As a financial advisor, one of my favorite things is growing with my clients and having a front row seat to their life's successes. Over the years, we share great conversations and together find ways to achieve the optimal financial balance of planning for tomorrow while enjoying life today.
As a financial advisor, one of my favorite things is growing with my clients and having a front row seat to their life's successes. Over the years, we share great conversations and together find ways to achieve the optimal financial balance of planning for tomorrow while enjoying life today.
As a financial advisor, one of my favorite things is growing with my clients and having a front row seat to their life's successes. Over the years, we share great conversations and together find ways to achieve the optimal financial balance of planning for tomorrow while enjoying life today.
As a second generation financial advisor, I was exposed to the financial industry at an early age and began working in the financial planning industry in 1993, after graduating from Simon Fraser University. I started my practice in 1995, acquired my Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation in 2000, and joined RGF Integrated Wealth Management in 2003. In recent years, I have been invited to speak and participate in numerous industry organizations, both in Canada and internationally. More close to home, I have been a member of RGF’s Board of Directors since 2010.
North Vancouver is my home with my wife, Barbie, and 3 teenaged kids, Grace, Charlotte, and Morgan. Away from the office, in the summer you may find me on Keats Island, on the golf course, or on a bike… and with skis or hockey skates on my feet in the winter.
BA (Simon Fraser University)
CFP (Certified Financial Planner)
CIM (Chartered Investment Manager)
FCSI (Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute)
Over the last few months, a number of clients have asked me what I think of the cryptocurrencies, and if they should be considering getting involved. There is no doubt that cryptocurrency, block chain, and Bitcoin have received a large amount attention in the media and around the water cooler.
When I first started in this profession, I thought I had a good idea of what it meant to be a financial advisor. An advisor had to develop a strong understanding of the investment world, become reasonably well-versed in the tax rules...
There was no shortage of news and opinions about the Brexit vote this past June. And while it made for good political theatre, I couldn’t help but wonder what the people on the ground really felt about it. As luck would have it, the vote happened on June 23rd, and my family and I landed in London on June 27th.
One of the most regular questions I’m asked by retiring clients is, “How do we manage our investments once we’re retired?”
Over the past 30 to 40 years, investment management styles and techniques have changed quite a bit.
In our profession, we have the privilege of getting to know clients really well over many years
Life expectancy is one of the most misunderstood aspects of retirement income planning - yet, it is one of the most important factors.
As we approach the holiday season, you’ll hopefully find some time to spend with family and/or friends. Many conversations will be had and some may be about that overdone turkey and some may even be about the investment markets.
Responsible investing (also known as ethical investing and socially responsible investing) is growing in popularity as more investors are seeking to align their portfolios with their values.
Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick
Do you ever find that you can rationalize putting off important responsibilities because they may be painful or cause discomfort?
Everyone has different goals and expectations for their retirement. Likewise, everyone has a different level of financial resources they can use to achieve these goals.
We are fortunate to have a publicly-funded health care system that ensures that all eligible B.C. residents have access to medically-necessary health care services through the province’s Medical Services Plan (MSP). However, you might not be aware that the province also covers eligible prescription medications, medical supplies, and pharmacy services through the PharmaCare program.
Credit can be an extremely useful financial tool or a slippery slope to financial malpractice. Each of us must choose wisely how we manage our credit capacity (or lack thereof!).
A strong awareness and understanding of your personal finances is an integral part of the financial planning process. This holds true regardless of your phase in the financial life cycle.
Louise is retiring soon, and it just dawned on her that she isn’t clear what’s going to happen to her cash flow after the regular paycheques stop coming in. I find this a great source of concern among the nearly-retired...
Just last week, a good friend of mine told me that his bank account had been compromised. He received several PayPal withdrawals that he didn’t authorize and thousands of his funds were gone.
A life annuity is a financial vehicle that allows you to exchange a lump sum of capital for a guaranteed income for as long as you live (or you and your spouse or partner lives).
If you’ve had to obtain a mortgage to purchase a home or condo, you will have noticed the number of times insurance was discussed.
If you had a goose that laid golden eggs, which is worth more: the eggs already in your basket or those yet to come? What value do you put on the goose?
What is the ultimate currency? Is it money? Canadian dollars or U.S. dollars? Is it gold or real estate? No, the ultimate currency is not a tangible asset at all. You can’t save time. You can only spend it… Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh
Over the last 5 months, the Canadian dollar has risen substantially versus the US dollar (an approximate 13% increase). This is good news for shopping across the line, but bad news for the US dollar exposure within our portfolios.
Do you ever find that you can rationalize putting off important responsibilities because they may be painful or cause discomfort?
We are fortunate to have a publicly-funded health care system that ensures that all eligible B.C. residents have access to medically-necessary health care services through the province’s Medical Services Plan (MSP). However, you might not be aware that the province also covers eligible prescription medications, medical supplies, and pharmacy services through the PharmaCare program.
Credit can be an extremely useful financial tool or a slippery slope to financial malpractice. Each of us must choose wisely how we manage our credit capacity (or lack thereof!).
A life annuity is a financial vehicle that allows you to exchange a lump sum of capital for a guaranteed income for as long as you live (or you and your spouse or partner lives).
A strong awareness and understanding of your personal finances is an integral part of the financial planning process. This holds true regardless of your phase in the financial life cycle.
Louise is retiring soon, and it just dawned on her that she isn’t clear what’s going to happen to her cash flow after the regular paycheques stop coming in. I find this a great source of concern among the nearly-retired...
Just last week, a good friend of mine told me that his bank account had been compromised. He received several PayPal withdrawals that he didn’t authorize and thousands of his funds were gone.
If you had a goose that laid golden eggs, which is worth more: the eggs already in your basket or those yet to come? What value do you put on the goose?
Answer: One of the major implications for you will be that you will no longer be able to split pension or RRIF (Registered Retirement Income Fund) income on your income tax returns.
Yes, you can have more than one Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA), with different institutions.
The Federal Budget was delivered in Parliament on March 22, 2017. From a tax perspective, it could be referred to as “The Budget That Wasn’t”.
You’ve saved long and hard for many years. You’ve made sacrifices and put your long-term needs ahead of your current desires for that vacation, the newer car or upgrading the kitchen.
You’ve made the decision to purchase a new vehicle, and now you must ask yourself – should I lease or should I buy? This is a question that we come across time and again with our clients.
If you are seeking a new mortgage, or have a mortgage that is coming up for renewal soon, then this article is for you.
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My goal for you is you will know where your money is going, why it is going there, and what the end result is intended to be. When these things are known, generally money-related stress is relieved and there are no sleepless nights because of money.
You will need to compile certain documents and information to bring with you to our Discovery Meeting.
