Welcome to The Globe’s Find an Advisor tool
We know it’s not easy to find an advisor to help with your finances, so we’ve created a free tool to help. Search for an advisor by province, language or services. Rest assured that The Globe regularly checks with Canada’s financial regulators and professional bodies to confirm that the advisors listed in the directory are in good standing with the financial regulators and their professional bodies.
How does The Globe check the information?
Globe and Mail researchers have fact-checked all the information advisors provide as part of their listing. We check the information when an advisor first applies to be included, and again six months after their information is published in the listing.
We verify the information against public records on the following official investment industry sites: My Advisor Report from the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, the National Registration Search from the Canadian Securities Administrators, and the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario.
Our checks must disclose that an advisor has a clean record with financial regulators and, if applicable, their professional bodies since they have begun to offer financial services. These checks extend back up to 10 years from the date of the listing review.
Is this a ranking?
No, it is not a ranking.
However, advisors who have purchased an enhanced marketing package are given priority placement in search results. They are clearly marked as ‘Paid Profile’ and / or ‘Client Approved’.
Do advisors pay to be in the directory?
There is no cost to have a basic listing. Some advisors have chosen to purchase premium marketing packages that allow them to include more information about their business or showcase client satisfaction as a ‘Client Approved’ advisor. All advisors go through the same vetting process to be part of the Find an Advisor tool whether they have a basic listing or have purchased a marketing package.
Why are some advisors labelled as a ‘Client Approved’ advisor?
These advisors have gone through a process The Globe has designed to get client feedback on the advisors’ services. The advisors that are labelled as ‘Client Approved’ had a minimum of 30 of their clients respond to a survey, administered by an independent third party. They are labelled ‘Client Approved’ if they received a client approval rating of 80% or higher.
This is a paid service.
What questions are clients asked as part of the survey for advisors to be labelled as ‘Client Approved’?
Here are the questions included in the survey:
- Overall, how would you rate your satisfaction with your financial advisor ?
- Reasons as to why you are satisfied or unsatisfied with your financial advisor. (Options provided for clients)
- Select the services that your advisor has worked on with you (services include financial planning, tax and estate planning, insurance planning)
- Have you ever referred your advisor to a friend/family member/colleague?
- Demographic information – household income (range), sex, age
Are advisors recommended or endorsed by The Globe and Mail?
No. Other than the vetting of information received and the inclusion of client satisfaction results as set out above, The Globe does not perform its own independent assessment of the type and quality of services the advisors listed in the directory provide. The inclusion of an advisor in the directory is not an endorsement or recommendation of that advisor by The Globe and Mail.
Even though an advisor is listed on the directory, you will still need to perform your own assessment of the suitability of an advisor to meet your own financial goals and personal circumstances.
Is the directory a complete listing of all advisors in Canada?
No. The number of advisors on the directory is increasing all the time, but it is not a complete list of all financial advisors in Canada.
Based on your specific search results, you may feel it is appropriate to use other advisor research methods to find an advisor who is right for you.
Financial Industry Definitions
Licences:
Securities Licence: regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), a securities licenses allows for advisors to trade stocks, bonds and other financial products, such as exchange-traded funds. It also allows advisors to sell mutual funds.
Mutual Fund Licence: Regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), this licence means an advisor can sell mutual funds, exempt fixed income, and GICs. Some may also offer exchange traded funds.
Life insurance licence: Regulated by provincial insurance regulators, this licence means an advisor can sell life and living benefits insurance.
(NOTE: the Find an Advisor tool does not capture other forms of insurance such as property and casualty insurance.)
Advising Representative (AR): A person who provides advice on investment products. They can manage your investment portfolio according to your instructions. They can also make decisions and trades on your behalf.
Associate Advising Representative (AAR): A person who provides advice under the supervision of an Advising Representative.
Client Relationship Management Advising Representative (CRM AR): A person who is permitted to recommend model portfolios and pooled funds, determine asset allocations, and formulate and draft investment policy statements without the approval of any other Advising Representative.
Designations:
CFP: Certified Financial Planner
Administered by FP Canada, this designation signifies an advisor follows a high level of standards recognized globally for knowledge, skills and ethics of a financial planner. Those with the CFP designation in Ontario may use the title “Financial Planner.”
QAFP: Qualified Associate Financial Planner
A financial planning designation administered by FP Canada. The QAFP provides a quicker path to becoming a financial planner than a CFP, and it can be a stepping-stone to earning the CFP.
PFP: Personal Financial Planner
A financial planning designation available to members of the Institute of Advanced Financial Planners.
CFA: Certified Financial Analyst
A professional credential recognized globally, the CFA designation, offered by the CFA Institute, signifies a person’s expertise in investment analysis and financial management.
CIM: Chartered Investment Manager
A designation allowing advisors to offer discretionary investment and portfolio management services. The designation is offered by the Canadian Securities Institute.
FCSI: Fellow of CSI
Offered by the Canadian Securities Institute, the FSCI indicates a financial services professional has met the CSI’s standard of industry experience, advanced education, ethics and has been endorsed by peers and superiors.
CLU: Chartered Life Underwriter
Managed by The Institute of Advanced Financial Education, this professional designation is for advisors who wish to specialize in insurance and estate planning.
TEP: Trust and Estate Practitioner
A designation signifying an individual specializes in trusts and other components of estate planning. The designation is offered by STEP Canada.
CA: Chartered Accountant
An accounting designation granted and recognized internationally
Services:
Financial Planning: The preparation of a financial plan that takes all an individual’s financial circumstances, their short and long-term goals, strategies for achieving those goals, into account. It is a full picture look of your current finances, your financial goals, and all elements that are required to meet those goals (investments, estate plan, tax plan, etc.).
Investment Planning: A thorough evaluation of an individual’s current financial situation including income, spending, debt, savings, risk tolerance and goals and selecting an investment strategy based on this assessment.
Tax Planning: An assessment of an individual’s current and future income tax obligations and available strategies to minimize or defer those taxes.
Estate Planning: Planning for an individual’s distribution of assets after their death.
ESG Investment Planning: Creating an investment plan with a lens on environmental, social and governance concerns.
Financial Planning for Business Owners: Working through the unique financial planning needs of business owners (taxes, succession planning etc.).
Cross Border Planning: A financial plan for individuals with assets and retirement benefits in Canada and another country.
Effective Date: