Media Coverage

The difference between starting to save and invest in your 20s versus 30s can be hundreds of thousands of dollars, wealth advisers say.

We are pleased to announce that Maili has been featured in a recent Financial Post article. The article discusses the importance of compounding and diversification for Generation Z and millennial investors, providing valuable insights for young investors looking to build wealth and navigate the financial landscape.

Key points from Maili Wong’s portion of the article include:

• The importance of diversification across different geographic and industrial sectors.
• The potential for young investors to take advantage of market volatility by buying at discounted prices.
• The usefulness of fixed-income investments for near-term goals, such as saving for a first home.
• The benefits of tax-efficient programs like the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) and Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) for building wealth.

To read the full article and gain access to Maili Wong’s insights, click here.

How will tariffs impact your investments? Maili Wong was interviewed by The Globe and Mail to share insights on the economic and market impacts of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, highlighting the potential challenges and opportunities for various Canadian sectors.

Read the whole article here. From the article:

“Advice for investors:  Stay calm and stay invested. The biggest mistake investors make is moving to the sidelines when they’re worried about election results, geopolitical events or volatility in the markets. It leads them to take short-term views that can be detrimental to their investment results.”

In a recent interview with The Globe and Mail, Maili shared insights into her professional journey and personal style.

Read the whole article here. From the article:

Maili rotates between flats, chunky heels and high heels, too. “They just provide an elevated look,” says Wong, who turns to Jimmy Choos for that touch of heightened polish. When she started her finance career on Wall Street in New York 20 years ago, Wong says there weren’t many women working on the trading floor, but the ones who were all wore heels every day.

The investment industry is no stranger to using a variety of jargon that can leave investors wondering what these terms mean. Our Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager Maili Wong recently contributed to this article in The Globe and Mail which elaborates on what some of this jargon means.

Read the whole article here. Here’s a bit from the article:

9. Dead cat bounce 

Animal lovers may wish to skip this one. A “dead cat bounce” is an especially morbid way to describe an investment’s short-lived recovery. The term appears to date back to a 1985 quote from two Financial Times journalists describing the brief bounce-back of the Singaporean and Malaysian stock markets. It refers to the saying, “Even a dead cat will bounce if it’s dropped from high enough.” Another term for this is a “sucker’s rally,” which most cats prefer.

In this Globe and Mail article, Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager Maili Wong discusses her team-based approach to solving client issues which can go a long way to complying with The Canadian Securities Administrator’s “know-your-client” and “know-your-product” regulations.

Read the whole article here. Here’s what Maili had to say:

Maili Wong is competitive on the tennis court. But at the office, her goal is to ensure her team is as cohesive and connected as possible.

Ms. Wong, senior wealth advisor and senior portfolio manager with the Wong Group at Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. in Vancouver, starts her day with a huddle in which each advisor on her eight-person team shares issues that need solving.

The team then brainstorms solutions, and there’s an awareness of what needs to be done to solve client issues, Ms. Wong says.

“Everybody then has a deeper understanding of each of our clients,” she says. “So, there’s accountability.”

Our very own, Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager Maili Wong has contributed to a new piece in The Globe and Mail, talking about how advisors are often better positioned to notice subtle changes in client behavior that may indicate cognitive decline.

Read the whole article here. Here’s what Maili had to say:

Maili Wong, senior wealth advisor and senior portfolio manager with The Wong Group at Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. in Vancouver, says advisors are better positioned than technology to notice subtle changes in client behaviour that may indicate cognitive decline.

“There is a place for technology, [although] we have not come across a particular program or app that we use to rely on for this purpose,” she says. Instead, her approach is based on relationships and understanding the client’s behaviour with their finances.

She shares an example of a client situation she was able to intervene before her client took a regrettable step because she observed out-of-character behaviour and then asked probing questions. She watches for situations in which a client asks about something already discussed, forgets a request they made, or poses an out-of-context question. That prompts a conversation to find out whether the client has noticed recent forgetfulness and, when appropriate, she reaches out to the client’s trusted contact person or power of attorney.

