About Us
Planning Futures
A Proven Approach
A Proven Approach
Since 1989, we have helped create programs and portfolios to meet long-term financial goals. Have questions about investments, taxes, retirement, and/or estate planning? Richard Knowles is here to answer your questions and concerns.
A Proven Approach
A Proven Approach
A Proven Approach
We start by clarifying our fee structure and explaining the different ways we can help. Then we analyze your goals and compare them to your current portfolio and tax and estate plan. Finally, we recommend an integrated financial and tax strategy designed to meet your risk tolerance and future planned goals.
Why Us?
A Proven Approach
Why Us?
Our team is comprised of people with different kinds of finance experience, but we all have this in common--a commitment to ethics and integrity. We’re all fully licensed and credentialed. And you can count on unbiased recommendations, vast experience honed by successful accomplishement and impartial guidance.
Our Team
Richard Knowles, B.Sc., Snr. Associate Financial Planner (Cert.)
31 years in developing and integrating advanced investment and risk management research and experience, Richard and his professional teams with Customplan Financial Advsors Inc./Equinox Financial Group and Investia Financial Services Inc. continue to develop the trust, quality and success to our clients' needs and goals.. Listening to your individual needs, sense of risk and comfort is the cornerstone to devising the most trusted, advanced and successful integrated financial and estate programs to achieve the superior results you have been looking for and that his clients are used to.
Having unbiased access to the full and complete range of financial products available in Canada is the key to ensuring your financial plans are the most successful bar none. This is the cornerstone of his clients' success. and deep satisfaction.
Richard is a nationally recognized expert and has been or may be heard on various national and/or syndicated news stations like News1130 and Howestreet.com internet radio. He is considered an industry expert for his requested opinions which can be found in various Canadian newspapers and investment professional magazines and journals including IE Money, Investment Executive Magazine, Advocis News..
For a full dossier of his education, certification and experience and team structure, please read on below....
Richard began his career in 1988 working within the independent Toronto based investment brokerage firm, Real Securities Inc and Real Corporate Group Inc. specializing in advanced investment products like real estate limited partnerships and tax shelters along with mutual funds and financial planning.
In 1989, he helped establish a new investment dealer, Vantage Securities Inc. which, with his help and leadership, went on to underwrite and/or bring to market over $300 million of innovative and profitable Venture Capital Corporations (V.C.C.s), Real Estate Limited Partnerships (L.P.s), Flow Through Tax Shelters, all brokered mutual funds and segregated funds, low fee wrap accounts for stocks, bonds, debentures and tax advantaged product planning and design specific to a client's tastes, style and comfort.
In 1990, he joined Laurentian Financial Services Inc. a division of the Laurentian Bank of Canada, to advance his expertise in banking, managing financial back offices, portfolio management, taxation, estate planning, risk management and licensing in life and health insurance, mortgage/debt financing and lender underwriting.
In 1994, he completed the Canadian Field Risk Underwriters Level III certification and joined the nationally recognized independent financial firm Equinox Financial Group/ Customplan Financial Advisors Inc. and their team of estate and risk management experts.
In 2004, Richard was certified as an independent Financial Planner with Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada (FAA).
in 2010, joined Investia Financial Services Inc. as an Investment Fund Advisor.
In 2013, was awarded Five Star Professional's Wealth Manager of the Year Award.
Richard is licensed in Canadian Exempt Market products with Investia Financial Services Inc...
His client management teams work with the most trusted quality in advanced research and technology platforms. He maintains respected independent Associate Firm status with National Bank Financial (Special Services ), B2B Bank, BMO, Canadian Western Trust , respected Trust Companies, GIC Direct, QTrade , TD Bank, ScotiaBank, Royal Bank and all accredited Canadian financial institutions and all brokered insurers in areas as diverse as advanced portfolio management (wrap accounts, stocks, bonds/fixed income, REITs, L.P.s, tax shelters, self-directed investment etc.) and investment lending programs and services, mortgages and Exempt Market investment products.
When not helping others as a professional, you can find him playing in the outdoors or performing jazz guitar professionally .
Mutual funds and/or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and/or approved exempt market products are offered through Investia Financial Services Inc. (“Investia”). Mutual funds, ETFs and exempt market products are sold exclusively by Representatives who are licensed by provincial regulators and registered with Investia.
Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and other expenses may be associated with mutual fund/ETFs/exempt market product investments. Please read the Fund Facts, offering memorandum or prospectus carefully before investing. Mutual fund, ETFs and exempt market product investments are generally not guaranteed, their values change frequently and their past performance is no guarantee of similar future performance. Some exempt products are guaranteed and their guarantees and the guarantors are fully disclosed prior to purchase.
Insurance and Segregated Fund investment products are provided through Customplan Financial Advisors Inc./Equinox Financial Group. Segregated Fund investments carry guarantees of principle and /or performance, probate protection and creditor protection that mutual funds and other securities' investments may not. These guarantees vary with choice and are disclosed prior to purchase and in their offering memorandum
Associates to the Firm
Associated Teams working under Richard Knowles & Associates:
- Customplan Financial Advisors Inc. Advanced Estate, Insurance and Tax Planning team since 1994
- Investia Financial Services Inc. Vancouver branch portfolio management team since 2010
- National Bank Financial, Special Services Dept. team for advanced investment and portfolio management since 1989
- Laurentian Bank of Canada, Brokerage Services team since 1990
- Canadian Western Trust's team for Self-Directed Mortgage RRSP and Individual Pension Plans (I.P.P.) since 2004.
In addition, he and his associates have direct access to the advanced tax, legal and estate planning departments of all the major chartered banks, mutual fund companies and insurers in Canada.