Wealth Management in Canada: A Complete Guide
More than investing. A complete strategy for your financial life.
What Is Wealth Management?
Wealth management is the most comprehensive form of financial advisory service available in Canada. It integrates investment management, tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and risk management into a single, coordinated strategy - managed proactively on your behalf by a dedicated advisor.
The distinction between wealth management and other financial services is not simply the size of the portfolio. It is the scope of the relationship. Where a financial planner creates a roadmap, a wealth manager drives the car - actively managing every dimension of your financial life, adapting your strategy as your circumstances, the tax environment, and the markets evolve. For individuals, families, and business owners whose financial lives have grown complex enough to require that level of coordination, wealth management is not a luxury. It is the most efficient way to build, protect, and transfer wealth over a lifetime.
What Wealth Management Includes
A comprehensive wealth management relationship at SG Wealth integrates eight core service areas into a single, coordinated strategy.
Investment Management
Diversified portfolio management tailored to your goals, time horizon, risk tolerance, and tax situation across all account types.
Tax Planning and Minimization
Proactive structuring of your financial affairs to keep more of what you earn - legally and efficiently through proven strategies.
Retirement Planning
Comprehensive strategy for wealth accumulation and tax-efficient drawdown including RRSP, TFSA, CPP, and OAS optimization.
Estate Planning
Efficient, private transfer of wealth through wills, powers of attorney, beneficiary optimization, trusts, and life insurance.
Insurance and Risk Management
Comprehensive review of life, disability, and critical illness coverage to protect your income, business, and estate.
Business and Corporate Planning
Integration of corporate and personal strategies including salary-dividend optimization, corporate surplus, and succession.
Family Enterprise Planning
Family governance, next-generation education, and coordination of wealth transfer strategies across multiple generations.
Philanthropy
Strategic structuring of charitable giving through donor-advised funds or direct donations for maximum tax efficiency.
Who Needs Wealth Management?
| Situation | Why Wealth Management Helps |
|---|---|
| Investable assets of $1M or more | Tax efficiency and investment strategy become as important as returns |
| Incorporated professional or business owner | Personal and corporate finances must be coordinated |
| Approaching or in retirement | Decumulation strategy is as complex as accumulation |
| Recent liquidity event | Lump sum requires immediate, coordinated tax and investment planning |
| Complex estate | Multiple beneficiaries, trusts, or business interests require professional coordination |
| Multiple income streams | Salary, dividends, rental income, and investment income require integrated tax planning |
Wealth Management vs. Financial Planning
Financial planning creates a roadmap for achieving specific goals. Wealth management actively manages every resource available to you to ensure you reach those goals as efficiently as possible. The key differences are scope, complexity, and the ongoing nature of the relationship.
For a detailed comparison, see our guide to wealth management vs. financial planning in Canada.
What Wealth Management Costs in Canada
Wealth management fees in Canada typically range from 0.50% to 1.50% of assets under management (AUM) per year. For a portfolio of $1 million, this translates to an annual fee of $5,000 to $15,000 - covering investment management, financial planning, tax planning coordination, and ongoing advice.
For a complete breakdown of all fee structures and how to evaluate value for money, see our guide to wealth management fees in Canada.
The SG Wealth Approach
At SG Wealth, our wealth management relationships are built on a structured, five-stage process: comprehensive discovery, integrated planning, disciplined implementation, continuous monitoring, and regular review. Every client receives a written financial plan, a written Investment Policy Statement, and proactive coordination across tax, estate, and insurance dimensions.
We specialize in working with incorporated professionals - physicians, dentists, lawyers, and engineers - and business owners across Canada. Our advisors have deep expertise in the specific financial strategies that are most relevant to these client segments, from salary-dividend optimization and IPP planning to business succession and corporate-owned life insurance.
To understand what our process looks like from start to finish, see our guide to the wealth management process in Canada.
Explore Wealth Management Topics
Deep-dive into every aspect of wealth management in Canada
Ready to Build a Comprehensive Wealth Management Strategy?
Book a complimentary consultation with an SG Wealth advisor today.
We will listen to your goals, assess your situation, and show you what a coordinated wealth strategy can do for your financial life.