"The quest for my perfect Investment Advisor started out by asking my financially savvy friends if there was someone they would recommend and what criteria should I be looking for. One such friend said to me “choose someone who you can feel totally comfortable with asking stupid questions.” Fortunately that search lead me to Alan Friedman at CIBC Wood Gundy ... I was vulnerable, I told my story both personal and financial, the known and the uncertainty ... at the end of the meeting I knew that Alan would be there — educating, advising and giving me the confidence and security I needed to accomplish my goals.

It’s been two long challenging years, but today I am finally celebrating my freedom and financial independence.

There was much during my extended separation that I could not control, but I knew that I had to be in control of my financial future the day my separation agreement was signed, no matter what the outcome.

The quest for my perfect investment advisor started out by asking my financially savvy friends if there was someone they would recommend and what criteria should I be looking for. One such friend said to me,“Choose someone who you can feel totally comfortable with asking stupid questions.” ( I was not quite sure what she meant at the time! ).

Fortunately, that search lead me to Alan Friedman at CIBC Wood Gundy, and I knew at our first meeting that he was to be my Financial Advisor. During this conversation I was vulnerable, I told my story both personal and financial, the known and the uncertainty. We talked a lot but not about money, we got to know each other. At the end of the meeting I knew that Alan would be there - educating, advising and giving me the confidence and security I needed to accomplish my goals and settle my divorce. Alan and his team made me feel welcome and supported throughout the process.

They immediately pulled together comprehensive and detailed financial plans that provided a view of possible strategies to help me negotiate my settlement wisely. Along with the many paged financial plans came one sheet of paper labelled “Scenario Analysis”. It was a cheat sheet with all the assumptions of my financial future based on my possible outcomes. I kept that sheet of paper in my bedside drawer as I did with the copy of “What to Expect when you are Expecting” when I was pregnant with my three children.

Just like the book I pulled that piece of paper out of my drawer on countless sleepless nights. It’s what kept me sane, giving me the reassurance and knowledge that everything was going to be OK."

-Alison Connolly

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