Michael Thomas

Certified Financial Planner
Investment Representative

I’m committed to helping you achieve and surpass your financial goals by working with you to plan for your life now and in the future. I have over 40 years experience in the financial industry and am a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), a Certified Health Insurance Specialist (CHS), a Fellow of Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB) and an Elder Planning Counsellor (EPC).

I began my career as an electrical engineer and then moved into banking, where I worked my way up to executive management. I changed my career path to financial planning because I enjoy working directly with people to plan how they’ll meet their financial goals. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking gourmet meals, camping or doing carpentry.

I’ll work with you to plan based on what is happening in your life now and where you want to be in the future whether it’s for you as an individual, for your family or your business. For example, I can help you start investing today with a tax-free savings account (TFSA) and for the future with a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) by building a custom portfolio for you. Or we can discuss a market competitive home mortgage or a flexible home line of credit.

Building a relationship with you is important to me. That’s why we’ll meet in person to complete your plan. After that, we’ll meet as often as you like whether that’s once a year or more often. Anytime you have questions, I’m a phone call or email away.

Need other financial help? My practice also has expert partners specializing in:

  • Tax planning
  • Insurance (life, critical illness, disability)
  • Investment wealth management
  • Investment portfolio management and accommodation
  • Credits and mortgage planning

I help you build a financial plan based on where you’ve been, where you are now and where you want to be. For business owners, I look for ways to help protect you from the inevitable downturns in the market. I particularly enjoy working with small business owners because you’re an important part of your community. 

Every client’s situation is unique. Whether you have a simple request to something more complex, I’ll work hard to find you solutions.  

The foundation of my business is in building personal relationships with my clients. Over the course of two or three meetings, we’ll go through an intense fact-finding conversation so I can fully understand you and your needs. From there, I’ll make recommendations to help you build your financial plan. It may sound a little intimidating but trust me – it’ll be like meeting with a friend to get their take on your situation.

Supported by a team of experts

When you need specialized expertise, we have access to a team of professionals associated with The Canada Life Assurance Company. They specialize in tax, law, accounting, investments, insurance, group benefits, mortgages and financial security planning.

Rob Lee

Securities Specialist, Canada Life Securities Ltd. 

Robert started in financial services in 1997 with Canada Trust as a bank teller while studying at university. He began taking industry courses and became licensed in 1999. Rob has been in the securities industry for over 15 years with positions at MD Management, Investpro Securities, Rice Financial, and CIBC.  

Rob successfully built a securities practice at two different institutions from scratch. 

Access expert advice on stocks and bonds, and award-winning online trading, through Canada Life Securities Ltd. in alliance with The Canada Life Assurance Company.  
 

Disclaimer:

John Gilmour

Advanced Case Consultant, Canada Life for Eastern and Northern Ontario 

John began his career as a financial security advisor in 1990 and from there grew a successful practice in the Montreal/Ottawa area. He later became a director with a large bank firm, supporting their agency planners with risk management solutions in the high-net-worth market. In 2005, he joined Great-West Life (now The Canada Life Assurnace Company) as the Eastern Ontario regional director for life insurance and in 2012, he was appointed to advanced case consultant for Eastern and Northern Ontario to support advisors working in the large case individuals and business owners markets.

Cecilia De Bold-Murdock, B.Comm (Hons), CHS

Advanced Planning Strategist, Living Benefits 

Cecilia is passionate about living benefits which is often neglected – because it’s considered complicated and expensive. Yet, it’s part of the foundation of a sound financial plan. 

With 18 years’ experience in living benefits, Cecilia shares strategies, knowledge and experience to develop successful living benefits plans and strategies. She began her career in Ottawa and then worked in Winnipeg and Toronto for Great-West Life and  Canada Life. She holds a Certified Health Specialist. (CHS) designation. 

Cecilia is dedicated to helping communicate the need and partnering with advisors as a Living Benefits expert for high net worth clients and for complex cases. 

Paul-Simon Ghoche CFA, FCSI

Director, Private Wealth

Over 25 years of experience within the financial services industry:

  • Tier-1 Mutual Fund & insurance companies, mining and oil/gas flow-through industry
  • Worked as a Research Analyst for a leading Macroeconomic research firm
  • Private Wealth department since 2017 (>2,700 high net worth cases)
  • Underlying thread: affluent advisors, small business owners & professionals

Jared Ross, BBA, CFP, CIM, FCSI 

Regional Sales Manager 

Jared is an experienced, results-oriented asset manager and financial planner with more than 13 years of investment experience. He has an extensive background, which includes an excellent understanding of capital markets, strong verbal and written communication skills. He has over five years of investment advisor experience at BMO Nesbitt Burns, institutional portfolio analysis as well as coaching clients the principles of investing. 

He holds the designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP), is a Certified Investment Manager (CIM) as well as being a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute (FCSI). He has also completed Level 1 of Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) program.  

Jared joined Great-West Life (now Canada Life) in January 2011 as an investment consultant, bringing his extensive experience in the financial planning industry to the organization's clients and advisors. In this capacity, he provided assistance and education to financial security advisors at Freedom 55 Financial delivering value-added knowledge and service to their clients. In May of 2017, Jared transitioned to the expanded role of Regional Sales Manager, Wealth Management for Northern Ontario. 

Russell Marin

Regional Sales Manager, Insurance (Canada Life)

Russell was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario. After living in Waterloo and Toronto for several years, he moved back to Sudbury and graduated from the Sports Administration (SPAD) Program at Laurentian University.

In 2009, Russell joined Freedom 55 Financial as a financial security advisor. He was appointed to the role of New Advisor Training Manager in 2011 within London Life and Great-West Life, where he spent 5 years training and developing new advisors in Northern Ontario.

In 2017, transitioned to the Regional Sales Manager for the newly designed Ontario North Region where I work with a variety of advisors that leverage the Canada Life insurance products. Since the amalgamation of the London Life, Great-West Life and Canada Life brands, Russell continues to provide insurance support to financial advisors throughout the Barrie and Northern Ontario areas.

Contact me today to find out how I can help you achieve your goals.