If you're searching for a fee-only financial planner in Markham, you're probably tired of guessing whether your advisor's recommendations are shaped by your goals or by what pays them a commission. We're a fee-only firm serving Ontario professionals and retirees with $250K+ in investable assets, and our advice isn't tied to product sales. No jargon, no hidden fees, no surprises — you'll always understand exactly what you're paying for and why. If you want a coordinated plan for taxes, investments, and retirement income instead of a product pitch, see if we're a fit.

What Is a Fee-Only Financial Planner?

A fee-only financial planner is compensated solely by the fees clients pay them — not by commissions, referral fees, or payments from the investment or insurance products they recommend. That structure removes the incentive to steer you toward a particular fund or policy, because the planner earns the same fee no matter what you buy.

In Canada, the title isn't tightly regulated. Outside Quebec, anyone can call themselves a financial planner, and even the term "fee-only" gets used loosely by advisors who still earn a percentage of the assets they manage. Ontario is in the process of tightening that, which is one more reason to ask directly how your planner is paid before you sign anything.

What's the Difference Between Fee-Only and Fee-Based Advice?

Fee-only means we're paid only by you — no commissions, no referral fees, no compensation from the products we recommend. Fee-based advisors charge a fee too, but they can also earn commissions on top of it, which is the distinction worth understanding before you choose one.

We've seen the cost of skipping that question. One client came to us after months with a commission-based advisor whose priority was selling investment and insurance products, not building a plan. What they actually needed first was a retirement plan — a clear strategy for withdrawals, taxes, and income — with the product decisions coming after, not before.

We've written a full breakdown of fee-based vs. fee-only financial advisors in Markham if you want to go deeper on how each model works.

What Does a Financial Planner in Markham Actually Do?

A financial planner working across your full picture coordinates six areas: cash flow, investments, insurance and risk, retirement income, tax planning, and estate planning. That's different from an investment advisor, whose focus is usually limited to managing your portfolio.

Look for the Certified Financial Planner designation, which FP Canada considers the profession's gold standard, requiring a national exam, an ethics standard, and ongoing education. Our team holds professional financial planning designations and continually updates its knowledge as regulations and markets change.

How Do I Find a Fee-Only Financial Planner Near Me in Markham?

The most reliable way to find a fee-only financial planner near you is to ask directly, in writing, how they're paid before your first meeting. If the answer includes phrases like "no cost to you" or "the insurance company pays us," that's a fee-based or commission model, not fee-only.

We work with clients from our Toronto and Markham offices, and most of our planning happens by phone and video for clients across Ontario.

What Does Retirement Income Planning Actually Include?

Retirement income planning means building a year-by-year withdrawal plan across your RRSP, TFSA, and non-registered accounts, coordinated with CPP and OAS timing, so you know how much you can spend without running out of money or paying more tax than you need to. It's different from investment management alone, which focuses on growing your portfolio rather than sequencing withdrawals from it.

For our clients, that typically includes:

Do I Need to Switch My Existing Investments to Work With You?

Yes. We map out a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy and implement it directly, which means moving your accounts to where we manage them. We'll tell you exactly which account to draw from and how much to set aside for tax before you make a withdrawal.

How Much Does a Fee-Only Financial Planner Cost?

A one-time financial plan with us runs from $2,500 to $10,000 plus HST, depending on your complexity and whether you're filing as a single person or a couple. Ongoing service is priced at 1% of investable assets annually, with a $250,000 minimum.

Plus HST. 50% due upfront, 50% on delivery. For investable assets over $2M under the ongoing plan, fees are negotiated.

Ready for a Plan Instead of a Product Pitch?

If you'd rather have a coordinated plan for your taxes, investments, and retirement income than another product pitch, see if we're a fit for a no-obligation introduction call.

Have $250,000+ and Approaching Retirement?

If you are an Ontario resident over 50 with $250,000 or more in investable assets, the right financial advice may involve more than choosing investments. We help retirees and pre-retirees coordinate retirement income, tax planning, investment management, and estate planning.

In our experience working with Ontario retirees and pre-retirees, the biggest questions are rarely about finding the next winning investment. They are typically about creating reliable retirement income, reducing lifetime taxes, deciding when to start CPP and OAS, and determining how much they can safely spend throughout retirement. Their biggest questions are:

At Ontario Wealth Strategy Experts, our financial planners are

Wondering Whether Your $250,000 Portfolio Can Support the Retirement You Want?

If you're approaching retirement and would like a second opinion on your retirement income strategy, withdrawal plan, tax efficiency, or investment approach, we'd be happy to help you determine whether you're on the right track.