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Cardinal Point Wealth

Calgary Financial Planner

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Building A Plan For Your Life

We understand your family, your values, and your interests are all connected. That’s why we use a comprehensive, personalized planning approach to build, preserve and manage your wealth.

Let's Talk
Calgary Family

Building A Plan For Your Life

We understand your family, your values, and your interests are all connected. That’s why we use a comprehensive, personalized planning approach to build, preserve and manage your wealth.

Let's Talk

Cardinal Point is an independent wealth management firm created to service the financial needs of high-net-worth individuals and their families. We realize our clients are faced with a range of financial responsibilities and opportunities throughout their lives and their careers. With our guidance and a disciplined approach to wealth management, we help our clients ensure lasting wealth for today, tomorrow and generations to come.

A Team of Fiduciaries

As a Calgary based team of Certified Financial Planners (CFP®) and Registered Financial Planners (R.F.P.), we are professional advisors and not professional salesmen. We put our client’s interests first by providing advanced financial advice that is simplified and easy to understand.

Chris Rawles, Cardinal Point Wealth
Chris Rawles is a Portfolio Manager at Cardinal Point and has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, previously as a co-founder of RT Mosaic Wealth Management, and, before that, working for a leading major financial institution. Chris focuses on giving clients an unbiased wealth management experience and to ultimately make a positive impact in their lives. Chris is a finance graduate, obtaining his Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge. In addition, he is a holder of the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, Registered Financial Planner (R.F.P.) designation and Chartered Investment Management (CIM) designation. Chris specializes in providing discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, estate planning, retirement analysis and tax planning to his clients. Chris has enjoyed volunteering for Junior Achievement, participating in their Investment Strategies Program which is a learning opportunity for Grade 8 students to explore the ways in which people save and invest for their future. Chris was also recently named a 2018 and 2019 finalist for the “Multi-Service Advisor of the Year” award and the 2019 finalist for “Portfolio/Discretionary Manager of the Year” through Wealth Professional, Canada’s leading industry resource for the financial services industry. Chris was also named one of the top 50 advisors in Canada for Wealth Professional Canada’s 2019 rankings.
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Chris Rawles, B Mgmt, CFP®, R.F.P., CIM®
Portfolio Manager
Chris Rawles is a Portfolio Manager at Cardinal Point and has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, previously as a co-founder of RT Mosaic Wealth Management, and, before that, working for a leading major financial institution. Chris focuses on giving clients an unbiased wealth management experience and to ultimately make a positive impact in their lives. Chris is a finance graduate, obtaining his Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge. In addition, he is a holder of the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, Registered Financial Planner (R.F.P.) designation and Chartered Investment Management (CIM) designation. Chris specializes in providing discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, estate planning, retirement analysis and tax planning to his clients. Chris has enjoyed volunteering for Junior Achievement, participating in their Investment Strategies Program which is a learning opportunity for Grade 8 students to explore the ways in which people save and invest for their future. Chris was also recently named a 2018 and 2019 finalist for the “Multi-Service Advisor of the Year” award and the 2019 finalist for “Portfolio/Discretionary Manager of the Year” through Wealth Professional, Canada’s leading industry resource for the financial services industry. Chris was also named one of the top 50 advisors in Canada for Wealth Professional Canada’s 2019 rankings.
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Spencer Tilley, Cardinal Point Wealth
Spencer Tilley is a Portfolio Manager at Cardinal Point and, before joining Cardinal Point, was a co-founder of RT Mosaic Wealth Management. Spencer works closely with his high net worth clients throughout Canada and with his extensive knowledge, particularly in the areas of retirement analysis, tax minimization and corporate planning, helps clients optimize their financial affairs. Through his dedication and earned trust, Spencer’s goal is to give each of his clients’ true peace of mind.

Spencer graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Registered Financial Planner (R.F.P.) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations. Spencer sat on the national board of the Institute for Advanced Financial Planners (IAFP) for 7 years and was part of the 2019, 2021 and 2022 National Finalist – Multi Service Advisory Team of the Year, an honor recognized through Wealth Professional.

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Spencer Tilley, B Comm, CFP®, R.F.P., CFA
Portfolio Manager
Spencer Tilley is a Portfolio Manager at Cardinal Point and, before joining Cardinal Point, was a co-founder of RT Mosaic Wealth Management. Spencer works closely with his high net worth clients throughout Canada and with his extensive knowledge, particularly in the areas of retirement analysis, tax minimization and corporate planning, helps clients optimize their financial affairs. Through his dedication and earned trust, Spencer’s goal is to give each of his clients’ true peace of mind.

Spencer graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Registered Financial Planner (R.F.P.) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations. Spencer sat on the national board of the Institute for Advanced Financial Planners (IAFP) for 7 years and was part of the 2019, 2021 and 2022 National Finalist – Multi Service Advisory Team of the Year, an honor recognized through Wealth Professional.

