Your Essential FAQ Resources from Our Expert Firm

Answering your common questions and concerns. If you have additional questions, feel free to get in touch with us for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our advisors.

What does the term “Independent Financial Advisor” mean?

Unlike advisors in larger firms, independent financial advisors operate autonomously, delivering quality financial advice. Certified financial planners (CFPs) with comprehensive certifications can work independently, ensuring high-quality services. Working independently frees them from firm production requirements, commission-based selling, and sales quotas, providing a more transparent view of your financial journey.

Do I really need a financial advisor or wealth manager?

When deciding whether to hire a wealth advisor, it’s important to ask yourself these questions:

Do you have the time and desire to sift through an abundance of information and opportunities to make the best choices for your financial future?
Can you understand how each opportunity applies to your situation, effortlessly discerning what will benefit you and what to avoid?
Are you receiving conflicting advice? Do you know how to differentiate between what information applies to you and what does not?
Are you up to ensuring you’re up to date with investment products, estate laws, and tax changes?

If the answer to any of these is no, it’s time to hire a trustworthy financial planner to take care of the above and more. We provide objective and independent advice to help you stay aligned with your goals so you know you’re always on the right path.

How do I know if Halton Wealth Management is the right choice for my wealth management?

For a successful partnership, you need more than just a knowledgeable advisor. Handling personal finances demands a comfortable and transparent relationship. We go beyond the numbers to understand your hopes, dreams, fears, insecurities, and family dynamics. We respect your values and take the time to get to know what matters most to you so that we can craft a plan to help you achieve your unique goals. Our primary focus is what is in your best interest, and just like family, sometimes that means we’ll have to deliver uncomfortable truths, but we always do it to help you achieve your plans for the future. Our transparency is important to the relationships we have with our clients, and that’s why we back our client relationships with clear written agreements to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings.

What type of clients do you work with?

Halton Wealth Management partners with committed investors looking for consistent improvement in tax-efficient returns, resulting in predictable and sustainable results. Our clients hold investable assets exceeding $500,000, demonstrating a commitment to building a secure retirement. If you’re serious about securing a prosperous financial future, we’re here to help you achieve your goals.

What is your investment strategy?

Our approach at Halton Wealth Management is personalized for each client and grounded in our conservative investment philosophy. We prioritize greater reward through lower risk and exclusively choose income-generating blue-chip value investments that consistently outperform the market. Each client receives a customized portfolio blending corporate bonds and dividend-paying stocks with a proven history of consistent growth, ensuring they achieve the rich future they’ve been striving for.

How exactly are you compensated?

Transparency is a core value at Halton Wealth Management. We share our compensation details upfront, ensuring you have all the information you need to make informed decisions. As the client, you have the authority to decide what best aligns with your needs. Our Fee-for-Service Platform establishes a partnership where our interests align with yours. Additionally, we can help you decipher whether we can help you save on your taxes, as your fees may be tax-deductible in specific situations, adding another layer of value to our transparent and client-centric approach.

What makes you different from other banks and advisors?

Beginning with our initial meeting, we take the time to understand your needs and goals, uncovering what matters most to you and your future. Once we comprehend your financial starting point and destination, we guide you in understanding how your current situation aligns with your plans. We educate you on investment options tailored to your specific needs. Our support doesn’t stop after your first investment; once you partner with Halton WealthManagement, you’re part of our family of financial success stories. Expect regular check-ins to ensure you’re on the right path toward your goals, along with updates on your investment performance.

What are your fees?

Clear communication is a core aspect of who we are at Halton Wealth Management, so partnering with us, you’ll always know upfront the fees you’ll pay and the value you’ll receive. Fees for each client are negotiated based on portfolio size and individual requirements. Additionally, our compensation is unrelated to any commission from investment product sales, ensuring fair payment for the genuine advice and service you receive from us.

Are you available after business hours?

Absolutely. We understand the importance of flexibility to meet your unique needs and situation. Choose from various meeting options, whether it’s a Zoom call, a coffee meetup at your favorite spot, a visit to an advisor in Burlington at our home office, or having us come to your home. Our commitment is to make it convenient for you to meet wherever you feel most comfortable.

How can I be sure my financial advisor is unbiased?

Assessing the objectivity of an independent financial advisor can be challenging. That’s why it’s essential to have the foundation of an open relationship so that you feel free to ask questions. Ask why they suggest specific products and how they benefit your financial goals. Trust is essential, and asking these questions ensures mutual understanding and keeps you informed.

What are your credentials? Do you have a fiduciary responsibility?

CFP – Certified Financial Planner: The most widely recognized financial planning designation in Canada and worldwide. The CFP designation provides assurance to Canadians that the design of their financial future rests with a professional who will put their client’s interests ahead of their own.
RRC – Registered Retirement Consultant: The Registered Retirement Consultant Designation holder has an advanced understanding of financial planning concepts and strategies with a specialization in retirement and estate planning.
CEA – Certified Executor Advisor: The Certified Executor Advisor designation provides the knowledge required to engage with executors and those responsible for successful estate settlement.
CPCA – Certified Professional Consultant on Aging: To earn this designation, individuals must demonstrate a solid understanding of the health, social, and financial aspects of aging.
RWM – Real Wealth Manager: Advisors authorized to use the RWM designation have a deep and broad understanding of behavioral and financial skills required to manage family wealth over several generations. They develop a strategy and follow a process to manage intergenerational wealth.
LLQP – Licensed Insurance Broker: Insurance brokers are independent insurance professionals. They offer product choices from a variety of companies and offer independent advice, always representing their client’s best interests.

Registered Portfolio Managers (PM) manage all our clients’ investments on a discretionary basis, with a fiduciary duty to the clients. That means our portfolio managers have a fiduciary duty to act with care, honesty, and good faith, always in the best interest of their clients. Investment decisions, therefore, must be independent and free of bias. This results in a higher level of trust placed in portfolio managers.

As fiduciaries, securities regulation requires the highest level of education and experience in the investment industry.

How do I get started?

Ready to enjoy your rich future? Contact us at (289) 291-1212 or 1-877-486-6237.

Not sure where to start? Fill out the form on our free consultation page to request your free, no-obligation consultation to take the first steps towards a successful financial future.

You Can Trust Halton Wealth Management

Every client is #1

“Jim Gunn has managed my investments honestly and wisely for over 25 years. Jim is easy to talk with and offers great advice. I am always impressed with his yearly visits to ensure I understand how my finances are being invested. I would gladly recommend Jim’s service to anyone.”

Helen P.

Barrie, Ontario

We’ve been stewarding your financial success for over 25 years.

Our founder, James P Gunn (we call him Jim), Financial Advisor since 1996 alongside his wife, Katarina, founded Halton Wealth Management in 2002. Over the years, we’ve developed a dynamic team, combining Jim’s wealth of financial experience and tough love approach with Katarina’s dedication to fostering a close-knit client community. As our team continues to grow, we stay committed to our foundational values, guaranteeing a cohesive approach that maintains the exceptional service our clients have relied on for years.

Learn more about Halton Wealth Management from Our Founder

Ready to take control of your financial future?

From your first consultation, expect personalized financial services and continuous support to help you achieve your goals with us.

(289) 291-1212 | 1-877-486-6237