The TK Advisor -TK Financial Group Ottawa Blog about Life Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Wealth Management and Estate Planning

Fund raising in Ottawa is very appreciated !

We in Ottawa are fortunate that we have people who on a regular basis take it upon themselves to get involved in fund raising activities on any given night of the week . The efforts of these people should somehow be rewarded beyond recognition . There should be some kind of a tax incentive or credit given as recognition of their never ending commitment to our community . We are lucky to enjoy the benefits from all the money which is raised and used in our community . Thank you volunteers !

Coaching , mentoring and giving is rewarding !

Over the years I have had the privilege to coach many young people from local , provincial and University level sports . If you have not coached before please give it consideration and I assure you that you will have a lifetime of memories as well as relationships . I am proud to see and meet the "kids" that are now in twenties who still call me coach . I am always interested in hearing them tell me what they are doing today or even assist them in getting an interview for a job . As one of the players said when I was with Winnipeg Blue Bombers " it is not how you play the game of football but it is how you play the game of life ". Once a coach you never stop being a coach . Coaching is a rewarding experience if you decide to go beyond what we old football people call x's and o's . Community needs participation from good people to build our children to be proud and successful in life . Sign up to be a coach or a volunteer and reep the rewards !

Relationships make the world a fun place !

When I started my career as a professional in the financial services business I knew I could not be average . I wanted to provide my clients with services in my own business as well as opportunities to enhance their lives . Over the last 30 years my data base has expanded to thousands of people I actually know and have a relationship with . I promote the services of my clients to everyone I know and people have said I am a go to guy . Why do I love having relationships ? My relationships make my work fun and rewarding . I do provide estate and insurance planning work with a certain passion . I believe in promoting my clients and contacts to expand their business offering or simply help them make their life better . My relationships have made my life enjoyable and given me an opportunity to contribute back to the community that have been good to me and my family ! Thank you for all of you who have a relationship with me !

Ottawa is a great business community !

I think we are lucky to be living in a city where there are so many unique business offering us services within our own community . I meet business owners every week and love the experience of learning about them as well as certainly their businesses . I feel privileged to be in the business where we are offering services to low tech , high tech and everything in between . We are a conduit for our clients as we look to promote them whenever an opportunity arrives . We have been involved in mergers and acquisitions which we initiated to assist our clients . Our clients know when they are looking for product or service we will point them in the right direction . I hear they call that pass it on and we do a lot of that every week . Let's support businesses in our community !

Charitable organizations need our help !

Due to the economic times all charitable organizations are adversely affected and as a result we may lose some of our services if they can not make up the shortfall . With HST and regular increases in the costs of operating our businesses it has become increasingly difficult to keep supporting various charities but we are managing to keep the money flowing . Supporting our Ottawa owned businesses you are also supporting the contributions they make in our community . We all need to keep in mind that we are so intertwined that together we will keep Ottawa a vibrant community ! Buy LOCAL whenever you can because the money will be spent here at home !

Our Economy is you !

I get tired of government taking credit when economy is good and wimp out on making necessary decisions to truly make it better . I am tired of the rhetoric that occurs between different parties when more cooperation is needed . We are all Canadians and we want our families to be taken care of so let's focus on helping each other by buying local as well as Canadian  . Small business owners get very little credit or appreciation for all they do for our economies across Canada . Small business owners do not get a cheque to bail them out like car companies did . Small business in our city is third largest employer so next time you buy from a local small business remember you are making a positive contribution to your community  . Finally I heard a add on radio for thanking Ottawa residents for shopping locally  , right on .

Are you buying from local companies in Ottawa ?

We live in a great city and much of what we need can be acquired from local companies that are in our back yard . We should look to do business from companies that are run by us that live here , employ local people , pay all taxes and support charitable initiatives . I am amazed why you would want to obtain services that are readily available with local firms outside Ottawa . I have been trying to encourage a local business publication to write a article encouraging local people to buy local but I guess they feel this in not a worthy cause and maybe not politically correct . Wake up people , support your neighbours who directly or indirectly support you .

Who do you know and who can you help ?

When we all decide to work together our community benefits . I look at how I can help introduce my clients to each other to do business with each other . Why ? I am focused in helping each client with their integrated planning and increasing their business volume : What do you need ? We have : windows and doors , automobiles , home building , moving supplies , window dressing and curtains , tires , lawyers , accountants , real estate sale , real estate leasing , construction services like renovations etc. Having around 900 personal clients who are self employed , professionals and corporations allows us to assist you wind products and services . Why do I love networking beyond the obvious in helping people ? Networking is FUN !

Business needs energetic young as well as mature people!

We live in a country where opportunities are endless and yet so many people say they can not find good jobs. Why?  What do they have to offer to the employer?  We are finding it difficult to find entrepreneurial individuals to work in a excellent environment, group benefits , pension and fair pay.  Why?  Maybe too many people are asking what a company can do for them and not what they can do for themselves by being a great employee.

Networking , what is that ?

I want to build a strong network of people to help myself , my clients and my community . People sometimes confuse what networking is and think it is going to a breakfast meeting to distribute as well as get the most business cards possible . There are numerous methods to developing a strong network and they all work to a certain degree . My idea of networking is to look at opportunities to help people connect with others that can help them solve their needs . Having a network of people I can trust to help individuals that I introduce to them is worth gold to me . Often , people will ask me if I know somebody and when I am able to make the connection for them it makes me happy . David Perry asked me how he can help me and my response was " introduce me to people i do not yet know". I have been told that I should charge for all the work I do to enable people to meet as well as do business together but I will not . The service I provide is well beyond selling a product and it is  my core business which enables me to network with people . I am careful to introduce only those individuals which will deliver on their commitment . We all have a network but sometimes do not call it that by name !