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David Miller, Cardinal Point Wealth
Spencer Tilley is a Portfolio Manager at Cardinal Point and, before joining Cardinal Point, was a co-founder of RT Mosaic Wealth Management. Spencer works closely with his high net worth clients throughout Canada and with his extensive knowledge, particularly in the areas of retirement analysis, tax minimization and corporate planning, helps clients optimize their financial affairs. Through his dedication and earned trust, Spencer’s goal is to give each of his clients’ true peace of mind.

Spencer graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Registered Financial Planner (R.F.P.) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations. Spencer sat on the national board of the Institute for Advanced Financial Planners (IAFP) for 7 years and was part of the 2019, 2021 and 2022 National Finalist – Multi Service Advisory Team of the Year, an honor recognized through Wealth Professional.

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David Miller BFS, CFP®, R.F.P., CIM
Portfolio Manager
David Miller is a licensed Private Wealth Manager and Portfolio Manager with Cardinal Point. David has been providing advice to high net worth and affluent individuals and families for over 10 years. Along with an honors degree from Mount Royal University’s Bachelor of Financial Services Applied program in 2005, David is a Certified Financial Planner® Professional (2007), Chartered Investment Manager® (2014) and Registered Financial Planner (2017). David prides himself on helping growing families and retirees get organized, focus more on their priorities and make smarter decisions with objective recommendations. This allows them to feel more confident and avoid mistakes with increased financial literacy. He is also the host of “The Advanced Financial Planner” Podcast with the Institute of Advanced Financial Planners.
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Ryan Siegle, Cardinal Point Wealth
Ryan Siegle is a Client Relationship Specialist at Cardinal Point. Ryan is a student at Mount Royal University where he is finishing his degree in Finance with a concentration in Financial Services. Prior to Cardinal Point, he was a Paraplanner with RT Mosaic Wealth Management, where he assisted with client onboarding and administration. Through his previous experience, he has developed a strong skillset in client management and hopes to expand it further to give exceptional service.
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Ryan Siegle
Client Relationship Specialist
Ryan Siegle is a Client Relationship Specialist at Cardinal Point. Ryan is a student at Mount Royal University where he is finishing his degree in Finance with a concentration in Financial Services. Prior to Cardinal Point, he was a Paraplanner with RT Mosaic Wealth Management, where he assisted with client onboarding and administration. Through his previous experience, he has developed a strong skillset in client management and hopes to expand it further to give exceptional service.
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The fiduciary standard and cardinal point

Fiduciary Standard or a Pretender

You might see on our website (www.cardinalpointwealth.com) that our advisors adhere to something called a “fiduciary standard.”  But the term can be confusing for people who aren’t in the investment advisory business.

The fiduciary standard is a legal concept, but its core idea is not complicated.  To act as a fiduciary means we as professionals must put aside our own financial interests and also put aside the business/financial interests of any company we may be affiliated with and give recommendations that are solely and completely in the best interests of people like you, our prospective or existing clients.

In other words, our recommendations must be made with only one concern—is this the best thing that we, as your advisors, can do for you, given what we know about who you are and what you want and need?

So, what does it mean NOT to be a fiduciary?  Imagine that there were two kinds of health practitioners in the world.  One group functions much like physicians do today: they work out of independent medical offices, meet with you, diagnose your ailments, prescribe a medical solution that they believe is the very best course of treatment, and they are paid directly for their services.

The other group of health care providers operates somewhat differently.  They wear white coats, which makes them look just like physicians.  Their office looks like a doctor’s office, but it is the branch office of a large drug company which requires its white-coated employees to give you an examination, and then, no matter what’s actually wrong with you, they will prescribe those drugs which are most profitable to the company.  

These might not be the best treatments, but under a set of very complicated regulations, these less-than-ideal prescriptions are deemed to be legally defensible ways to address certain medical problems.  These other health care providers are paid by the company according to how many of these treatments they can sell to you.

Now imagine that these larger companies, because of the very high profits they’re making from these treatments, can gain a lot of influence over the process that decides which treatments are “suitable.”  In fact, their executives sit on the governing board of the organization that makes these determinations.

To bring this analogy back to the financial planning/investment advisory universe, our firm functions under a standard that puts your interests ahead of our own or any other outside organization.  Our firm is registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission as a registered investment advisor, which requires us to make this commitment to your best interests.  Given that we also operate similarly in Canada, we are also registered and governed by various provincial regulators as well. 

But there are many financial or investment advisors in the U.S. and Canada whose representatives are not registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission in the U.S. or provincial authorities in Canada, and who, if you ask them, would never put in writing that they will commit to serving you under a fiduciary standard.  They might assure you, verbally, that they follow a “best interest” standard, but that term is currently not well-defined and subject to a variety of interpretations in both the U.S. and Canada.

If you are currently working with an advisor who in essence, is posing as one of those physicians in white coats when they are “prescribing” financial advice or investment solutions that are in their (and their firm’s) best interest—then please find out if they are truly providing their advice and services as a fiduciary.   At Cardinal Point, our financial advisors operate under the fiduciary standard that fully recognizes that your wealth, family interests, and values are all interconnected.  

