Fee-Only Financial Planners in Vancouver, B.C.
Compare financial planners and advisors serving Vancouver, B.C. Learn how different advisors are compensated, explore the services they offer, and find an advisor who approach fits your financial needs.
FeeOnlyFinancial.ca helps Canadians understand their financial advice options and connect with financial professionals based on their needs, location and financial situation.
Financial Planners and Advisors Serving Vancouver
Vancouver residents have access to financial professionals offering a range of services, including comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, investment management and wealth management.
The right advisor for you depends on the type of help you need. Services, credentials, compensation structures, investment minimums and areas of specialization can vary significantly from one financial professional to another.
Compare the Vancouver financial planners and advisors below. Review their services, credentials and contact information before deciding who you'd like to speak with.
Jay Gangnes
CFP®, CLU®
Ocean 6
Highly recommend Jay and the whole Ocean 6 team.
Their financial planning process is comprehensive and insightful.
They are very knowledgeable and thorough, and take the time to work through all aspects of your finances.
We appreciate their transparency and creative solutions, and really feel well supported in our financial journey.
Lisa Steele
Billy Xiao
CFP®, CKA
Mobius Financial Planning
Working with Bily has been such a pleasure. I appreciate his honesty and pressure free approach.
He took his time to understand the needs of my family before making any suggestions.
I feel very comfortable that my insurance and financial needs are being taken care of.
I highly recommend Bily's services.
Albert Lee
Vishal Gill
CFP®
Portfolio Planning
Vishal is someone that has been supporting me with my financials for quite sometime now.
Always efficient, on top of his communication and follow ups are what makes him the best in the industry.
Highly recommend connecting with Vishal and the team from Portfolio Planning!
Jag Deol
Alain Quennec
CFP®, FMA, CIM®
RGF Integrated Wealth Management
We had a truly exceptional experience from start to finish, marked by top-notch professionalism and expertise.
The customer service was outstanding, surpassing all my expectations. Bryn Hamilton and Anthony Ma were particularly impressive.
They were thorough, knowledgeable, and incredibly patient.
They took the time to explain every detail and answered all my questions with clarity and care.
I couldn't be happier with their service and highly recommend them to anyone in need of outstanding support and expertise.
eric rivera
Peyman Salari
CFP®, CLU
Wise Invest
I've been working with WiseInvest for a while now, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the level of service and expertise I've received.
They are incredibly knowledgeable in the world of finance and have been instrumental in helping me make informed decisions for my financial future.
Their guidance has made a significant difference in my financial well-being.
I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking sound financial advice and planning.
Thank you for your invaluable support!
sara Bahrani
Adam Wong
CFP®, CIWM, CIM®, FCSI®, CEPA®
Edward Jones
Adam has truly been an incredible financial advisor for our family.
When we first met Adam, his genuine interest in our goals as parents of young children was evident.
He listened to our needs and gave excellent advice right away.
We have now been working with Adam for 10 years and will continue to grow with him into retirement.
We appreciate all his hard work and dedication to our family!!
Thank you Adam!!
Sarah Stark
How To Find The Right Financial Planner In Vancouver
Finding a financial planner isn't simply about choosing the advisor with an office closest to you. The more important question is whether the advisor's services, experience, compensation structure and approach are appropriate for your financial situation.
Before choosing a financial planner or advisor in Vancouver, start by identifying what you actually want help with.
Consider the Services You Need
Someone approaching retirement may need help determining when to take CPP, how to draw income from registered accounts and how much they can sustainably spend.
A business owner may have very different concerns involving corporate assets, retirement, succession planning and coordination with accountants and lawyers.
Your needs might include:
- Comprehensive financial planning
- Retirement planning
- Investment planning or management
- Cash-flow planning
- Tax planning or coordination
- Estate planning
- Insurance and risk planning
- Business-owner financial planning
Not every financial professional provides every service. Ask specifically which services the advisor provides and whether those services are included in the fee you're being quoted.
Understand How the Advisor Is Paid
Financial professionals can be compensated in several ways.
Depending on the advisor and services provided, compensation may include a flat or project fee, hourly fees, an ongoing retainer, a percentage of assets managed, commissions or other forms of compensation.
Understanding compensation matters because it tells you both what financial advice may cost you and what financial incentives may exist within the relationship.
Our guide to [How Financial Advisors Get Paid in Canada] explains the major compensation models in detail.
Review Credentials and Regulatory Status
Look beyond the advisor's job title.
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada notes that terms such as "financial advisor" and "financial planner" are used broadly and don't always indicate specific qualifications, expertise or certifications. Regulation of these titles also differs across Canada.
Ask about the advisor's education, professional designations, experience and the types of clients they typically work with.
If the person provides investment advice or other activities requiring securities registration, you can also verify their registration through the National Registration Search.
The BC Securities Commission identifies the NRS as the primary public source for determining whether an individual or firm is registered in British Columbia, their registration category and whether terms or conditions apply.
What Is A Fee-Only Financial Planner?
A fee-only advisor is compensated directly by clients rather than through commissions received for selling financial products.
The exact way a fee-only planner charges can vary.
Flat or Project Fee: The client pays an agreed-upon amount for a defined financial planning engagement. The scope might involve creating a comprehensive financial plan or addressing a specific planning need.
Hourly Fee: The client pays according to the amount of professional time required. This structure can be useful when someone needs advice on a particular issue rather than an ongoing advisory relationship.
