Financial Planning in Calgary
MaxPro Financials provides financial planning in Calgary for families, retirees and business owners who want one plan that covers retirement income, investments, tax and estate decisions together. Because we also prepare personal and corporate tax returns, every recommendation is tested against what it will do to your tax bill before you act on it.
- Retirement planning — when to retire, CPP and OAS timing, and turning savings into income
- RRSP and TFSA planning — how much to put where, and in what order to draw it
- Tax planning — income splitting, pension splitting and Alberta’s tax brackets
- Estate planning — wills, beneficiaries and passing on assets efficiently
- Business owner planning — salary vs. dividends, corporate savings and an exit plan
Meet us at our Calgary office, 7500 Macleod Trail SE #203, or work with us entirely online. The first consultation is free.
Financial Planning Services in Calgary
Retirement planning
We work out how much you need, when you can stop working and how to turn RRSPs, pensions, TFSAs and government benefits into a steady after-tax income.
Investment and RRSP/TFSA planning
We set an asset mix that matches your timeline and risk tolerance, and decide which account each dollar should go into first.
Tax planning and advisory
We look for tax savings across your household: spousal RRSPs, pension income splitting, the timing of capital gains and charitable giving.
Estate planning
We review your will, powers of attorney and beneficiary designations, and estimate the tax that would be due on death so there are no surprises for your family.
Planning for business owners
For incorporated owners we plan salary, dividends and money left in the company, and how you will eventually sell or pass on the business.
Retirement Planning in Calgary
Retirement decisions in Calgary often come with an extra layer that other cities see less of: many clients leave the energy sector with a defined benefit pension, a severance package or company shares to deal with at the same time.
- Pension or commuted value? Leaving an employer can mean choosing between a lifetime pension and a lump-sum transfer. The right answer depends on your health, other savings, the tax on any excess cash portion and how much risk you can carry.
- Severance and retiring allowances. Part of a payout may be transferable to your RRSP if you have eligible service before 1996, and spreading the rest across tax years can save thousands.
- CPP timing. Starting CPP at 60 cuts it by 0.6% for each month before 65; waiting past 65 raises it by 0.7% a month, up to age 70.
- OAS clawback. Retirement income above the recovery threshold reduces OAS, so RRSP withdrawals are often better started before 71.
- RRSP to RRIF. Your RRSP must be converted by the end of the year you turn 71, after which minimum withdrawals apply.
Tax Planning for Calgary Families and Business Owners
Alberta has no provincial sales tax, an 8% bracket on the first portion of provincial taxable income and a top combined rate of 48%. Those features change which strategies pay off:
- Income splitting. Spousal RRSPs and pension income splitting move income to the lower-earning spouse, often into Alberta’s lowest bracket.
- TFSA first or RRSP first? The answer depends on your bracket now compared with in retirement. We run the numbers for your situation rather than using a rule of thumb.
- Incorporated owners. An Alberta small business pays a combined 11% on its first $500,000 of active income, so how much you take out, and how, is the biggest lever. See our Calgary tax accountants for the corporate side.
- Estate costs. Alberta’s probate fees are capped at a few hundred dollars, far below BC or Ontario, so planning here focuses on income tax on death, especially on RRSPs, RRIFs and appreciated property.
Financial Planner vs Financial Advisor vs Accountant
In Alberta, “financial planner” and “financial advisor” are not protected titles, so what you get depends on the person’s training and how they are paid. This is how the roles usually differ:
| Financial planner | Financial advisor | Accountant (CPA) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main focus | A full plan across retirement, tax, estate and cash flow | Investment and insurance products | Tax returns, financial statements and tax planning |
| Typically paid by | A fee from you | Commissions, a percentage of assets, or fees | A fee from you |
| Designations to look for | CFP, QAFP | Licensing for the products they sell; CFA for investment analysis | CPA |
| Best when you need | Big decisions that affect several areas at once | To choose and manage investments | Your taxes filed and planned correctly |
Our plans are prepared by our CPA-led team, so the tax side is built in. If you already work with an investment advisor, we can build the plan alongside them.
How Our Planning Works and What It Costs
- Free consultation. We talk about your goals and situation, and confirm what the plan will cover and its fee in writing.
- Your information. Tax returns and notices of assessment, investment and pension statements, mortgage details and, if you own a business, its financial statements.
- Plan and projections. We model your cash flow, retirement income and taxes under the options that matter for you.
- Review meeting. In person in Calgary or by video, we go through the plan and a short list of dated actions.
- Yearly check-in. We update the plan once a year, or sooner if something big changes.
You receive the fee in writing before any work begins, so there are no surprises.
Why Calgary Clients Choose MaxPro
- A CPA-led team. Ben (Bahram), CPA, CGA, ACCA, works with our founder Alex (Naser) Mohassesi, who has more than 20 years in financial and tax planning, and Forouzan, a former financial controller and University of Calgary researcher.
- Plan and taxes in one place. The people who build your plan also prepare your returns, so the advice is carried through.
- A local office. 7500 Macleod Trail SE #203, Calgary, with clients across Airdrie, Okotoks, Cochrane and Chestermere.
- Experience at scale. More than 800 business and 1,400 individual clients across 9 provinces.
Financial Planning in Calgary: Frequently Asked Questions
We quote your fee in writing after a free consultation, before any work begins. The fee depends on how complex your situation is, for example whether you own a corporation, have a pension decision to make or need estate planning.
The earlier the better, but planning has the biggest impact roughly ten to fifteen years before you want to retire, while there is still time to change how much you save and where.
It depends on your health, your other savings, how much investment risk you can accept and the tax on any portion paid out in cash. We compare both options with your real numbers before you decide.
You can start CPP as early as 60 or as late as 70. Each month before 65 reduces it by 0.6%, and each month after 65 increases it by 0.7%. The best age depends on your health, other income and whether you need the money now.
Often, yes. Many advisors focus on the portfolio, while a plan covers tax, retirement income, estate and business decisions. We can work alongside your existing advisor.
Yes. We prepare personal and corporate returns in-house, which is why many clients combine planning and tax filing with us.