Working Together
Smallbird Financial is an advice-only practice. You pay for advice and time, and that's it. I'm best set up to help everyday Canadians, people earning a regular paycheque who want to get their money in order, rather than complex situations like corporations or cross-border tax.
How it works
We talk through your goals, take a quick look at how your finances are set up right now, and agree on scope: an hourly session or the Foundations package, with the price known upfront. If I'm not the right fit, I'll point you toward someone who is.
You fill in the specifics of your numbers so I have a clear, complete picture of your situation to work from.
I do the math and the projections behind the scenes to find the option that actually makes the most sense for you.
We meet again to lock in your next steps, and you leave with a clean, written plan you can follow over the coming days and weeks.
Hourly Advice
For when you have specific questions and want clear answers, not an ongoing commitment.
Maybe it's "Should I prioritize my TFSA or RRSP?" or "Is my portfolio reasonable?" or "Help me think through buying our first home." We meet over video, share screens where it helps, and work through it together. Afterward you get a short written summary of what we covered and your suggested next steps.
Financial Foundations
For people who are just getting started with investing. If your situation is fairly simple and you mostly want a clear idea of what you should be doing, this gives you a clear, complete starting point. It's a good fit for people aged 20 to 50 who want to start off on the right foot. It also makes a meaningful gift for a child, grandchild, or friend you want to help get their finances on track.
What's included
- A structured intake and review of where things stand: cash flow, debt, savings, and accounts
- Two to three working sessions over a few weeks
- Goal setting and a simple order of operations: cash flow, high-interest debt, emergency fund, then investing
- A starter account and contribution strategy across TFSA, RRSP, and FHSA where they fit your situation
- A short written action plan you keep
Comprehensive Financial Plan
The full picture: retirement projections, tax planning, insurance needs, estate basics, and detailed scenario modelling.
This service is in development. If you want to be notified when it launches, join the waitlist.
Who this is for
You'll get a lot out of working together if you want a plan or an answer to a specific question, you like understanding the "why" behind a recommendation, and you're comfortable carrying out the steps yourself with your own accounts. Most of the people I help earn a T4 income and want the everyday parts of their money, saving, debt, accounts, and a simple investing plan, handled well.
Who it isn't for
It's probably not the right fit if you're looking for someone to manage your investments for you on an ongoing basis. I also won't pick stocks or try to time the market, because the best evidence is clear that neither reliably works. I also don't handle more specialized situations like incorporated businesses, rental property portfolios, or cross-border (Canada and US) planning. If that's you, a specialist is the better fit, and I'm glad to point you toward one. Ongoing investment management simply isn't my model.
Questions I can help you answer
- Should I prioritize my TFSA, RRSP, or FHSA?
- Am I invested the right way, or paying too much in fees?
- Should I pay down my mortgage or invest?
- How do I buy a first home without wrecking the rest of my plan?
- Am I on track to retire when I want to?
- I just got a raise or a bit of inheritance, what should I do with it?
- How do I set up a simple, low-cost portfolio I can stick with?
Common questions
What does advice-only mean?
You pay for advice and time, and nothing else. I don't sell products, take commissions, or manage your money. The longer answer is on the What Advice-Only Planning Is page.
Do you sell investments or insurance?
No. If the advice points toward something like term insurance or a certain account, I'll explain what to look for and you arrange it wherever you like.
What happens on the discovery call?
It's a free, no-pressure video chat. You share what's on your mind, I explain how I can help, and we figure out if it's a fit. No prep needed.
How do meetings run?
Everything is virtual, over Google Meet, so I work with clients across Canada from my home base in PEI.
What if I need more help later?
That's common, and easy. Hourly clients often move into the Foundations package, and Foundations clients can book hourly check-ins any time.