F.A.Q.s

Most Asked Questions

Here it is — the complete list of Frequently Asked Questions. Need additional clarity? Gent in touch and fill out the general inquiry form.

GENERAL Questions

“Who do you typically work with?”

We work with business owners, professionals, and families who are doing well financially but don’t have the time, or desire, to manage everything themselves.

“What makes Lantern Wealth different from a traditional advisor?”

Just about everything. We offer the same high-quality investment access and planning, but the experience is much more personable, approachable, and empathetic. You get institutional-level solutions without the cold, transactional feel.

“Do I need a minimum amount to work with you?”

Short answer, yes, but we don’t list it here because we don’t want to discourage you from reaching out. The best first step is our fit check; it helps determine if we’re the right fit. If not, we are still happy to have a conversation, give you some tips and point you in the right direction.

“Can you work alongside my accountant or lawyer?”

Yes, and we prefer it. We regularly coordinate with your accountant and lawyer to make sure everything is aligned and as seamless as possible for you; the less you have to do the better.

“What does the process look like to get started?”

Start with our fit check form. From there, we’ll connect for a conversation, learn about your situation, and provide value upfront before any commitments are made. You will see our value first hand before we ask for a dollar of your hard earned money.

“Do you only manage investments?”

No. We start with financial planning and build from there, investments, insurance, and overall strategy, so everything works together toward your goals.

“How often will we meet or connect?”

Typically, every 6–12 months, with additional meetings as needed for major decisions. What is different about us is that you will always feel like we are around and accessible. Whether it is by phone, text, email, or pizza at your kitchen table — we make ourselves available. We also passively stay in touch with a simple weekly update email.

PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT

“What does “Private Wealth” actually include?”

It’s a platinum-level service where we make everything easy and understandable.

You get access to the best investment options in Canada, along with a full financial plan that lives and breathes, and we aim to be involved in any decision tied to a dollar; selling your business, buying a foreign property, or gifting money to your kids —we will be there to help.

“How involved do I need to be?”

As involved as you want to be.

Some clients can’t get enough of the data and details; others we have a tough time tracking them down once a year to fulfil our regulatory requirements — they are too busy ‘living’!

Either way, your investments and financial plan are being taken care of constantly, so you don’t have to worry about it.

“How are investment decisions made?”

We start with a financial plan, align all of your investment accounts with a particular goal of yours and have the professionals build out a portfolio that matches those goals.

We refer our clients to independent investment councils that discretionarily manage your investments. These advisors have the same legal fiduciary duty as a lawyer or doctor would; they have to (not ‘ought to’ as most of the industry is set up) manage your money with your best interests in mind.

We sit on your side of the table; answer any questions, advocate for you when things feel overwhelming, and handle all of the backend administration work.

“Will you help with tax and estate planning?”

Yes, this is the meat and potatoes of what we do.

The goal is simple: less tax now, in retirement, and through your estate. A ‘win’ is when more of your money goes to the people and causes you care about and less goes to the government.

“What happens after the initial plan is built?”

We view a financial plan as a process, not a document.

Once all of your information is entered, we will run multiple ‘what if?’ scenarios of your choosing. For example:

‘what if we retire five years earlier?’, or
‘what if we spend $35,000 a year in travel for the next 15 years?’, or
‘how is the best way to gift each grandchild $200,000 for a home down payment?’

Everyone has unique goals for their money, this is where the fun really starts!

We will review your plan annually at minimum or ad hoc when you need it. We prefer to update numbers and run through scenarios before any major decisions are made — retirement, purchasing a second (or third) home, gifting money to kids, etc.

“Do you replace my current advisor?”

Yes.

We get to know your situation, build a plan, and if you decide to move forward, we handle the entire transition behind the scenes.

This is a long-term relationship that requires trust, communication, and rapport; you will be confident in moving forward with us before you are ever asked for a single dollar of your hard-earned money.

“How do I know if this level of service is right for me?”

