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Our Approach

Our Approach

Our approach is to understand your goals and help you achieve them.

Whether your goal is to retire with a specific lifestyle, transition your cottage to the next generation, give charitably, pass the family business on to the next generation, or to make your children and grandchildren good stewards of your wealth, we are here to help you achieve these goals. In our meetings, we will focus on you. Your family. Your concerns. The people and things you care about. Your investments are a tool to help you achieve your goals.

Of course, we will help you minimize your tax burden, maximize your returns, and invest as effectively as possible, but this is hand-in-hand with achieving your goals. Your investments are only one piece of your financial picture. We will understand your complete financial situation. We want to help you achieve your goals whatever they might be.

Our Philosophy

  • We believe that wealth creates complexity.  
  • We believe that good inheritors need to be financially educated.
  • Affluent families have specific needs. We understand those needs.
A senior couple sits on the couch smiling as they look at a laptop and discuss financial planning.
Laura Southall, Senior Wealth Advisor in Kingston, Ontario.
Thomas Elliot, Financial Advisor in Kingston, Ontario, leans against a fireplace as he looks at a man standing across from him.

What We Do

We take care of your family’s financial needs.
  • We are stewards of your investment portfolio.
  • We help you through important financial decisions like the sale of a business, the purchase or sale of an additional property, your children’s education, retirement, or an inheritance.
  • We develop a plan to help you achieve your goals.
  • We provide financial education for your family.
  • We work with your existing accountants and lawyers and are a liaison between them.  
  • We understand your complete financial situation and our advice reflects that.

What Sets Us Apart

We care about you.
  • We know you, and your family, well.
  • You become a part of our community of affluent families.
  • We understand your goals and needs.  
  • We will be with you and your family through every stage of your financial life.

Our Process

about assante
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STEP 1: DISCOVER YOUR GOALS

The most important part about your finances is how they will get you to where you want to go. Often, our clients have goals such as buying a cottage, paying for children’s university, or minimizing taxes as they leave their estate to the next generation. In our first meeting, we will discuss your goals and prioritize them.

STEP 2: EXAMINE YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION

Understanding your whole financial situation is critical to helping you create a plan to achieve your goals. We will review and understand every aspect of your financial picture including but not limited to investment accounts, real estate, businesses, income, taxes, insurance, etc.

STEP 3: CREATE A PLAN TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

We will develop a plan that allows you to see where you will be in the future. Your plan will consider multiple scenarios and will be reviewed each year so that adjustments can be made. Some of our clients require retirement plans that illustrate how much income they can take from their investments each month without ever running out of money. Others need an estate plan that minimizes taxes upon death. Each plan is individualized based on your goals.

STEP 4: Investment choices that are right for you

There are many options for investing. We are independent and have a wide range of options available. We will review your risk tolerance and goals and choose the investment choice that is right for you while still maximizing returns and minimizing taxes.

STEP 5: MEET REGULARLY

Depending on your situation and preference, we will set up a regular meeting to review your plan, your portfolio, and your situation. Outside of regular meetings, we are always available to help you through any financial decisions such as the purchase or sale of real estate, the purchase or sale of a business, or receiving an inheritance.

What to Expect When Working With Us

We will know your family well. 

We will understand your situation and what is important to you.  We will help you with any major financial decisions. We will be an integral part of your life. 

The Laura Southall team sits at a boardroom table as they smile at one another.
Laura has been instrumental in helping us work through our investment and retirement planning. Her knowledge and professionalism and her patience answering ALL of our questions has been very reassuring. I love attending her information sessions and have learned so much. We have recommended Laura to countless friends and family members and will continue to do so in the future.
M.G.Client
Laura, with her excellent wisdom and advice, changed the direction of my life as a solo, self-employed parent. She not only has a deep understanding of economics and investments, she is savvy and well-informed when it comes to real world issues facing women In business. Laura makes herself available on every level to her clients as she works to understand and consider the whole picture of a person’s current realities and future dreams. At 55 years old I attribute my safety and financial security to Laura’s wisdom, advice, and consistent unparalleled care.
H.M. Client
I arrived at Laura’s office with much fear and anguish about my financial future. I thought I was going to have to work forever. Laura was so dedicated to me; sometimes I asked her the same question multiple times and she would reply to me in different ways until everything was clear. I never left the meeting with a doubt. I followed all her suggestions, and my portfolio grew in a way that I would have never been able to do alone. Now it is realistic for me to plan for retirement. Whatever plan I have, I run it through her, it simply makes me feel safe and it works in my best interest. I can’t thank Laura enough.
M.B.Client
I met Laura Southall back in December 2014 and I am very fortunate to have had her as my financial advisor for the past 7 years. From the very beginning, my financial portfolio has been in excellent hands under her watchful eye. Laura makes herself available to respond to all of my questions and is proactive in bringing matters to my attention for discussion. We meet as often as needed, generally once or twice a year to review my portfolio and discuss adjustments that could be made. With Laura managing my portfolio, I have peace of mind and the confidence in my financial prosperity now and in the future.
A.C.Client
Laura and her team make learning about finances, enjoyable and easy. Laura’s webinars are straightforward, extremely informative, and life-changing. She is quick to answer emailed questions and is always available to meet with us when we need to discuss our financial matters in more detail. We have and will continue to recommend Laura as “an amazing financial advisor”. Thank you Laura and team for changing our financial lives for the better.
M.D. & K.D.Clients
We arrived as people controlled by money: we were fearful, disorganized and stressed. Working with Laura and her team for more than fifteen years has been truly life changing. Laura helped us to understand how our money could be organized to fulfill possibility. She has always said, "Let's do it!" in the most joyful and reassuring way—and we have! We have felt respected for the ethical investment choices we make. When our daughters were heading toward university, Laura welcomed the opportunity to work directly with them in managing their money and planning for how much they needed to earn and save. We are so grateful.
T.C. & S.C.Clients
Laura Southall has been our wealth advisor for 9 years now. When our previous advisor suddenly passed away in 2014 we were unsure of who to turn to and more importantly who to trust. Laura hit the ground running with us by quickly getting up to speed on our family and financial situation, providing a comprehensive review of our past, present, and future financial needs and goals. Laura's bi-annual reviews are meticulous, purposeful, and well-defined: her timely follow-up emails are as well. Laura's proactive approach to engaging our adolescent kids in building their personal financial well-being has been welcome and comforting. This is extremely important to us. We are confident we are in good hands with Laura and her team. Thanks Laura
C.S. & T.S.Clients
Let’s explore your goals and together we will make a plan to help your reach them.