“If we can be proactive, it can help prevent bigger problems.”

Senior Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager Maili Wong has contributed to a new article in The Globe and Mail, discussing what the wealth management industry is looking for when hiring new advisors.

Read the whole article here. Here’s what Maili had to say:

Maili Wong, senior wealth advisor and portfolio manager at Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. in Vancouver, says new entrants to the wealth management industry used to be assessed based on factors such as school grades or their performance in a competitive sport.

Today, as clients seek holistic solutions to their complex financial situations – such as second or third marriages, extended families and successful businesses – wealth management firms are looking for critical thinkers who can come up with the best strategies.

Knowing how to work within a team has also become a must-have skill for advisors, Ms. Wong adds.

This advisory model is more successful when it’s supported and delivered by a team, she says, with different people specializing in investment analysis, financial planning, portfolio reviews, administration and compliance. “One advisor alone cannot successfully do all of that in this environment.”

Once again, our very own, Maili Wong has contributed to this new piece in The Globe and Mail, sharing her ideas on what to do with extra cash for investors who have triggered capital gains before the inclusion rate goes up on June 25th.

Read the whole article here. Here’s a preview of what Maili had to say:

Investors will also need to decide how to invest the money, says Maili Wong, senior portfolio manager and senior wealth advisor with The Wong Group at Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. in Vancouver.

“If they need retirement cash flow to fund living expenses, consider a balanced dividend equity and fixed income portfolio for monthly income,” she says.

For those who plan to buy another property in a few years, Ms. Wong recommends a diversified portfolio of high-quality stocks and bonds for growth to keep up with rising prices.

“If they plan to reinvest the money into a property within a year, they should also keep the funds liquid and invested more conservatively,” she says.

Ms. Wong says business owners may consider shifting some assets into corporate-owned life insurance policies. These policies can offer tax sheltering for assets and provide the corporation with tax-free distributions.

“This was a terrific strategy before the new rules and is now even more compelling under the new rules,” Ms. Wong says.

Maili was featured in an interview with The Globe and Mail, sharing her insights on why self-directed investors increasingly seek assistance from financial professionals– article by Anna Sharratt, Special to The Globe and Mail.

Read the whole article here. Here’s a preview of what Maili had to say:

Many clients need guidance on the best time to begin taking their Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits or tapping into their registered retirement savings plans. Some want to help their adult children buy property but worry they may drain their retirement savings. Others wonder whether their investments are too conservative to keep up with inflation, while some wonder if they’re not conservative enough. And all of them want to ensure they’re taxed as favourably as possible.

“There are all of these events,” Ms. Wong says. “This is now serious business.”

She says advisors need to take on a financial planning role for former DIY investors, determining clients’ cash flow, their future lifestyle and whether they plan to transfer wealth to younger generations. At the same time, portfolios need to be assessed to determine if there’s enough growth to ensure cash flow in the future.

By plugging in several factors – such as tax rates, rates of return, longevity projections and cash flow demands – advisors can present the client with a variety of scenarios, Ms. Wong says. These scenarios – generated by advisors and their sophisticated financial planning software – can be very illuminating for clients, she says, as they can help them decide whether to change their investment risk tolerance, give money to loved ones and inform estate planning.

“That equips the investor with a better-informed view of what is probable or likely so they can make an informed decision,” she says.

Investors should consider life insurance to pay off tax obligations when the second spouse dies. “You get a tax-free lump sum when the taxes are due,” she says, which can help pay for taxes on second properties, capital gains, or when a registered retirement income fund is rolled over. That can prevent selling off assets when beneficiaries aren’t prepared for a large tax bill.

“That’s where professional advisors can help DIYers see the different tools in the toolkit and see a big-picture approach,” she says.