Meet Callum Sutherland, CFP® – Your Evidence-Based Financial Partner
I'm Callum Sutherland, a Certified Financial Planner based in Ottawa, providing comprehensive financial planning, investment management, and insurance coordination to families across Ontario. I specialize in helping young families build wealth strategically and pre-retirees transition to retirement with confidence.
My Story: I became a financial planner because I saw too many families receiving advice that focused on the wrong things- chasing the latest hot stock, trying to time the market, or following 'guru' predictions. Meanwhile, the fundamentals that actually drive financial success, proper asset allocation, tax planning, and consistent discipline, were being ignored.
I built my practice on evidence-based principles. Academic research shows clearly what works in investing: diversification, asset allocation, cost control, tax efficiency, and behavioral discipline. These aren't exciting or sexy, but they're what build lasting wealth. That's what I focus on.
Why I Specialize in Young Families and Pre-Retirees:
These two life stages are where comprehensive planning matters most:
Young families are juggling multiple competing priorities—mortgages, childcare, education savings, insurance needs, and retirement preparation. Without a coordinated plan, it's easy to make suboptimal decisions or let critical areas (like adequate life insurance) fall through the cracks. A strategic plan aligned with your values and goals makes all the difference.
Pre-retirees face complex, high-stakes decisions, CPP timing, pension options, portfolio risk adjustment, and retirement income optimization. Get these decisions right and you retire confidently. Get them wrong and you might work years longer than necessary or risk running out of money. This is where expertise and planning create enormous value.
I've chosen to specialize deeply in these two stages so I can serve my clients at an exceptionally high level.
Credentials & Qualifications:
Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) The CFP® designation is the gold standard in financial planning. To earn it, I completed comprehensive education covering investments, insurance, tax planning, retirement strategies, and estate planning; passed a rigorous examination; met experience requirements; and committed to ongoing continuing education and ethical standards.
Education: Bachelor of Commerce, Saint Mary’s University
Professional Memberships:
Barrhaven Business Improvement Association
Continuing Education: Financial planning evolves constantly, tax laws change, investment strategies develop, and new planning opportunities emerge. I complete annual continuing education to ensure I'm providing current, relevant advice based on the latest research and regulations.
What Makes My Approach Different
1. Evidence-Based Investment Philosophy I don't pick stocks or try to time the market. Why? Because academic research spanning decades shows these strategies don't work consistently—even professional fund managers underperform index strategies 90% of the time over 15-year periods.
Instead, I focus on:
Asset allocation: The primary driver of long-term returns
Diversification: Global exposure across asset classes and regions
Cost control: Low-cost index-like funds instead of high-fee actively managed funds
Tax efficiency: Strategic account location and tax-loss harvesting
Rebalancing discipline: Buying low and selling high systematically
This approach isn't exciting, but it works. That's what matters.
2. Tax Planning Integration Taxes significantly impact your wealth accumulation. I integrate tax planning into every financial decision:
RRSP vs. TFSA contribution strategies based on your specific tax situation
Income splitting opportunities for families
Tax-loss harvesting in non-registered accounts
Retirement income withdrawal sequencing to minimize lifetime taxes
Estate planning to reduce tax burden on heirs
Tax planning isn't a once-a-year activity, it's woven into everything we do.
3. Comprehensive Financial Coordination: Your financial life is interconnected. I don't just manage investments or just recommend insurance; I coordinate your complete financial picture:
Cash flow and budget optimization
Debt management (mortgage paydown vs. investing)
Investment portfolio design and management
Insurance needs and implementation
Retirement income planning
Education savings (RESP strategies)
Estate planning coordination
Everything works together because I design it that way.
4. Life Stage Specialization By focusing on young families and pre-retirees, I've developed deep expertise in the specific challenges and opportunities these life stages present. I understand federal government pensions, Ontario housing dynamics, childcare costs, RESP strategies, CPP optimization, and retirement income planning at an expert level.
5. Behavioral Coaching The greatest threat to investment success is emotional decision-making. I help you:
Stay disciplined during market volatility
Avoid panic selling when markets drop
Resist chasing hot investments that underperform
Maintain focus on long-term goals
Make rational decisions despite market noise
This behavioral coaching often provides more value than investment selection itself.
My Ottawa and Ontario Roots
After university, I left Nova Scotia and moved to Toronto. I have had the pleasure of living in Windsor, Kingston, and in 2002, I moved to Ottawa and stayed to raise my son.
Beyond Financial Planning: I play pickleball, travel, love sports, and volunteer with the local Foodbank.
My Mission
To help Ontario families, especially young families and pre-retirees, achieve their financial goals through evidence-based planning, strategic tax optimization, and disciplined investment management. No gimmicks, no speculation, just sound strategies that actually work.
Let's Talk
Curious whether I can help your specific situation? Let's have a conversation. Book a free 30-minute discovery call, no obligation, no sales pitch, just an honest discussion about your goals and how I can help.