James MartinYears ago, I had a tidy sum tucked away from the grind. But alas, I found myself in a classic pickle of not knowing what to do with it.
Stash it in the bank, you say? Ha! The banks were offering me crumbs like they expected my money to just laze around in a dusty old treasure chest!
Nah, I had to up my game and hunt down the cream of the crop, the best of the best financial advisors of Halifax, to babysit my cash.
I tapped into the wisdom of my financially savvy pals and even pried a few recommendations out of my family. I then quickly had a pow-wow with a couple of them and ran through my financial dreams until I found “the one.”
But then it hit me, why keep this treasure trove of intel to myself? So, if you’re itching to supercharge your bank balance or plot out your golden years, feast your eyes on this handpicked list of Halifax’s finest financial wizards!
| How much do financial advisors charge in Halifax? Financial advisors in Halifax typically charge an average of 2.4% for investment setup and 1% annually for ongoing advice. They may also offer flat fees or charge an average of $220 per hour. |
How We Chose the Best Financial Advisors in Halifax
Brian Himmelman
Website: https://himmelman.ca/
Address: 1444 Dresden Row
Phone: +1 902-429-2422
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Brian Himmelman is a Senior Financial Advisor with Manulife Wealth and serves as the president of Himmelman & Associates, a financial advisory firm.
As president, he oversees the major financial aspects of the firm for growth. His expertise spans investments, retirement planning, insurance, taxes, and achieving financial goals.
On top of his work, we were pleased to learn that Brian is recognized as a local media expert, frequently discussing investments, tax strategies, and estate planning.
Typically, financial advisors are compensated through either flat fees or commissions for these services, but impressively, Brian operates on a fee-based platform.
This ensures full cost transparency by breaking down expenses clearly, providing clients with a clear understanding of what they’re paying for and the value received in return.
We talked with clients to gauge his service, who appreciated Brian’s accessibility and responsive service. Even outside regular office hours, their calls were promptly answered with quick and knowledgeable responses.
However, one aspect clients find challenging is the variability in Brian’s fee structure, which depends on the specific service and investment amount.
This variability can make it difficult for clients to predict costs upfront, as fees are tailored to reflect the level of service provided.
Pros
- Experienced leadership
- Comprehensive financial services
- Fee-based platform with cost transparency
- Responsive customer service
Cons
- Fee structure isn’t transparent
Provides time and information for client to make educated decisions
“I have been with Himmelman & Associates since the time I have had money to invest. Brian and his team take the time to ensure you are making an educated decision with your investment – coming up with a game plan for both the short and long term and weighing out all possibilities. I am extremely satisfied with the results (5+ years in) and 100% recommend Brian to any colleague or family member.”
Matt W, Google Reviews
Professional, knowledgeable, and helpful
“I have been working with Brian as my personal financial planner for the past 15 years and I find his professionalism, knowledge and enthusiasm unmatched. He has assisted in the development of a solid plan that ensures my families protection and future. Thank you to Brian and his professional team.”
tyler maclaren, Google Reviews
Jonathan Lewis
Website: https://www.eastportfinancialgroup.com/
Address: 371 St Margarets Bay Rd suite 201
Phone: +1 902-474-5433
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Friday: 9 AM–5 PM
The president and founding partner of Eastport Financial Group, Jonathan Lewis, brings over two decades of expertise in financial services.
Here, he offers a comprehensive suite of services including wealth management, tax planning, investment advising, and retirement planning.
These services are designed to optimize liquidity and enhance investment performance for clients.
Known for his personalized approach, Jonathan serves a select client base primarily through referrals, ensuring each client receives dedicated attention and tailored financial solutions.
The clients we spoke with appreciate Jonathan’s boutique advisory model, which delivers personalized options not typically found in larger institutions.
Despite the exclusive nature of his practice, Jonathan’s commitment to client satisfaction is evident in his clients’ growing portfolios. This level of his focus and results, however, also means a longer wait time for him to take in new clients.
Pros
- Low client-to-advisor ratio for personalized attention
- Comprehensive range of financial services
- Highly experienced advisor
Cons
- Long wait to become a client
- Limited availability for potential clients
Knowledgeable experts that give back to the community
“Jonathan Lewis and his high energy team are amongst the most knowledgeable life insurance experts in Atlantic Canada. The group also gives back enormously to its community which was important to me when selecting my insurance provider. I am honored to be a long time client and friend.”
Jonathan Norwood, Google Reviews
Patient and understanding team in growing long-term value
“I choose to work with Jonathan & his team at Eastport Financial as they share our values of valuing ‘long term relationships’ over ‘short term profits’. His team took the time with us to really understand our goals and map out a plan to help us get there.”
