Rob: The benefits are many, and because of that, we list them in detail on our New Client page. In a nutshell, we offer a level of service that is truly second to none, where every client gets every need addressed. Around the office we say that ‘no question is too small’ and this is evident in the degree of service and the level of communication we deliver every day.

Beyond that, of course, are the advantages from a financial perspective. Again, we
expand on these advantages in more detail on our New Client page, but in summary they are:

• safety and preservation of capital,    
• superior rates of return,
• liquidity / easy access to funds,
• taxation advantages,
• custom financial planning and ongoing investment consulting, and  
• low fees, with 100% transparency. 

Rob: ScotiaMcLeod is the full service investment division of the Bank of Nova Scotia. The Kelland Wealth Management Group is part of this investment division, and manages investment portfolios for families in London and surrounding area and beyond.

Rob: Yes, you should look closely at the fees associated with your investment
products, but also make sure you understand what you are getting for your fees.
One question to ask yourself is: Am I getting quality investment advice and comprehensive financial planning as part of the fees I’m paying? When purchasing a mutual fund, for example, the M.E.R. (Management Expense Ratio) does not include these important services.

Rob: In general, fees at the Kelland Wealth Management Group are lower than a
typical mutual fund M.E.R. (Management Expense Ratio) fee. As well, we provide
detailed financial planning and ongoing investment advice for every client. Therefore, our promise to clients is that they will receive all the benefits that a mutual fund would offer, plus more service, advice and attention,  for a much lower fee.

Rob: Dividend income from Canadian corporations is taxed more preferentially than interest income. The after-tax returns (or, the 'pre-tax interest rate equivalent yield') is far superior to that which you can receive through bank GICs.

Many preferred shares issued from a bank are unrelated to the equity market; they're more like a debt obligation of the institution. For example, a preferred share of a major bank would pay you a higher rate than a GIC from that same institution. We use this chart to illustrate this taxable benefits of dividend income clearly for our clients:

Please click here to download the chart.

Rob: They can be, but this answer depends on your individual investment goals.
Mutual funds, therefore, are not the best option for everyone. When dealing
with a bank branch, the client typically has a choice between two options: a
GIC or a mutual fund. However, when dealing with the Kelland Wealth Management Group, our clients have many other options in addition to these, many of which have lower fees. For example:

• Federal bonds
• Provincial bonds
• Municipal bonds
• Preferred shares
• Common shares
• ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds)
• And many more

Indeed, there are many different facts to review when considering which investments will best serve your individual goals. This is why we build a personalized investment strategy for each client, which involves choosing from a selection of the different investment vehicles available. Ultimately, our clients are better served by having access to more choice and flexibility.

Rob: Different asset classes include: savings accounts, GICs, housing, gold, the
Canadian equity market, the US global equity market and others.

Without question, equities have provided the best long-term rates of return of any asset class over the past century. We often refer to this chart showing performance data for the last 60 years to illustrate the performance comparison for clients:

Please click here to download the 2012 chart

Rob: Fees may be tax deductible, depending upon a client's investment platform. Mutual fund fees, however, are not tax deductible

Rob: Most experts would agree that the most important factor to a client's long-term success rate is asset allocation. Each client has his or her own unique
tolerance for risk in investing. Investment decisions can become very
emotion-based, which is understandable, but history has demonstrated that
decisions based purely on emotion very rarely turn out favourably. Our job as
advisors is to guide our clients through the ups and down of the market in a
given period, by providing prudent advice that works over the long term. 

Rob: We have many investment alternatives that are safe and tax effective and can
provide a higher rate of return. These would include preferred shares and bonds, both of which are considered fixed income and are unrelated to the stock market.

Rob:Being a designated Portfolio Manager allows me to manage assets on a
discretionary basis, which means that clients are able to provide me with the
authority to make investment decisions on their behalf, without going through
the back-and-forth process of getting clients to approve every individual
recommendation before it is completed. Many clients prefer this because it
eliminates the hassle, inconvenience and time-delay of having to approve each
and every transaction in advance.

At ScotiaMcLeod this platform is called the Managed Portfolio Program, however,
when making investment decisions, I'm not limited to the investment products of
one bank, so each client's portfolio can include a mix of assets that are
tailored to fit with their individual goals. Because I'm keenly aware of each
client’s financial plan and investment goals, the investment decisions I make
are always in alignment with the customized plan and objectives.

Rob: An Investment Policy Statement, or IPS, is a central document that we create for each client, which includes the client's investment objectives, risk tolerance, asset allocation and special requirements. It serves as a blueprint for investment decisions going forward.

Having an IPS in place gives you the peace of mind of knowing that all pertinent
details related to your investment strategy are documented and communicated,
and accessible at any time. We also review the IPS with each client at least yearly, and make any changes or updates as client needs evolve, so the document always reflects a client's current position and objectives.

Rob: I began my career in the financial services industry at age 23, with McLeod
Young Weir in London, Ontario – the firm that was eventually bought out by Scotiabank.

For the next 28 years, my business grew steadily, based solely on referrals from
satisfied clients who recommended my services to their friends and family.

We have always remained true to our roots and followed our philosophy of
delivering exceptional customer service through a professional, disciplined,
conservative approach to investing. It’s an approach that has proved successful
for our clients for nearly three decades.

Today we manage close to $500 million in assets primarily for families, and I'm
licensed to practice in every province in Canada. I'm proud to say that we
have an exceptional client retention rate and are still very happy to accommodate
new referrals from our clients.

Rob: The Kelland Wealth Management Group is always actively involved in many charitable endeavours in our community.  A selection of the charities that our Team has chosen to support recently include: the London Health Sciences Foundation’s Cancer Patient Assistance Fund, the London and Area Food Bank, Childreach, Western Area Youth Services (WAYS), the Thames Valley Children’s Centre, Hospice of London, and sponsorships of various children’s sports teams in our community.

Scotiabank is heavily involved in charitable endeavours.  From sponsoring the
Scotiabank Giller Prize, to working with the NHL, Scotiabank is involved with
many not-for-profit initiatives.  Scotiabank’s dedication to being a socially responsible corporation is showcased through charitable donations and the active volunteerism of its employees. 

For example, in 2010, Scotiabank contributed more than $50 million in donations, sponsorships and other forms of assistance to a variety of Canadian and international
projects and initiatives, mostly to support organizations and projects that have a direct, immediate impact on communities where we live and work around the world. 

Rob: If you have a particular question that hasn’t been addressed here, feel free to contact us at the office. We’re happy to answer your questions by phone, or you can set up a no-obligation introductory meeting with me.