November is Financial Literacy Month in Canada, which gives us a perfect time to “talk money” and build stronger financial habits. At Evans Family Wealth, we believe literacy goes beyond understanding terms and numbers. True financial literacy is about confidence: knowing your plan, understanding your options, and having the support to make informed decisions that align with your goals.
In a world of online brokerages, robo-advisors, finfluencers and DIY investing apps, you might ask: does working with a professional advisor still matter? The short answer: yes, and for many reasons. Not only can an advisor help structure your financial plan, but they can also build the confidence you need to stick with it through good markets and bad.
Why Confidence Matters
Financial confidence isn’t merely “nice to have.” It’s a critical component of long-term success: staying invested when markets wobble, making rational decisions when headlines are loud, and avoiding impulse reactions when volatility strikes.
Recent Canadian studies make this clear. A 2025 survey by the Securities and Investment Management Association (SIMA) and Pollara Strategic Insight found that 67% of Canadian investors believe professional advice becomes more important when markets are volatile, and 86% of those investors report being satisfied with their advisor’s guidance. source
These numbers tell a story: people value the steady voice of an advisor most during uncertain times.
What An Advisor Really Adds
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Structure and Discipline
Without a plan, even good portfolios can wander. An advisor helps define your risk tolerance, time horizon, goals, and investment policy—then helps you stick to it. That discipline prevents emotional decision-making when markets move quickly.
Our Investment Management Process
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Perspective When Things Get Noisy
Market corrections, economic headlines, and global events can spook investors. The same SIMA/Pollara survey found that during volatility, investors turn to advisors because they bring calm, context, and clarity. Having someone who knows your plan and reminds you of it can stop you from acting in panic.
Our Behavioural Finance Insights
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Customized Guidance—Not Cookie-Cutter Advice
The “one size fits all” approach often fails when life or markets change. Working with an advisor means your strategy can adapt to major milestones like job change, retirement, inheritance, or business succession. That adaptability fuels confidence.
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Behavioural Coaching
One of the biggest threats to financial outcomes isn’t the market—it’s human behaviour. The decisions you make under stress, uncertainty, or overconfidence often matter more than the markets themselves. Advisors help you stay the course, avoid common pitfalls, and lean into the long-term plan, especially when emotions run high.
Why This Matters for High-Net-Worth Investors
If you’re building or protecting significant wealth, the stakes are higher: tax strategy, estate planning, business succession, philanthropy, family governance. With more complexity comes more opportunity (and more risk). Having a seasoned advisor ensures that complexity doesn’t undermine confidence, but rather becomes a source of strength.
Our Comprehensive Wealth Management Services
Final Thoughts
As Financial Literacy Month reminds us, talking about money isn’t just about learning; it’s about empowerment. Confidence in finance doesn’t come from knowing all the answers; it comes from having the right structure, the right support, and the right perspective.
When you have a clear plan, a trusted guide, and a long-term mindset, you’re more likely to stay the course, move ahead with conviction, and make your money work for you.
If you’re ready to feel more confident about your finances – not just when markets are calm, but especially when they’re uncertain—the team at Evans Family Wealth would love to help you explore your next steps.
Briana