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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

[01

What Is Wealth Management

Understand the foundations of wealth management in Canada - how it differs from basic financial advice and why high-net-worth individuals rely on it for comprehensive planning.

Learn more →](/services/wealth-management-canada/what-is-wealth-management)

[02

Wealth Management vs. Financial Planning

Compare wealth management and financial planning side by side. Learn which approach fits your financial complexity, asset level, and long-term goals as a Canadian investor.

Learn more →](/services/wealth-management-canada/wealth-management-vs-financial-planning)

[03

How to Choose a Wealth Manager

Navigate the selection process with confidence. Discover the key credentials, questions to ask, and red flags to watch for when choosing a wealth manager in Canada.

Learn more →](/services/wealth-management-canada/how-to-choose-a-wealth-manager)

[04

Wealth Management Fees

Understand the full landscape of wealth management fees in Canada - from AUM-based models and flat fees to hidden costs - so you can evaluate the true value of advisory services.

Learn more →](/services/wealth-management-canada/wealth-management-fees)

[05

Private Wealth Management

Explore the exclusive tier of private wealth management designed for ultra-high-net-worth Canadians, offering bespoke strategies, family office services, and institutional access.

Learn more →](/services/wealth-management-canada/private-wealth-management)

[06

Wealth Management for Business Owners

Specialized strategies for Canadian business owners - integrating corporate surplus management, succession planning, and personal wealth building into one unified strategy.

Learn more →](/services/wealth-management-canada/wealth-management-for-business-owners)

[07

Wealth Management for Incorporated Professionals

Tailored guidance for incorporated doctors, dentists, and lawyers. Maximize the tax deferral, retirement, and estate planning advantages your professional corporation provides.

Learn more →](/services/wealth-management-canada/wealth-management-for-incorporated-professionals)

[08

The Wealth Management Process

Walk through the structured wealth management process from discovery to ongoing review. Learn what to expect at each stage and how a comprehensive plan comes together.

Learn more →](/services/wealth-management-canada/wealth-management-process)

[09

Capital Wealth Management

Discover how capital wealth management integrates investment strategy, tax planning, risk management, and estate planning into a unified approach for affluent Canadians.

Learn more →](/services/wealth-management-canada/capital-wealth-management)

Canadian landscape with Adirondack chairs by river

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.

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