What is advice-only financial planning?

Advice-only financial planning means the planner is paid only for their time and expertise — not for selling products. There are no commissions, no trailer fees, no AUM charges, and no embedded product compensation. Every recommendation is made purely because it serves the client's interests. In Canada, this is still a relatively rare model, but it is the most transparent form of financial advice available.

What is a flat-fee financial planner?

A flat-fee financial planner charges a fixed, agreed-upon amount for a defined scope of work — regardless of the size of your portfolio or the products you hold. The fee is disclosed upfront in writing. Unlike AUM-based advisors who charge a percentage of your assets (typically 1% per year), flat-fee planning charges the same amount whether your portfolio is $300,000 or $3,000,000.

Do I need to transfer my investments to work with you?

No. Because I am advice-only and do not manage investments for a fee, you keep your investments exactly where they are — whether that is with your bank, a discount brokerage, or another advisor. I review your investment strategy as part of the plan and make recommendations, but you retain full control and custody of your accounts.

What is the difference between advice-only and fee-only financial planning?

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there is a meaningful difference. Fee-only means the advisor does not earn commissions — but they may still charge an AUM (percentage of assets) fee. Advice-only goes further: the advisor does not manage investments for a fee at all, and does not earn any compensation linked to products or assets. Sutherland Financial Planning is advice-only: flat fees, no AUM, no products.

When should I start retirement planning?

The most impactful retirement planning decisions — CPP and OAS timing, RRSP and RRIF conversion strategy, pension elections, drawdown sequencing — are best made in the five to ten years before your target retirement date. That is typically between ages 50 and 65. Starting earlier means more options. If you are already in that window and have not done a formal retirement readiness analysis, the time to act is now.

Do you work with clients outside Ottawa?

Yes. While I am based in Ottawa and available for in-person meetings locally, I work with clients across Ontario via video call. The planning process works equally well virtually — the discovery questionnaire, plan delivery, and follow-up sessions all translate seamlessly to a video format.

What does a financial plan from Sutherland Financial Planning include?

Every plan covers the five components FP Canada's standards require: financial management (net worth and cash flow), retirement planning (income projection, CPP and OAS timing, RRIF conversion, withdrawal sequencing), tax planning (RRSP, TFSA, FHSA optimisation, pension income splitting, OAS clawback avoidance), risk management and insurance, and estate planning (will, POA, beneficiaries, executor selection). Every plan is written, specific, and tailored to your situation.

What is the free introductory consultation?

The free 30-minute introductory consultation is a no-obligation phone or video call where we discuss your situation, your questions, and whether Sutherland Financial Planning is the right fit. There is no sales pitch and no pressure. If we are a match, I will explain what a full engagement would look like and what the flat fee would be. You can book online or call 613-501-3055.

Helping Ontario families navigate retirement, pensions, CPP, taxes, and investments with confidence so they can retire knowing where their income comes from and how they'll live the life they want.

Typically, people who are within 5-15 years of retirement and want to know:

Can I afford to retire?
When should I start CPP and OAS?
What should I do with my pension?
How much can I spend in retirement?
How can I reduce taxes and keep more of my money?

Together we'll build a retirement plan designed around the life you want to live.

Book your free consultation today

Sutherland Planning

The Financial Decisions You Make Today Will Affect The Rest Of Your Life‍ ‍

What's Included in Your Retirement Plan

A financial plan shouldn't leave you wondering what to do next.

My goal is simple: help you understand where you stand today, what your options are, and what decisions will have the biggest impact on your future.

Every plan is built around the questions people approaching retirement actually want answered.

1. Are We On Track?

Before we can decide where you're going, we need to understand where you are today.

We'll look at:

✅ What you own

✅ What you owe

✅ How much you're saving

✅ Where your money is going

✅ Whether you have enough cash set aside for emergencies

By the end of this step, you'll have a clear picture of your financial situation and know exactly what's working well and where improvements can be made.

2. Can We Afford To Retire?

This is the question most people really want answered.

We'll build a retirement plan that shows:

✅ When you can afford to retire

✅ How much you can safely spend

✅ Where your retirement income will come from

✅ How CPP, OAS, pensions, RRSPs, TFSAs and investments work together

✅ Whether your plan still works if you live a long life or markets don't cooperate

The goal isn't just to tell you if retirement is possible.

It's to help you understand how retirement will actually work.

3. How Can We Reduce Taxes?

Many Canadians spend years saving for retirement but very little time planning how they'll withdraw their money.

The result can be unnecessary tax bills.

Your plan will identify ways to potentially reduce taxes throughout retirement, including:

✅ CPP and pension decisions

✅ RRSP and TFSA strategies

✅ Retirement withdrawal planning

✅ Pension income splitting opportunities

✅ OAS clawback considerations

Done properly, tax planning can save you thousands of dollars.

Not because you earn more.

Because you keep more of what you've already earned.

4. What Happens If Life Doesn't Go As Planned?

A good plan prepares for both opportunities and setbacks.

We'll review:

✅ What would happen if you became ill

✅ Whether your family would be financially secure if something happened to you

✅ Whether you have enough emergency savings

✅ How health issues could affect retirement plans

✅ Potential long-term care considerations

The goal isn't to buy more insurance.

The goal is to make sure you have appropriate protection and understand the risks that could affect your future.

5. What Happens To Our Money When We're Gone?

Many people postpone estate planning because it's uncomfortable to think about.

Unfortunately, delaying these decisions often creates problems for the people we care about most.

We'll review:

✅ Your will

✅ Powers of attorney

✅ Beneficiary designations

✅ Estate distribution wishes

✅ Executor considerations

✅ Charitable giving goals if they're important to you

This helps ensure your wishes are clearly documented and your loved ones aren't left guessing.

What Makes This Different?

Most people think financial planning is about investments.

Investments are important, but retirement success usually depends on a handful of much bigger decisions:

When you retire
When you start CPP
How you use your pension
How much tax you pay
How you draw income from your accounts
How you respond when markets become volatile

My role is to help you make those decisions with confidence.

Because retirement isn't about having the biggest account balance.

It's about knowing you'll have enough money to live the life you want.

Book your free consultation today!

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What Our Clients Say

"Ashton and I can highly recommend Callum. He is endlessly patient and guided us through a very stressful time. We completely trust his advice and know we can call on him to answer all of our questions in a very timely manner. We are learning a great deal about smart money management from him and look forward to working with him for many years to come. He came to us through the recommendation of a close friend of ours and we feel very fortunate to have found him.!" Margorie
"I have had the pleasure of working with Callum for several years now for my estate and retirement planning needs and I cannot express enough how satisfied I am with the exceptional service I received. He is very responsive, and has always made time to review and discuss my portfolio on a regular basis." Simone