^Blog How Much Is Your Financial Advisor Costing You?

When most people think about the cost of a financial advisor, they focus on fees. But there’s a hidden cost that’s often far greater, the cost of missed opportunities, avoidable taxes, and lack of proactive planning.

If your advisor is only offering you surface-level financial advice instead of true financial planning, it could be costing your family hundreds of thousands of dollars over time.

Financial Advice Is Often Superficial and Reactive

Traditional financial advice tends to be reactive. You might meet with your advisor once a year to discuss your investment returns or whether you should contribute more to your RRSP. The conversation usually revolves around financial products – stocks, insurance, mutual funds – and rarely dives deeper.

This kind of advice often lacks a full understanding of your goals, your family dynamics, or your complete financial picture. Many families don’t realize that this approach leaves major planning opportunities untapped, and how much this is truly costing them.

Financial Planning Is Strategic and Holistic

True financial planning goes beyond advice. It’s a proactive, coordinated approach that takes your entire financial life into account. A planner will work closely with you, meeting often quarterly, and collaborate with your accountant and lawyer to ensure your estate, tax, and investment strategies are working together.

At Three60 Wealth, we cover areas like estate planning, tax efficiency, corporate structuring, income planning, and trust integration. We ensure your wills, powers of attorney, and personal directives align with your financial plan. Planning isn’t about products, it’s about designing a long-term strategy to protect and grow your wealth.

The Real Cost Is in What You’re Missing

If your advisor isn’t providing full financial planning, the true cost isn’t in fees, it’s in what’s being left on the table. Missed tax opportunities, inefficient structures, and uncoordinated strategies can quietly erode your family’s wealth.

To help you find out where you stand, we’ve created a free 20-Point Planning Checklist. It’s a simple, powerful tool to evaluate whether you’re receiving advice or a real plan. You can download this for free by going to three60wealth.ca/planning.

If you’re ready to work with a team that delivers true financial planning, not just advice, connect with us at Three60 Wealth. Your future deserves more than check-the-box solutions.

Authored by: Jason Nagel, at Three60 Wealth