Our integrated wealth management offer.

Most of our clients like to be consulted in investment decisions. They are critical and have an opinion, but have neither the time nor the energy to get involved in research. As a result, they are counting on us to come up with analyses and provide realistic, personalized and proactive solutions. Each portfolio is unique and is managed in accordance with macroeconomic movements. This allows us to select from several “traditional” investment combinations, including equities, Canadian and U.S. index-linked securities, new issues, fixed-income securities and investment funds to ensure management based on your risk profile. Tax considerations remain a key element of our management. Our focus is on maintaining a good correlation between your securities to make sure they do not respond the same way to stock market movements, thus ensuring a better balance in your portfolio.

Our portfolio management is based on our own convictions and our DNA is based on our ability to differentiate, adapt and innovate. That’s why we use decision-making tools (i.e. fundamentals, market trend indicators, research with our analysts in Toronto and other firms) to improve and optimize our decision-making process. This methodology has allowed us to produce good, stable and consistent results in the short, medium and long term.

Financial planning is a key element of our service offering. Like any life projects, retirement needs to be planned. However, most people have little time to devote to retirement planning and are looking for a comprehensive solution to simplify their lives and optimize all of their banking, financial, tax and estate strategies. A financial plan is there to help you see the big picture and better understand your financial situation and needs. With BMO WealthPath®, we can support you in this important endeavour.

We have always been generous with our time and advice. Whether we’re talking about portfolio management, retirement, or the transfer of assets to the next generation, these are topics that must be addressed in an overall vision, a 360-degree analysis. This enables the overall strategies to be better coordinated, which greatly simplifies our clients’ lives. The objective is to obtain a complete picture of the financial situation of an individual or family. It is important to ensure that all financial data are consistent, that every aspect of a balance sheet takes into account what is happening elsewhere in the investor’s life. And the process begins with a comprehensive review of personal, family and work-related circumstances.

Taxation continues to be our primary concern. Let’s take the example of an investor who only cares about performance. Many people only look at their portfolio’s growth without wondering whether they hold the right securities from a tax perspective. It’s important to know that, from a tax perspective, not all securities are treated the same. So after looking at each individual’s situation, it’s not uncommon to be able to achieve tax savings simply by restructuring your portfolio. Only a detailed analysis that encompasses all of a client’s assets and objectives will enable an approach to be developed that is consistent from a tax perspective..

Planning your affairs for when you die is not in itself very exciting. Human nature being what it is, there is a tendency to defer such tasks. We are a forward-thinking team and our responsibility is to support you in this process so that we don’t forget anything. If the actions taken today are well thought out and properly backed, the transfer to the next generation will be smooth. We believe that handing down an inheritance is a great gift, but giving it with tools (e.g., trust, insurance) is definitely a better gift. Don’t wait until it’s too late to do it! Your peace of mind depends on it. Together with yourself and our estate and insurance advisors, we are taking the time to discuss some fundamental questions. For example, does your plan ensure that:

• The financial security of your spouse or dependants will be assured?
• Your family will be able to maintain its standard of living?
• Income tax and other estate-related costs will be limited and covered?
• Your assets will be distributed as you wish?
• Your assets and investments will be maintained in the event of a physical or intellectual disability?
• Have you thought about BMO Trust?

Choosing the right liquidator is a very important step in estate planning. Estate settlement services are provided by our trust company, whose professionals act on your behalf to perform the duties of a liquidator. By appointing a team of experienced professionals rather than using a single person, you can be sure that your estate will be administered by competent people in a timely and careful manner. The only way to answer these questions is to have a comprehensive plan.

Clients’ financial goals may change as they get older. The need to preserve your wealth will therefore differ at various life stages. When your family is young, you have to protect them from misfortune. When you start to accumulate significant assets, such as a home, you have to protect your capacity to pay for it. During their prosperous working years, some people feel reassured by taking out disability or critical illness insurance in order to maintain their level of income in case misfortune strikes. However, as they approach retirement and even after (between the ages of 60 and 75), they have fewer or no debts and they have accumulated significant investment assets that can provide them with retirement income. At this point in their lives, our clients begin to think about preserving their wealth and transferring it. Life insurance is just one strategy among many that can be used to move assets to a more tax-efficient environment. The leverage created in this way will create wealth for your estate.

• Inter vivos and family trusts, wills
• Estate planning, management and disputes (trusts, holding companies, multiple beneficiaries)
• Mandatary, liquidator, trustee
• Trust administration and structuring
• Mandataries for day-to-day tasks (e.g., tax compliance)
• Escrow

Many of our clients have limited time and are looking for an integrated solution to simplify their lives and optimize their strategies. They have special needs in terms of banking and borrowing services, and that requires equally distinctive service. Our proposal includes a dedicated banker capable of performing and overseeing the unified management of individual, corporate and holding company accounts. We understand that we need to look at the big picture and coordinate our actions with wealth management specialists and our partners (Canadian or US) to set up creative custom solutions.