Close
What does it mean to adhere to a fiduciary standard?

Fiduciary Standard or a Pretender

You might see on our website (www.cardinalpointwealth.com) that our advisors adhere to something called a “fiduciary standard.”  But the term can be confusing for people who aren’t in the investment advisory business.

The fiduciary standard is a legal concept, but its core idea is not complicated.  To act as a fiduciary means we as professionals must put aside our own financial interests and also put aside the business/financial interests of any company we may be affiliated with and give recommendations that are solely and completely in the best interests of people like you, our prospective or existing clients.

In other words, our recommendations must be made with only one concern—is this the best thing that we, as your advisors, can do for you, given what we know about who you are and what you want and need?

So, what does it mean NOT to be a fiduciary?  Imagine that there were two kinds of health practitioners in the world.  One group functions much like physicians do today: they work out of independent medical offices, meet with you, diagnose your ailments, prescribe a medical solution that they believe is the very best course of treatment, and they are paid directly for their services.

The other group of health care providers operates somewhat differently.  They wear white coats, which makes them look just like physicians.  Their office looks like a doctor’s office, but it is the branch office of a large drug company which requires its white-coated employees to give you an examination, and then, no matter what’s actually wrong with you, they will prescribe those drugs which are most profitable to the company.  

These might not be the best treatments, but under a set of very complicated regulations, these less-than-ideal prescriptions are deemed to be legally defensible ways to address certain medical problems.  These other health care providers are paid by the company according to how many of these treatments they can sell to you.

Now imagine that these larger companies, because of the very high profits they’re making from these treatments, can gain a lot of influence over the process that decides which treatments are “suitable.”  In fact, their executives sit on the governing board of the organization that makes these determinations.

To bring this analogy back to the financial planning/investment advisory universe, our firm functions under a standard that puts your interests ahead of our own or any other outside organization.  Our firm is registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission as a registered investment advisor, which requires us to make this commitment to your best interests.  Given that we also operate similarly in Canada, we are also registered and governed by various provincial regulators as well. 

But there are many financial or investment advisors in the U.S. and Canada whose representatives are not registered with the Securities & Exchange Commission in the U.S. or provincial authorities in Canada, and who, if you ask them, would never put in writing that they will commit to serving you under a fiduciary standard.  They might assure you, verbally, that they follow a “best interest” standard, but that term is currently not well-defined and subject to a variety of interpretations in both the U.S. and Canada.

If you are currently working with an advisor who in essence, is posing as one of those physicians in white coats when they are “prescribing” financial advice or investment solutions that are in their (and their firm’s) best interest—then please find out if they are truly providing their advice and services as a fiduciary.   At Cardinal Point, our financial advisors operate under the fiduciary standard that fully recognizes that your wealth, family interests, and values are all interconnected.  

Close

A Holistic Approach

In coordination with the management of your investment portfolio, your personalized financial plan provides a full menu of planning topics, including:

Asset & Liability Analysis

Net Worth Statements & Forecasting

Cash Flow & Budget Planning

Health, Life & Property Insurance Review

Business Continuity Review

Analysis of Tax & Investment Structures

Risk Management Analysis

Estate Planning & Will Review

Education Funding

Retirement Projections

Cross-Border Taxation Issues

Portfolio Management Customized to You

At the center of our investment approach is a customized portfolio construction process that is supported by our ongoing review, advice and support:

  1. We review and analyze your unique financial situation.
  2. We design an optimal portfolio to help achieve your financial goals.
  3. We develop a written investment policy statement (IPS) to guide the investment process.
  4. We monitor your portfolio to ensure it achieves its investment objectives.

As a Portfolio Manager, we provide you with a completely objective investment strategy that is customized to your goals using only the best investment solutions available.

Let’s Talk

In our experience, those families that are a good fit for our firm’s services exhibit the following characteristics:

  • Strive to develop a long-term working relationship with a trusted advisory team
  • Desire to delegate and integrate their:
    • portfolio management ($1M+ of investable assets), financial and tax planning requirements to a team of wealth planning professionals OR
    • investment management only ($500K+)

Calgary Office
Stock Exchange Tower
2160, 300 5th Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2P 3C4
403-457-3285

Thank you for your inquiry. Your privacy is important to Cardinal Point Wealth Management. No information will be released to any unrelated third party. Once the form has been submitted, a Cardinal Point representative will contact you.

Copyright © 2023 Cardinal Point Capital Management, ULC. All Rights Reserved.

“Cardinal Point” is the brand under which dedicated professionals within Cardinal Point Capital Management, ULC provide financial, tax and investment advisory, risk management, financial planning and tax services to selected clients. Cardinal Point Capital Management, ULC is a US registered investment advisor and a registered portfolio manager in Canada (ON, QC, MB, SK, NS, NB, AB, BC). Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Cardinal Point and its representatives are properly registered or exempt from registration. This website is solely for informational purposes. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital.