New Client’s First Year
- Michael Isbister CFP
- Oct 14
- 5 min read
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Retiring Canada Podcast!
Today’s episode wraps up our five-step series on the Fundamental Retirement Plan. We’re going to talk about what happens after you’ve completed the FRP process, what the first year looks like once you’ve joined our firm and we begin working together.
Specifically, we’ll discuss:
How a team approach leads to a stronger, more responsive relationship
The importance of that first coffee and handshake
Your customized first-year experience in writing
How and when we’ll meet, whether in person, virtually, or by phone
Our specialization and long-term commitment to you
And finally, a few action items for you to consider
Wrapping up the FRP Series
I hope you’ve enjoyed this five-part series walking through our Fundamental Retirement Plan process. It’s been a great opportunity to share how we help Canadians build clarity and confidence in retirement.
This will be the last episode in the series, and next time we’ll jump into some new retirement topics inspired by real client conversations during our busy fall meeting season.
But for today, I want to set expectations for those who have gone through our FRP process, experienced the value we provide, and decided to entrust our team with their retirement, a responsibility we take very seriously.
By this stage, you’ve already reviewed our Client Service Expectations document, discussed our fees, and understand how and how often we’ll communicate. Now begins your first year as a client, and I’ll be honest it’s the most involved year of the relationship.
The Team Approach
One of the first things you’ll notice is our team approach.
When you work with us, you’re not relying on just one advisor. You’ll have myself, another senior advisor, a licensed associate, and our full support team working on your behalf.
This unified structure ensures a high level of service, responsiveness, and accuracy. It also means that more than one advisor knows your financial situation, ensuring continuity and confidence over time.
That First Coffee and Handshake
Let’s back up a bit. You’ve chosen to work with us, met several members of our team... so what’s next?
If you’re in or near Saskatoon, we’ve likely already met in person. For those who live further away, we’ll plan a time to meet face-to-face, often during one of our cross-Canada visits.
We understand that when you’re entrusting someone with millions of dollars, meeting in person matters. That first coffee and handshake are important. Together, we’ll set expectations for how often we’ll meet in person throughout the year.
Of course, much of our communication happens virtually or over the phone. If unexpected events occur or urgent matters arise, phone and video calls allow us to connect quickly and efficiently, and that’s how most of our client relationships begin.
Your First-Year Client Experience
Once we’ve formalized our working relationship, we’ll send you your Client First-Year Document.
This is a detailed, month-by-month roadmap that outlines what to expect as we consolidate your accounts, implement your strategies, and bring your retirement plan to life.
The first few months are usually similar for all new clients:
Data gathering
Signing account documents
Transferring investments
Monitoring cost bases
Setting up online access
And establishing CRA authorization for our team
After that initial surge, the plan becomes more personalized, tailored to your unique goals and circumstances.
If, during the FRP process, we identified key gaps or action items, we’ll prioritize those in the first quarter. For example, if we’re nearing year-end, tax planning tasks will take precedence.
Collaboration with Your Professionals
One crucial step within the first two months is connecting us with your accountant and lawyer.
Some clients introduce us during the FRP process, but if not, we’ll make sure those introductions happen early on. This step ensures a unified approach and seamless communication between all your professionals, aligning your goals with the strategies we implement.
It also saves you time. Once we have authorization, we can collaborate directly with your accountant and lawyer on your behalf, reducing your to-do list and ensuring everything stays in sync.
We Handle the Heavy Lifting
Each month throughout the first year, we follow the roadmap outlined in your client document, implementing and following up on every action item.
Importantly, the onus isn’t on you to keep track or chase updates. That’s what we’re here for.
If you ever feel like you’re the one who has to be proactive with your advisor, it may be time to reevaluate that relationship. Our job is to do the heavy lifting so you can focus on living your retirement, not managing it.
Ongoing Commitment
At this point, we’ve met (virtually or in person), gathered necessary documents, initiated account transfers, provided your first-year outline, and started building your long-term financial partnership.
Going forward, our commitment is to remain a high-touch, service-oriented firm that does what we say we’ll do.
We typically meet with clients at least once a year, often twice. Usually, that’s once in spring (before tax season and summer travel) and again in the fall or early winter to finalize tax strategies before year-end.
At the end of the day, there are hundreds of firms across Canada you could choose to work with.
Our goal is to stand apart through our specialization in retirement income planning, our focus on tax-efficient deregistration strategies, and our commitment to delivering a world-class client experience.
Since starting this podcast, a lot has changed with our firm:
We transitioned from a large mutual fund company to becoming independent.
We implemented world-class investment strategies.
We celebrated a retirement and welcomed new team members as we continue to grow.
We developed the Fundamental Retirement Plan to better serve both new and existing clients.
And most importantly, we’ve met incredible people from across Canada, helping them turn their retirement dreams into reality.
I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: I truly believe this is the best industry in the world.
I love people. I love helping people. And I’m deeply grateful for the positive impact we’ve been able to make in our clients’ lives.
On a personal note, I don’t often talk about my family on this podcast, but it feels right today. My wife Kelsey and I have two amazing boys, and we’re expecting our third child in January. My guess? Another boy but we’ll see!
My family is my motivation. They’re the reason I started this podcast, the reason I strive to build a truly unique experience for retirees, and the reason I give my all every day.
Everything I do... this firm, this podcast, this mission is part of a legacy I hope my children will one day understand and be proud of.
Because at the end of the day, it all comes down to faith and family.
Action Items
Your action item for today?
Never settle for “good enough.” Whether in business, relationships, or family, you deserve the best.
That’s it for today’s episode!
Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook, and check the show notes for links and resources mentioned today or visit retiringcanada.ca.
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And remember, when it comes to your retirement, don’t take chances.
Make a plan so you can retire with confidence.
All comments are of a general nature and should not be relied upon as individual advice. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary may not necessarily reflect those of Harbourfront Wealth Management. While every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, facts and figures are not guaranteed, the content is not intended to be a substitute for professional investing or tax advice. Please seek advice from your accountant regarding anything raised in the content of the podcast regarding your Individual tax situation. Always seek the advice of your financial advisor or other qualified financial service provider with any questions you may have regarding your investment planning.