'Building credibility and a client base takes time,' says Scott Currie, a senior financial planner at TD Wealth Financial Planning. 'But consistency and integrity compound just like investments do.'Supplied
In the Behind the Advice series, Globe Advisor asks advisors about their relationship with money from a young age, lessons learned over the years and how their experiences influence the advice they give clients. Season 3 of the Behind the Advice podcast is now out! You can find episodes from all three seasons here.
Scott Currie, a financial planner with TD Wealth Financial Planning in Chatham, Ont., talks about how his childhood interest in the business of sport led to jobs with professional teams before he switched to financial services. Today, he mixes the two as a full-time advisor with a side gig as co-owner of the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers of the Canadian Baseball League.
Describe your upbringing and early experience with money.
I grew up in Chatham, Ont., a small city with a strong community feel. My father worked in an auto-assembly factory and my mom was a secretary at a small engineering firm. Growing up, my older sister and I were expected to have jobs. In my early teens, I worked part-time corn detasseling. I also babysat and had a paper route.
When I was 18, my parents started talking to me about mutual funds and helped me open an RRSP and a low-balance credit card. My family has always been incredibly supportive and taught me the value of not getting everything you want, but making sacrifices to obtain what you truly need. Those lessons shaped how I approach challenges, plan for the future and work with clients today.
Describe your first money lesson.
My first money lesson came from my favourite pastime as a kid: trading baseball cards. I learned that value isn’t always obvious; some cards were worth more because of rarity or demand, and timing mattered. Little did I know it was my introduction to markets and negotiation.
What did you want to be growing up, and how did you get into financial services?
Like most kids, I wanted to be a professional athlete, in particular a baseball player. I grew up in a big baseball family: I remember my great-grandmother listening to baseball games on the radio. My father also coached my baseball team when I was a kid. However, I was equally fascinated with the business side of sports. Instead of the typical fiction novels 10-year-olds read, I found myself immersed in reading and researching agents, contracts and the inner workings of front offices.
During college, I worked as an intern for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League; then, as an account service representative for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League; and later in the baseball department of a sports technology company in Toronto. I then moved back to Chatham and was introduced to banking and investments. I was immediately hooked, and investments have become a passion both inside and outside of work.
In early 2025, I also fulfilled my passion for the business side of sports by becoming a co-owner of the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers, an independent minor league baseball team based in Chatham playing in the Canadian Baseball League. One of the team’s pitchers, Garret Day, works as an advisor at the same TD branch where I work.
How do you balance being a financial planner and co-owning a sports team?
To me, it doesn’t feel like an extra job, but more like a passion project outside my day job. It’s a good stress reliever, and it’s a lot of fun.
What’s the single most important move you made to build your business?
It sounds corny, but I think being myself, being authentic, has driven my success to date. Sometimes, advisors think there’s a ‘right’ way to act in the role, so they stick to that script instead of just being themselves. People know if you’re faking empathy or not being genuine. Authenticity is what helps you build real connections with clients.
What is the most significant change you see coming to your industry in the next five years?
It’s pretty obvious that AI is affecting every industry. People will use AI more to get financial information. Still, financial planning is about relationships and personalized advice, and technology can’t replace that.
I think back to the pandemic lockdowns; I spent my whole professional career saying, ‘I wish I could just work from home,’ and then COVID hit and it was awful. The clients don’t like it, and I don’t like it because you’re talking through a computer screen. We’re still human-to-human, but there’s not the same connection as talking to someone in person. I think we need to really home in on these human relationships, because AI can’t replace them.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to enter your business?
Be patient and persistent. It’s a great career, but there are many challenges, and nothing happens overnight. Building credibility and a client base takes time, but consistency and integrity compound just like investments do.
Which famous person or fictional character would make a great financial advisor, and why?
Michael Corleone from The Godfather – strictly from a business perspective – would be an exceptional advisor. He’s a powerful figure. His strategic thinking, emotional discipline, patience and ability to think several steps ahead are valuable traits in finance, business and life.
This interview has been edited and condensed.