Work With Me

I'm Marc. I now help DIY investors achieve better financial outcomes.

I'm an advice-only planner. I don't sell investments. Instead, I teach you how to be a better investor. Teaching a person how to fish is better than giving them a fish. And I couple that with comprehensive financial planning.

A typical engagement might cover:

• Teaching you about risk-adjusted returns, sequence of returns risk, why dividend investing isn't what you think it is, and other market mechanics
• Retirement planning, including tax optimization, decumulation plans, stress and volatility testing and "what if" scenarios
• Planning for major expenses (such as education, a trip around the world, or a sabbatical)
• Risk mitigation through insurance analysis ("am I adequately insured?") and emergency fund planning
• Estate planning
• Tax optimization (at every life stage)
• Wills and power of attorneys or protection mandates
• Real estate investing (both financial projections and my own experiences)

Digital Planning

I use a digital financial planning platform called Conquest Planning. This lets me involve you in the planning process with Digital Stories and a Client Portal. Financial planning should be collaborative and ongoing. We call this approach "digital planning".

You will have live access to your plan anytime through the portal. We can modify the plan, and you will see the results. We can even do "what if' scenarios together, and you can compare.

Who Is This For?

It's for anyone who wants a better financial outcome in life. We'll spend our first meeting getting to know each other and me understanding what your goals in life are. There will likely be no numbers discussed.

It doesn't matter if you're a new DIY investor or someone more seasoned. Even the most seasoned DIY investor can benefit from an objective third-party review.

We will work on saving for your big goals in life. I'll help you work towards your retirement goals and provide cash flow forecasts with stress testing. I'll help you plan your estate to minimize taxes or transfer wealth in your lifetime. From a risk management perspective, we'll ensure your family can be well cared for financially should the worst happen.

You'll get an actionable, step-by-step plan and lots of advice and context.

One of my areas of expertise is helping those who want to move abroad at some point. This can require specialized planning to avoid unpleasant tax consequences when you leave Canada or arrive at your destination of choice.

Who Is This Not For?

I don't work with folks who have professional practices or incorporated business owners. Those engagements are more in-depth and have some other nuances.

I also don't work with dual U.S.-Canada citizens.

As disclosed above, I don't sell investments and cannot legally provide specific investment recommendations one-on-one. However, I can refer you to some good portfolio managers if you want a managed portfolio.

I'm also not a budget or money coach. You won't get a day-to-day budget. But you will get a plan that takes you through your entire financial lifecycle.

I do need the people I work with to have cash flow. Unfortunately, if you have significant cash flow problems, you would be better suited to debt counselling or money coaching.

What Does It Cost?

I believe in being transparent.

A comprehensive financial plan is $1295*, including a year of support. Support includes some minor post-plan revisions and occasional conversations.

Maintaining your plan costs $100/year (after the first year of support). This helps cover the cost of keeping your plan active in Conquest.

If you want to rejig your plan in the future, it's a flat fee of $650*. You might want to do this if you have a significant life event that will change your financial picture, such as a career change, the birth of a child, or revisiting your retirement plans.

*These are introductory prices.

Are You Qualified?

I believe so.

I've managed my investments for years and lived off them since 2018. I've been a real estate investor, worked on Bay Street on both the buy-side and sell-side, run businesses, and mitigated both risk and financial hardship.

You're not just getting a guy who's read books and completed courses—you're getting access to someone who's already lived through a financial lifecycle.

As far as planning designations are concerned, I'm a Chartered Financial Planner candidate.

I carry professional liability errors and omissions insurance through Marsh in the unlikely event that I provide erroneous information. Due to the nature of digital planning, I also carry cyber threat insurance.

Pro-bono and Reduced Cost Work

If you or your family are affected by a severe disability, I will try to help you. If you cannot afford the fees, we can talk, and I will either reduce them or waive them, depending on your circumstances.

I am familiar with helping secure CPP Disability and the Disability Tax Credit. I can also walk you through how RDSPs work.

That sounds great. How do I get started?

You can use the contact form below to reach out if you have questions.

If you'd like to schedule an introductory Zoom with no cost and no obligation, you can book a slot in my calendar here. I want you to feel comfortable with me, and I also want to know we're a good fit.