Ryan O’Leary, Google Reviews
Gordon Stirrett
Website: https://www.gordonstirrett.com/
Address: 1741 Lower Water St Suite 210
Phone: +1 902-492-1119
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Thursday: 8:30 AM–5 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM–1 PM
For over 15 years, Gordon Stirrett has been a trusted financial advisor for HRM residents.
As the president of Gordon Stirrett Wealth Management, one of Canada’s largest independent financial planning firms, he offers expert guidance in financial, retirement, estate, insurance, and corporate tax planning.
We spoke with some of his clients, who value Gordon not only for his knowledge but also for his honesty and personalized approach. According to them, he advises with care, often steering clients away from high-risk ventures to safeguard their interests.
Gordon is known among his clients to provide personalized attention, ensuring each client receives tailored financial solutions. However, this personalized service occasionally limits his capacity to accept new clients.
Pros
- Experienced team of CFPs
- Personalized client attention
- Strong community involvement
Cons
- Limited capacity for new clients
Understanding and willing to listen to client needs
“As somebody relatively new to investments and financial planning, Gord and team has made me 100% comfortable and confident in my decision to work with Gordon Stirrett Wealth Management. Gord not only asks great questions, but truly listens and understands my individual needs. I feel I’m viewed more as a partner than a client, and I’d recommend them to anybody looking for financial direction.”
Will Walsh, Google Reviews
Provides straightforward and knowledgeable advice without pressure
“I visited Gordon Stirrett a few years ago to get advice on retirement planning and debt planning. I was given straight-forward, knowledgeable advice and no pressure to sign anything or become a client. The whole office was very professional.”
Christopher Killam, Google Reviews
Timothy MacEachern
Website: https://worthyfinancial.ca/
Address: 1959 Upper Water St Tower 1, Suite 1301
Phone: +1 877-365-3050
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday, Friday: 10 AM–6 PM
- Tuesday to Thursday: 10 AM–10 PM
Timothy MacEachern offers personalized financial planning services that emphasize tax efficiency and cost-effectiveness to safeguard and grow your wealth. For those outside Halifax, his expertise is only accessible online.
Setting Timothy apart is his refreshing fee-based approach. It guarantees unbiased advice solely in your best interests—free from commissions, bonuses, or sales incentives.
Because of this, the clients we surveyed commend his meticulous retirement projections and money-saving strategies, reporting substantial interest savings from his counsel.
Timothy prioritizes quality over quantity, limiting his client roster to ensure personalized attention. While joining his clientele may require patience, clients unanimously agree that the results justify the wait.
Pros
- Personalized financial planning
- Fee-based approach for unbiased advice
- Detailed retirement projections and money-saving tips
Cons
- Limited availability due to client load
Flexible, patient, and organized
“My experience with Worthy Financial was overall extremely helpful and positive. Timothy worked with me in a such flexible and patient way to organize my finances and make a plan to meet my financial goals, which felt to overwhelmingly out of reach prior to. I recommend their service to many of my close friends.”
Maria Grady, Google Reviews
Knowledgeable, helpful, and caring
“Timothy was extremely knowledgeable and took the time to thoroughly review our entire situation. He was helpful and genuinely cared that we get the best possible outcome. Timothy’s involvement has positively impacted our family in such a profound way. Five stars doesn’t start to cover it!”
April Myles, Google Reviews
Christianson Financial
Website: https://christiansonfinancial.ca/
Address: 273 Bedford Hwy
Phone: +1 902-405-4688
Operating Hours:
- Closed from Saturday to Sunday
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM–5 PM
Shawn Christianson offers a range of financial services like estate planning, cash flow planning, investments, risk management, and tax management.
He’s known for his excellent client relationships, catering to both small and large investments alike. With his small yet dedicated team, each client receives personalized attention to help them reach their financial objectives.
This approach involves crafting strategies tailored to your goals, with regular check-ins from Shawn and his team to ensure everything stays on track.
Plus, Shawn is always ready with options and alternatives if you decide to pivot your plans or explore new avenues.
But here’s the deal: because Shawn’s team is small, they’re selective about the clients they take on to ensure quality service. This might mean a bit of a wait before they can onboard you.
Pros
- Comprehensive financial services
- Strong client relationships
- Personalized attention
- Flexible strategies
Cons
- Small team
- Selective client intake
Attentive, responsive, and helpful
“I’m only a small investor with Shawn, But he gives me a great amount of attention and makes me feel like a major investor. Shawn responds Quickly to my emails and is very helpful in providing the documentation that I need. I am very happy with the service and advice that Shawn provides. Thanks Shawn. MWS”
Malcolm Stebbins, Google Reviews
Professional and quick to adjust investments for improved gains
“Shawn Christianson and his assistants are highly professional, and completely on the cutting edge of needed adjustments to my investments resulting in more-than-satisfactory gains! I would highly recommend his agency to anyone”
John J Gabner, Google Reviews
