Recommend a Toronto Financial Planner

February 7, 2008 10:19 AM

Toronto money filter: Two full-time students, recently common-law (under the CRA definition) looking for financial planner recommendations.

So, we're not rich by any stretch of the imagination and somewhat rudderless when it comes to future financial goals (other than the amorphous "save for retirement" & "buy a house" ) partly due to the uncertainty that comes with pursuing advanced graduate degrees--in both the "we're broke" and the "we don't know where we'll be in five years" department.

I'm in my early 30's, my partner in her late 20's. We don't have friends who are in similar situations to provide us with an already-in-place planner recommendation. We've invested ad-hoc to this moment and want to add some rigour to the process, establish some goals and have a plan. Points for a Financial Planner who has some experience dealing with full-time students. Bonus points for someone who can offer Tax advice.

If you don't have a specific recommendation, I would appreciate what I should be looking for. For example, I think I would feel like I was getting honest advice from someone who I paid, rather than made their money on commission. But perhaps I'm way off on that.

I've found posts that deal with similar questions, but nothing that really offers suggestions for someone in my (our) situation. Merci bien.

posted by gavia to work & money (4 comments total)

Greetings,

I would recommend NAPFA. NAPFA, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to the advancement of Fee-Only comprehensive financial planning.

web link: NAPFA
posted by pildor at 10:28 AM on February 7

Thanks pildor but the only Canadian advisor I could find was located in British Columbia.

It would be my guess that buying a $600 return ticket to meet a financial planner would fall into the poor financial planning category.
posted by gavia at 10:41 AM on February 7

Who do you bank with? TD are good at this. Go to the Yonge & Adelaide branch, which is head office. They put their brightest sparks there. You can just walk in most days.
posted by unSane at 10:47 AM on February 7

I'll recommend John Mott (johnmott.com). If he doesn't suit your purpose, I'm sure he can recommend someone who can. Feel free to tell him I sent you.
posted by dobbs at 9:03 AM on March 1