I’m paid a commission based on the insurance products you select. You’ll see how each part is paid before you decide anything.
How are you paid?
Three sources: a flat planning fee, an optional tiered fee on investments you move to me, and commission on any insurance placed through PPI. Each is disclosed in writing, and the planning work never depends on buying a product. The full breakdown is on Pricing.
What should I have handy for the first call?
Nothing is required for the intro call. If you have them, a rough sense of your income, your corporate structure, and what you want from the next ten years helps us use the time well.
What happens after the financial plan is delivered?
A set review calendar: compensation before year end, portfolio twice a year, and structure, insurance and beneficiaries annually.
Will you tell me to buy or sell based on the market?
No. Decisions rest on your financial plan and long-run evidence, not forecasts. You won’t get a call telling you to get out of the market.
What products can you offer?
Mutual funds through Portfolio Strategies Corporation, a member of CIRO, and insurance through PPI. Financial planning is provided through Girard Wealth.
Can my employees join a group plan?
Yes. I set up group RRSP, DPSP or pension plans and advise you on the structure. The plan provider administers it and looks after the employee side, including enrolment and education.
Can you help if my corporation is still open in retirement?
Yes. Winding a corporation down over years, and drawing from it in the meantime, is part of the retirement work.
Where are my assets held?
For nominee accounts, your assets are held in trust at Portfolio Strategies Corporation.
Who is the dealer behind Girard Wealth?
Portfolio Strategies Corporation. Founded in 1994 and based in Calgary, it is one of Canada’s largest independent mutual fund and exempt market dealers and a member of CIRO, with over $5.4 billion in assets under administration and more than 260 advisors across Canada. Because it is independent and privately owned, the advice isn’t tied to any bank or fund company’s product line. More at portfoliostrategies.ca.
Are my assets protected if the firm fails?
Because your accounts are held with Portfolio Strategies Corporation, a member of CIRO, eligible client property is covered by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) if the firm becomes insolvent. For an individual, coverage is up to $1 million in each of three separate categories: general accounts (including cash, TFSAs and FHSAs), registered retirement accounts (RRSPs, RRIFs and LIFs), and registered education savings plans (RESPs). CIPF covers property that is missing following a member firm’s insolvency; it does not cover ordinary market losses or a decline in the value of your investments. Full details are at cipf.ca.
Where are you registered, and how do I verify it?
You can verify my registration through the CSA National Registration Search, my CFA record with the CFA Institute, and my CFP listing in the FP Canada directory. Current registration by activity and province is on the Disclosures page, and the links are on About.