FAQs | Gaylor Tachauer & Associates

Why should I work with a financial advisor?

Financial planning is complex and it can be daunting to tackle it on your own when you have a lot of other things competing for your time. We ask the relevant questions, offer an objective perspective when it comes to making wealth-related decisions, and work with you to create a financial plan you can follow. We will be with you at every turn to adapt your plan as needed, and help ensure you are always well-positioned to reach your goals, regardless of changing priorities and market shifts.

What questions should I ask when choosing a financial advisor?

How long has the advisor been in the business? What certifications, education and/or designations do they have? Do they have strong understanding of financial planning for both small businesses and personal planning? Do they focus on all aspects of wealth management, such as tax, accounting, succession and insurance-related issues, with easy access to a team of experts in those fields? Is their fee structure transparent?

What information will you need from me to create my comprehensive financial plan?

We will start by discussing your current and future goals, followed by any initial concerns you may have. Next, to ensure we can provide a comprehensive plan, we will need current investment and bank account statements, insurance policies, and details on outstanding debts and monies owed, your most recent tax returns, a household budget (if you have prepared one) and plans for travel, large purchases, or helping children with education, home ownership or other pursuits.

How can a Toronto financial planner help when my financial life has become more complex?

A Toronto financial planner can help you see how the different parts of your financial life affect one another. Business decisions can shape personal wealth, tax planning can influence retirement income, and estate decisions can affect the people you care about for years to come. At Gaylor Tachauer & Associates Private Wealth Management, we bring those moving parts into one coordinated plan so important decisions are made with the full picture in mind.

What does private wealth management mean for business owners and affluent families?

Private wealth management goes beyond managing a portfolio. It can include retirement planning, tax strategy, estate planning, insurance, business succession, charitable giving and wealth transfer. The value comes from looking at those decisions together and making sure your wealth is supporting your life, your family and the future you are working toward.

Why might working with CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals be important?

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals, or CFP® professionals, bring recognized training, professional standards and broad financial planning expertise to the relationship. That perspective can be especially valuable when your business and personal finances overlap and decisions around tax, investments, retirement, insurance and estate planning all need to work together.

How can a financial advisor for business owners help me prepare for what comes after the business?

A financial advisor for business owners can help you connect the success of your company to the life you eventually want outside it. That may include deciding how to access corporate wealth, planning for tax, preparing for succession or a sale, building retirement income and understanding what your business needs to be worth to support your next chapter. Planning early can give you more choices when the time to transition finally arrives.

What can a financial consultant help me think through before a major financial decision?

An Etobicoke financial consultant can give you a place to talk through the consequences of a decision before you commit. That might mean considering a business transition, inheritance, retirement date, major purchase or estate decision. We help you understand how the choice could affect your taxes, cash flow, investments, family and long-term plan so you can move forward knowing you have considered the wider picture.

How can tax planning help me keep more of what I have built?

Toronto tax planning is most valuable when it happens throughout the year and over many years, rather than only when a tax return is due. For business owners and affluent families, that can include salary and dividend decisions, corporate structures, investment taxation, retirement withdrawals, business sales and estate planning. We look ahead so tax considerations can shape decisions before opportunities are lost.

When should I start thinking about a business valuation?

A business valuation can be useful well before you are ready to sell. Understanding what your business may be worth can help you make better decisions about succession, retirement timing, tax planning and the amount of personal wealth you may eventually have available after a transition. Gaylor Tachauer & Associates Private Wealth Management can also help eligible business owners request a complimentary interVal analysis as part of the planning process.

What should retirement planning help me understand before I stop working?

Retirement planning should give you a clearer picture of how your wealth will turn into income and what your lifestyle can comfortably support. We help you think through which accounts to draw from first, how RRIFs, TFSAs, pensions and non-registered investments work together, how withdrawals affect tax and how your estate plans fit into the picture. The plan can then continue evolving as your health, family, spending and priorities change.

What should I look for when choosing an Etobicoke financial advisor?

A strong relationship with an Etobicoke financial advisor should give you somewhere to turn when an important decision comes up, not just when it is time to review your investments. Look for a team that takes the time to understand your business, family, tax situation, retirement plans and estate wishes, and that can continue adapting your plan as your life changes.