Retainer: The client pays a recurring fee for ongoing access to financial planning and advice. The services included in a retainer can differ considerably between firms.
Assets under management: Some advisors charge a percentage based on the assets they manage for a client. Whether investment management is offered depends on the advisor's services and applicable registration.
Eliminating product commissions can remove one potential source of compensation-related conflicts, but it doesn't eliminate every possible conflict or automatically make one advisor better than another.
Important: "Fee-only" describes a compensation approach. The label by itself does not establish an advisor's credentials, registration, licensing or regulatory obligations.
Fee-Only vs Fee-Based Financial Advisors
The distinction between fee-only and fee-based financial advisors comes primarily down to how the advisor can be compensated.
A fee-only advisor receives compensation directly from clients through structures such as flat fees, hourly fees, retainers or asset-based fees.
A fee-based advisor may charge clients directly while also receiving commissions or other compensation in connection with certain products or services.
That distinction matters because compensation arrangements can create different financial incentives.
However, compensation shouldn't be the only factor used to choose an advisor.
Experience, credentials, services, investment philosophy, regulatory status, communication, total cost and experience working with clients in situations similar to yours can all matter.
For registered securities professionals, Canadian Client Focused Reforms include requirements concerning conflicts of interest, know-your-client information, know-your-product obligations and suitability. Material conflicts must be addressed in the client's best interest, and suitability determinations must put the client's interest first.
How Much Does a Financial Planner Cost in Vancouver?
There isn't one standard price for hiring a financial planner in Vancouver.
What you ultimately pay depends on the advisor's compensation structure, the complexity of your financial situation, the services you require and whether you're looking for a one-time financial plan or an ongoing advisory relationship
Here are the primary models of compensation:
Flat or Project Fee: You pay an agreed-upon amount for a defined financial planning engagement.
Hourly Fee: You pay according to the amount of professional time required to provide the advice.
Retainer: You pay a recurring fee for an ongoing financial planning relationship. What is included should be clearly established before you become a client.
Percentage of Assets Managed: Where investment management is provided, an advisor or firm may charge a fee based on the amount of assets being managed.
Commission or Other Compensation: Some financial professionals may receive commissions or other compensation connected to certain products or transactions.
FCAC recommends understanding the services an advisor provides, the cost of those services and how you will pay for them before working together.
Don't compare advisors using a single headline fee alone.
Before hiring an advisor, ask for a clear explanation of all fees and other compensation you may directly or indirectly pay.
Click here to learn more on How Financial Advisors Get Paid.
Financial Planning Services in Vancouver
Financial planners may offer different combinations of services depending on their expertise, credentials, registration and business model. Before hiring an advisor, confirm which services they personally provide and which may involve other professionals.
Services | Description |
|---|---|
Retirement Planning | CPP, OAS, workplace pensions, RRSPs, RRIFs, TFSAs, retirement income and withdrawal planning. |
Investment Planning and Management | Asset allocation, investment strategy, portfolio management and risk tolerance, where offered. |
Tax Planning | Planning strategies designed to consider the tax implications of financial decisions. Be careful not to imply every financial planner provides tax advice. Planning may involve coordination with a client's accountant or other tax professional. |
Estate Planning | Beneficiary considerations, estate objectives and coordination with legal professionals where appropriate. |
Insurance and Risk Planning | Identifying financial risks and reviewing insurance needs where offered. The ability to recommend or sell specific insurance products depends on the professional's licensing and services. |
Business Owner Planning | Personal/corporate financial coordination, retirement, succession considerations and coordination with accountants/legal professionals. This can require coordination among a financial planner, accountant and lawyer. |
Retirement Planning in Vancouver
For Vancouver residents approaching retirement, financial planning often shifts from accumulating assets to determining how those assets can support spending throughout retirement.
Financial Planning for Vancouver Business Owners
Business Owners may benefit from working with financial professionals who have experience coordinating planning with accountants, lawyers and other professionals.
Financial Planner vs Investment Advisor: What's the Difference?
Bs
10 Questions to Ask a Vancouver Financial Planner
- How are you compensated?
- What credentials do you hold?
- What registrations or license apply to the services you provide?
- What services are included in your fee?
- What types of clients do you typically work with?
- Do you provide financial planning, invesatment management or both?
- Do you receive commissions or other third-party compensation?
- What will I pay in total?
- Are there minimum investment or asset requirements?
- How often will we review my financial plan?
How FeeOnlyFinancial.ca Helps You Find a Financial Planner
- Tell us what you're looking for
Complete the questionnaire. - Tell us about your financial situation
Whatever relevant information your actual questionnaire collects. - We identify an appropriate advisor match
Describe this accurately based on your real routing/matching
FeeOnlyFinancial.ca does not provide and does not intend to provide investment or legal advice through this website. Information contained on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. Third party links and resources are provided for your convenience, and have not been independently verified by FeeOnlyFinancial.ca. FeeOnlyFinancial.ca is not responsible for the accuracy or viability of the information or services offered through third-parties. Inclusion of links to third-party content is not an endorsement by FeeOnlyFinancial.ca of such content or services. Use your discretion.
FeeOnlyFinancial.ca earns an annual or monthly fee from financial advisors and financial firms in exchange for marketing services, including the advisor profile, that are subject to terms of use. This creates a material conflict of interest and a financial incentive to only include advisors in the directory from whom FeeOnlyFinancial has received compensation. FeeOnlyFinancial is not a client of these advisors or firms.