Frequently Asked Questions

What products and services do you offer?

As a Investment Advisors with Manulife Securities Incorporated, David, Elaine and Katlin offer stocks, bonds, ETF's, mutual funds, GIC's and other investment solutions. 

David & Elaine offer Life Insurance with Manulife Securities Insurance Inc and offer segregated investments such as guaranteed income products and creditor-proof savings. As a Financial Planners we work with clients to uncover their needs, clarify their goals, values, risk tolerance and time horizon, net worth and cash flow, to analyze clients financial opportunities and challenges. We make proposals and implement recommendations and provide on-going reviews of your investments and your progress towards your goals.

Do you offer Life Insurance?

Yes - you can access quotes from multiple carriers through us. We would be happy to meet you and discuss your needs and the various types of coverage available. Some need insurance to cover their mortgage and debt, or provide for dependants; others want life insurance to provide for succession of a farm or business or cottage, or to cover income taxes on your estate. 

If you know you want inexpensive term insurance, and you need it in place quickly before your house mortgage closes, we can set up a time to do apply for term life insurance by phone. If you’re between 18 and 50, and applying for coverage up to $500,000 there are fewer medical questions than before, and no paramed meeting needed.  Please contact us to find out more about your life insurance options and make sure your loved ones are not left burdened by debt.

Can you service my existing insurance policy?

As independent Life Insurance Advisors both David and Elaine are life licensed and insurance is provided through  Manulife Securities Insurance Inc. Which, offers service to clients for insurance policies and also offer new life insurance quotes and policies and can convert an existing policy to a new policy. 

However, if you have an existing life insurance policy, from Manulife or one of the firms Manulife purchased, such as Standard Life or Confederation Life, or a Group policy, you need to contact the advisor who sold you the policy, your group plans administrator, or the advisor of record on your latest insurance statement. That advisor, or the one who has taken on their business, can provide service on your policy, such as changing an address or banking information or updating your beneficiaries. 

You can also call Client Services for Manulife Insurance at: 1-888-626-8543.

Do you offer ETF's?

Yes! ETF's (Exchange Traded Funds) are a way of investing in a diverse portfolio of securities at a lower cost because they use technology to track an index or basket of assets, rather than a Portfolio Management team.  Since ETF's are a product that does not embed compensation to Dealers or Advisors in its costs, we offer ETF's to any client on our Premier Investment Program, which allows investors to pay separately for service and products.

How do you get paid?

As Financial Planners and Investment Advisors for Manulife Securities Incorporated, and Life Insurance Advisor for Manulife Securities Insurance Inc., we a full-service financial advisor team. We do continuing education and continuous client service to ensure your portfolio is suitable and that you are on track to meet your goals. 

Generally our clients compensate us by paying a percent on the assets I administer for them, without commissions for investment transactions. 

For Mutual Funds held under the traditional model, the compensation to the Dealer and Advisor is embedded in the Management Expense Ratio (MER). Click here for an  infographicon the value you receive for your mutual fund fees. 

Can we have a fee-based account?

Yes!  Manulife's Premier program is a fee-based account that allows clients to pay separately for products and services.  It has the advantage of offering a broader range of investment choices, such as low-cost ETF's, F-series funds, and stocks.  

The fully transparent Premier fee can be tax-deductible in non-registered accounts (see your tax specialist).

We are always looking for ways to minimize your costs, and to maximize the value you receive.

What is the Value of an Advisor?

Having a Financial Advisor has been shown to increase household wealth over time. A Financial Advisor can help with budget and savings plans, setting goals, ensuring you have emergency funds, protecting your family with insurance, investment and asset allocation choices, addressing emotional concerns about money, avoiding mistakes in investments, and structuring accounts for minimal tax and estate impact. As Investment Advisors with Manulife Securities Incorporated, we also fulfil the experience, education, and ethics requirements of being Financial Planners. Research shows that Canadians who rely on a financial advisor to guide their financial decisions are wealthier, more confident and better prepared for the financial implications of marriage, a new child, their children’s education, retirement and other life events. Click here to find the research on: Are Financial Advisors Worth it?

What does CFP mean?

CFP stands for Certified Financial Planner, and it is a certification awarded by the Financial Planning Standards Council of Canada (FPSC) to those who meet standards of education, examinations, experience and ethics. CFP® professionals are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. The 6 Steps of Financial Planning are:

1. Define Services, responsibilities, compensation

2. Identify Client goals, priorities, net worth, cash flow

3. Analyze client strengths, opportunities, alternatives

4. Present strategies and solutions

5. Implement Plans to achieve client goals

6. Review and Monitor client progress

Do you have a Minimum Account Size?

There is a cost to providing full-service advice and financial planning, and we aim to provide the best value to our clients. The Premier Investment Program, is often most economical for client households who invest a minimum of $250,000. For those who are using the traditional model, we can cover our costs by using a combination of investment and insurance products.   We are always happy to meet new people to see whether or not we may work together to help you achieve your financial goals.