FAQ

Wealth advising is a comprehensive process designed to steer you towards the realization of your life goals by effectively managing your finances. It goes beyond simple budgeting and saving—a well-crafted financial plan strikes a balance between your present needs and wants and your long-term aspirations.

Relay Wealth Advisors is part of a larger wealth management firm called Assante. Established in 1995, Assante has since become one of the largest wealth management firms in Canada, supporting over 900 advisors who oversee approximately $46 billion in assets for clients and their families nationwide.

In 2003, Assante was purchased by CI Financial Corp—a diversified wealth management firm and the third-largest investment fund company in Canada—bringing additional financial strength and resources to the Assante organization. Since becoming a public company in 1994, CI has been one of the best-performing securities on the S&P/TSX Composite Index.

With access to a wealth of tools and resources, Assante advisors and their clients are supported by the exceptional investment management team and wealth planning group available through our sister company, CI Global Asset Management, and CI Assante Private Client, a division of CI Private Counsel LP.

To find out more about CI Assante Wealth Management, you can visit their website.

The CFP® mark stands for Certified Financial Planner®, and is the world’s most recognized designation for financial planners, often regarded as the “gold standard” in the industry. CFP® professionals have received extensive education and have completed standardized exams, proving their expertise, skills, experience, and ethical standards in thoroughly assessing their clients’ complete financial situation.

Working with a wealth advisor can provide invaluable benefits and peace of mind on your financial journey. Studies show those who work with an advisor end up with higher net worths than those who go it alone. A financial advisor brings expertise, experience, and a deep understanding of the complexities in managing your finances effectively. At Relay, we create personalized financial plans tailored to your specific goals and circumstances, whether it’s saving for retirement, managing debt, investing wisely, or preparing for major life events. A financial advisor offers objective advice on how to best proceed given your interests, from navigating through market uncertainties and changing economic landscapes to managing cash flow and accounting for the impact of taxes on investment income. We’re a trusted ally who can guide you towards making informed decisions and staying on track to achieve your long-term financial aspirations.

To figure out whether you want to work with a prospective financial advisor, you should ask about their education and experience, and get an in-depth picture of what services they offer and what their approach is. You want an advisor who listens and asks good questions. The more you talk, the more your advisor will be able to identify and meet your known needs and unknown needs. Feeling heard should be top priority when selecting an advisor. At Relay Wealth Advisors, we prioritize establishing a relationship based on communication and free flow of information. We move at your pace and actively try to create a comfortable atmosphere for our clients.

Advisors can be paid in several ways, but the method that most closely aligns client interests with the advisor’s is the fee-based model. The amount a client pays is based on a certain percentage of assets managed. At Relay Wealth Advisors, we use this method and we have a fee schedule whereby the level charged is determined by the assets a client holds with us as well as the complexity of their situation.

Diversifying your financial portfolio helps to reduce risk and may lead to a higher return on your investments by allowing you to participate in the growth potential of various sectors while minimizing the potential negative effects of any single investment. Spreading your investments across a variety of assets, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate allows you to mitigate the impact of market fluctuations on your overall wealth, which provides a balanced approach, increases the potential for stable returns over time, and ultimately safeguards your financial future.

We offer an expansive shelf of financial and insurance products but the most important “product” we offer is peace of mind. The financial products are simply tools we use to accomplish our end goal of helping clients think less about money and more about life.

Our onboarding process typically runs two to four meetings. We take it slow and prioritize getting to know the prospective client’s needs in meeting one. In meeting two, we discuss what Relay Wealth Advisors does and how our particular services meet your needs. After that meeting, you should have a good idea of whether you would like to work with us. Once the decision is made, we complete an agreement that outlines our responsibilities as well as yours to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship. From that point, we meet again to start the planning and implementation process. The pace through the process is highly dependent on the prospective client and their comfort level.