The best place to start is our Fit Check Form.

If you want everything coordinated, simplified, and handled properly without having to think about it constantly, this is likely a good fit.

Insurance & Protection

“Do I need to be an investing client to work with you on insurance?”

No. We work with insurance-only clients all the time. It’s not the most exciting topic, but our goal is to make it simple, approachable, and a lot less painful to deal with.

“How do you choose the right policy??”

Anyone worth talking to about insurance will do a full needs analysis; we are no different there. We will help you find the right amount, length of contract, and any add-ons that should be included.

Where we are different, we work with over 20 insurance companies in Canada and choose based on what’s best for you. That includes cost, ease of application, likelihood of approval, and what the claims experience will actually look like when it matters.

Insurance isn’t fun to talk about and is even less fun to apply for; we try and make the process from start to finish suck less.

“What types of insurance do you help with?”

Life, critical illness, and disability insurance; everything designed to protect against the big risks: passing away, getting sick, or not being able to work.

We can do simple term coverage to protect against the mortgage on your first house or design complex corporately owned whole life insurance contracts aimed at moving money from your business to personal pockets in a tax efficient manner. We love a good tax mitigation strategy!

“How do I know how much coverage I actually need?”

There’s no perfect formula. It’s part art, part science, and we’ll walk through it together. We will do a full needs analysis to make sure you have enough coverage, can afford it, and leaves you with options down the road.

“Is this a sales process?”

Yes, if you put a policy in place, we’re compensated by the insurance company. That said, our focus is building long-term relationships, not one-off sales, so the advice has to be right.

Our main business is financial planning. Life insurance is an important part of everyone’s financial plan and we know that we can make the process of buying it less awful than most.

“Can you review my existing policies?”

Yes, and we always do. Before making any recommendations, we’ll review what you already have, how it works, and where there may be gaps or overlap. We will look at existing policies and work plans; explaining the benefits and downfalls of each.

“What happens after I put the policy in place”

We stay involved. You’ll get regular check-ins to make sure your coverage still fits as your life and financial situation evolve.

Fee-only Financial Planning

“What exactly do I walk away with after this process?”

You walk away with a clear, structured financial plan and a short list of recommendations on how to move your financial life forward. This isn’t theory; it’s practical, actionable guidance with projections and multiple scenarios.

“Is this right for someone who already feels financially organized?”

Yes, absolutely. If you’re a DIY investor who feels in control but wants a second set of eyes to confirm your decisions and assumptions, this is a great fit. It’s a smaller commitment than a long-term relationship (and who knows, it might turn into one).

“Do you tell me exactly what to do, or is this more high-level guidance?”

We’re direct. You’ll leave with a clear list of recommendations on how to move your life forward, it’s up to you to act on them, but you won’t be lacking clarity.

“What kind of scenarios can you model for me?”

We start with a base case that reflects your current situation, then typically model 5 scenarios based on what matters to you, retirement timing, spending, returns, and more. We call this the ‘what ifs?’ scenarios:

What if we retire five years early?
What if we want to gift money to our kids?
What if we spend lavishly on travel for the next 15 years?

Once everything is built, we can easily adjust and run additional scenarios if needed.

“What happens after the plan is delivered?”

We check in at 6 months with a quick call, then again at 1 year with a full review to see what’s changed, what’s working, and what’s next.

“What if I decide to work with Lantern Wealth long-term afterward?”

If we move into an ongoing relationship, we’ll reimburse your planning fee. We are compensated from our referral partners based on your assets that they manage and charge you a fee for. We provide this service on an annual basis for our clients as part of the fee you are charged.

“How do I know if this is worth the investment?”

If you’re looking to move from “I think I’m doing the right things?” to “I know exactly how this all fits together,” this is where that shift happens.

There is a defined ‘worst case’ of wasting the money you invest in this process. Having said that, we stand by our plans and process; if you are not happy we will continue working until you are.