Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use an advisor instead of doing it myself?
While there is nothing wrong with doing it yourself, having an advisor can help answer questions you may not know you have, provide additional tax savings, implement long term financial planning and have an advisor hold you accountable for your savings strategies. Similar to a doctor, my education and knowledge allow me to help build you a plan that can take advantage of investment and insurance opportunities while being easy to follow. You wouldn’t self diagnose your health, so don’t self diagnose your wealth.
What should I bring to the first meeting and where do we meet?
The more information you bring the better I can provide clear strategies and feedback on what your next steps should be. Ideally, you should bring any insurance policy details, investment statements, your social insurance number, a piece of identification and a void cheque or pre-authorized banking form.
In today’s world, most of the meetings I conduct are done virtually using Microsoft Teams. This allows you to meet from the comfort of your own home (or office) while eliminating travel time. If you wish to meet in person, you are welcome to meet at our office in Lakeview, SW, Calgary during office hours.
You mention you focus your work on business owners who have families. How do you help?
Business owners understand the importance of surrounding themselves with trustworthy people. They turn to Tusk Financial Services Inc. for tax strategies and solutions that align with the long-term vision of their business, but also their family. Many of the Clients we work with want both their business and their family to thrive, making personal goals a crucial part of the planning process.
Do you help with succession planning?
Having a succession plan is extremely important for business Clients. We prioritize this when building our proposals. We want to help evaluate the strategies that lead to successfully implementing your plan.
Tools and calculators
Life insurance calculator
What you get: An estimate of the amount of coverage you need to protect those who depend on you
Budget calculator
What you get: An understanding of your income and expenses and a budget you can return to and update as your needs change.
Retirement savings calculator
What you get: An assessment of whether you’re saving enough to retire when and how you want.
Partners
R. Paul Thorne, B. Comm., LL.B., LL.M., CFP®, TEP
Director of Advanced Planning - Estate & Financial Planning Services, Central/Atlantic Region
Paul is the Director of Advanced Planning in Sun Life’s Estate & Financial Planning Services (EFPS) division. He focuses on complex case consultation within EFPS, with special attention to wills, trusts, estate planning, and Canadian business owners. Paul is passionate about taking these complex topics and distilling them down into practical solutions with a goal of ensuring Client’s understand how they’ll meet their goals and objectives tax efficiently.
He also heads content development for EFPS and acts as tax and legal subject-matter expert for various areas of Sun Life. Prior to joining Sun Life Financial, Paul practiced law with a focus on estate planning, trusts, corporate structures and reorganizations, and taxation. He is the former President of the Halifax Estate Planning Council and is a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society. Paul has won several awards while continuing to advance his education including First place on the President’s List for highest mark on the CFP exam in Canada in November 2014 and Highest mark on the Taxation of Trusts TEP exam in 2018. He was awarded the FP Canada Fellow distinction in 2024 for his significant volunteer contributions to FP Canada’s mandate of advancing professional financial planning in Canada.
Taylor Goulden, MBA, CFP®, CLU
Planning Director - Estate & Financial Planning Services, Western Region
Taylor took on the Planning Director role with the Estate & Financial Planning Services team in July 2022. Prior to joining Sun Life, Taylor worked as a senior financial planner with two independent wealth management firms. She has experience providing comprehensive tax, estate, and financial planning advice to business owners and high net worth individuals. With this background, Taylor takes pride in helping affluent Canadians meet their own retirement goals while leaving lasting legacies to their families and organizations close to heart.
Taylor has obtained the CFP and CLU designations to build on her knowledge of advanced planning strategies and has also completed her MBA from Thompson Rivers University.
Grant Brooks, CFP®, CLU
Planning Director - Estate & Financial Planning Services, Western Region
Grant joined Sun Life in September 2022 as a Planning Director with the Estate & Financial Planning Services team. Grant creates integrated retirement, tax, and estate planning that delivers on Client goals through the implementation of advanced planning strategies for our high net worth Clients. He helps them to focus on key factors, make decisions, and implement the most impactful strategies. Grant helps Clients shift their emphasis from retirement goals to dreams of family legacy and philanthropy.
Prior to joining Sun Life, Grant has worked with high net worth and ultra high net worth Clients since 2004 at a major financial institution, a leading independent wealth management firm, and as an independent advisor. In these roles, he developed expertise working with business owners, incorporated professionals, and executives.
Having achieved both the CFP and CLU designations, Grant is always pursuing further education and regular informational updates to provide Clients with the best wealth planning experience.
Have questions?
Here to help answer your questions, provide clarity about products and get you started on the road to achieving your goals.
