Welcome to Working with a Financial Planner

"If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably wind up somewhere else"      David Campbell, Ph.D

And that in a nutshell is what financial planning is all about. First it helps you determine where you’re going - what you want for your financial future. Then it helps you make it happen.

Financial planning is a dynamic ongoing process that takes into account the “whole you”. Your financial life – your income, assets, liabilities, etc. – and your personal life – your values, dreams, wants, needs, time horizons, etc. And perhaps most important, your financial plan must reflect your attitude toward risk and reward.

The result is a custom-tailored strategy that will help you achieve your financial goals. A personal plan that will show you how to optimize your financial decisions to make the most of your wealth – now and in the future.

Financial planning can help you . . .

• Minimize the taxes you pay

• Maximize your investment returns

• Make your retirement years more comfortable and secure

• Handle your day-to-day finances faster and easier

• Increase your savings and optimize the growth of your wealth

• Improve your cash flow for a better balance between income and expenses

• Accumulate funds for special goals, like higher education for children

• Look after your dependents in case of death or disability

• Estimate your insurance needs

• Have more confidence in your financial decisions

• Transfer the assets of your estate to your heirs in the most effective way

These are just some of the benefits of financial planning – benefits that everyone can enjoy. But although everyone can benefit from financial planning, not everyone needs a professional financial planner*.

back to top

This is a key decision you have to make. Should you do your own financial planning or should you use a professional financial planner. This section will help you decide. And you can start by answering these few questions:

• Are you the fiercely independent type?

• Do you dislike asking for assistance?

• Do you prefer to work things out on your own?

• Do you have a hard time taking advice?

• Do you feel confident about your financial and investment decisions?

• Do you enjoy doing financial research?

• Do you enjoy crunching numbers in financial simulations?

• Can you devote the time it takes to look after your financial planning?

If this sounds like you, you probably don’t need a financial planner. If you’re willing to spend the time and effort, chances are you’ll be fine doing your own financial planning.

But if this does not sound like you, and you have a minimum of $50,000 in investable assets, you may find a financial planner can be of great assistance.

If you’d like to discuss this question with an RBC Investments financial planning professional, click here to find the RBC financial planning professional closest to you. Or if you prefer, you can explore the question further by clicking on one of the topics below:

	Why more and more people are using financial planners
	How to know if you should be using a financial planner
	What a financial planner can do for you
	What you should look for in a financial planner

*A financial planner has two roles within RBC Financial Group - one as a financial planner with Royal Mutual Funds Inc., and one as an account manager at Royal Bank or Royal Trust. Having this dual role allows your financial planner to help you with all your personal and investment banking needs, including mutual funds, portfolio solutions and GICs, chequing and savings accounts, loans and mortgages, Visa Cards and personal lines of credit.

back to top

Important information about our financial planning services can be found at the bottom of our homepage.