How We Help

Financial Planning

As a Financial Advisor, I become your partner in your long term financial planning. I’ll help you understand your options and make a plan for building and protecting your assets. For more information, see How Can a Financial Advisor Help You.

Retirement & Estate Planning

Todd can show you a variety of savings vehicles with competitive rates and help you evaluate if you are saving enough to meet your retirement goals. Use our online financial calculators to estimate your retirement needs.

As your Investment Funds Advisor, Todd has access to a variety of integrated wealth-management solutions to help you achieve the peace of mind you deserve.

RRSPs

RRSPs provide a way to easily save money for your retirement and benefit from tax savings. You can deduct the amount of money you put into your RRSP from your annual income at tax time, within specified limits. Your RRSP investment grows on a tax sheltered basis. You only pay the tax when you take the money back out of the plan. You can use the money in your RRSP account to buy investments, and the money earned on your investments is not taxed until you take it out of the plan.

You can spend the money in your RRSP before you retire, but you will have to pay the tax owed on the amount of your withdrawals, unless you borrow the money to: (1) Buy a first home: You can use up to $20,000 from your RRSP for a down payment on your first home; or (2) Pay for education: You can use some of the money in your RRSP to help you or your spouse go back to school. There are rules about how much you can take out each year. If you borrow money from your RRSP for a home or education, you will have to pay it back, but you will have a number of years to do so.

RESPs

RESPs provide a way to save for your children’s education. Money you deposit to your RESP grows on a tax sheltered basis. When funds are withdrawn for educational fees, they are taxed as the income of the child. The federal government also matches a percentage of your deposits.

Tax Free Savings Accounts

TFSA’s are a great opportunity for tax free growth on your savings. Whether you are saving for the short term (0-5 years) or for the long term (6 years and beyond) a TFSA can be a valuable addition to your financial plan.

Mutual Funds

As a Mutual Fund Representative, Todd Darling, CFP, is licensed with Portfolio Strategies Corporation, through which mutual funds are distributed.

A mutual fund allows you to invest in a group of stocks or other investments chosen by a professional investor. Funds can offer a broader range of investments than you could buy on your own. When you put money in a mutual fund along with many other people, it creates a large pool of money that can be invested. The company that runs the mutual fund puts a Fund Manager in charge of investing the money. The Fund Manager decides how to invest the money and decides when to buy and sell investments for the mutual fund.

Mutual funds vary a lot in terms of earnings potential and the amount of risk. Seven common types of funds are: Money market funds, Fixed income funds, Balanced funds, Stock or equity funds, Index funds, Specialty funds, Mortgage funds, Real estate funds.

Segregated Funds

Segregated funds are similar to mutual funds, but are sold only by life insurance companies. You have many of the same choices, including: Money Market Funds, Bond funds, Equity funds, and Balanced funds. Segregated funds can be good for some long-term investors who want to invest in equity mutual funds but don’t like the risk of other types of funds. Unlike a mutual fund, a segregated fund has a maturity date, such as 10 years. If you hold the fund to that date, you are guaranteed to receive a specified amount of your money back. Segregated funds pay a guaranteed amount to your beneficiary if you die. Your beneficiary gets this amount even if the value of the investments in your segregated fund is less.

Life Insurance

Todd has access to Canada’s top insurance companies, offering you the best solutions for your insurance needs. Security, savings, tax-sheltering, protection for loved ones: life insurance isn’t just about a death benefit anymore. Learn about what life insurance can do for you, your family, and your financial future.

Universal life insurance is the most flexible life insurance available today. You can customize your plan when you buy it, or easily make changes later. Universal life offers you the opportunity for tax-advantaged investing. This gives you the chance to increase your wealth by investing within your policy.

Permanent life insurance provides lifetime protection for a fixed cost. Depending on the plan you buy, permanent life insurance spreads the cost of your coverage over the lifetime of the policy or over a specified period of time.

Term insurance is a lower-cost option, and still gives you assurance that your beneficiaries will be protected. For more information, see Types of Life Insurance.

Critical Illness Insurance

It’s a startling reality that 30% of Canadians will develop some form of life-threatening cancer. If you have never considered critical illness insurance, you may want to review these plans. This insurance provides a lump-sum benefit in the event you are diagnosed with a serious illness, or in some cases require surgery. For more information, see Critical Illness Insurance.

Disability Insurance

Disability insurance plans are designed to help meet your income requirements and pay bills, should you become disabled and unable to work.

Long Term Care Insurance

Long term care costs can be high and can threaten the financial security you’ve achieved. Long term care insurance can protect you if you require extended nursing home care or at home care. Long term care insurance may also provide tax-free benefits, depending on your plan. For more information, see Long Term Care Insurance.

Group Benefits

I can show you some employer-sponsored packages that may include dental and medical benefits and/or group RRSP investment plans. Call for a competitive quote on a new or existing group plan.

Health & Dental Insurance

Plans are available for individuals and small businesses that do not qualify for group insurance.

Mortgage Insurance

Ask me about a practical and affordable alternative to your bank’s mortgage insurance plans.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance plans cover emergency medical and health expenses when travelling, and may also provide vacation cancellation and lost baggage insurance, depending on the plan and provider.

We look forward to hearing from you – Call: (403) 443 – 2110

Todd Darling, CFP, of Darling Financial serves Alberta in the greater Airdrie and Three Hills, AB, area, as well as being licensed for BC and Ontario.

Please Note:

This website is for general financial education only. All information is based on Canadian products and services, and meant for the education of Canadians. Information is accurate as of publication date, and is subject to change without notice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact us at 403.443.2110.