Shawn Martel - CI Assante Wealth Management Ltd.

Shawn Martel - CI Assante Wealth Management Ltd. Providing wealth management services to individuals & their families in the Montreal area.

Since 2006 & with over 70 years of combined experience in the areas of investments, insurance and financial & estate planning, our team at CI Assante is ready & able to help you & your family thrive and achieve your financial goals. Working with our team will provide you with the peace of mind knowing that your goals are at the forefront as we work together to achieve them. Visit www.assante.com/l

egal for important legal and regulatory disclosures. Insurance products and services are provided through Assante Estate & Insurance Services

Retirement isn't just a date on a calendar.It's a shift from accumulating wealth… to relying on it.And that transition b...
05/28/2026

Retirement isn't just a date on a calendar.

It's a shift from accumulating wealth… to relying on it.

And that transition brings a completely different set of decisions.

Things like:

• When should you start CPP or QPP—and how does timing impact long-term income?
• How do you draw from RRSPs, TFSAs, and non-registered accounts in a tax-efficient way?
• What does sustainable income actually look like?
• How do you manage market volatility when you're no longer contributing?
• What risks matter most now—longevity, inflation, sequence of returns?

Many people spend decades focused on saving.

Far fewer have a clear strategy for turning those savings into reliable income.

This is where a financial planner plays a different role—not just growing assets, but structuring them to support a lifestyle.

Because retirement isn't about having a number.

It's about having a plan that makes that number work.

On paper, a cross-border move can look like a career opportunity or a lifestyle upgrade.In reality, it's also a financia...
05/21/2026

On paper, a cross-border move can look like a career opportunity or a lifestyle upgrade.

In reality, it's also a financial shift that introduces a level of complexity most people don't see coming.

Different tax systems. Different rules. Different assumptions.

A few of the questions that come up quickly:

• How will you be taxed—and where?
• Are you at risk of double taxation?
• What happens to your RRSP, TFSA, or pension plans?
• Should you trigger gains before leaving—or defer them?
• How does residency status impact everything from investments to estate planning?

And importantly—some decisions need to be made before the move happens, not after.

This is where coordination matters.

A financial planner, working alongside cross-border tax specialists, helps ensure that the transition is intentional—not reactive.

Because when you're dealing with two systems at once, small oversights can become expensive ones.

The opportunity may be global.

But the planning needs to be precise.

Receiving an inheritance can feel like both a gift and a responsibility.It often comes at an emotional time—and with it,...
05/14/2026

Receiving an inheritance can feel like both a gift and a responsibility.

It often comes at an emotional time—and with it, a set of decisions that can shape your financial future in meaningful ways.

Common questions include:

• Should the funds be invested, used to pay down debt, or set aside?
• What are the tax implications?
• How does this fit into existing financial goals?
• Are there opportunities to support family or future generations?
• How do you balance preserving wealth with using it meaningfully?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer.

A financial planner helps bring context—connecting the inheritance to your broader plan, values, and long-term priorities.

Because it's not just about what you've received.

It's about what it allows you to do next.

Buying or selling a business is one of the most financially significant decisions someone can make.And yet, many of the ...
05/07/2026

Buying or selling a business is one of the most financially significant decisions someone can make.

And yet, many of the most important considerations happen outside the transaction itself.

Questions like:

• What is the after-tax value of the deal?
• How should proceeds be structured or invested?
• Are there opportunities to minimize tax (LCGE, timing, structuring)?
• How does this impact retirement planning?
• What risks exist if too much wealth is tied to the business?

There's a tendency to focus on the headline number.

But what ultimately matters is what you keep—and how it supports your life going forward.

A financial planner helps connect the transaction to the bigger picture.

Because a successful deal isn't just about closing—it's about what comes next.

A change in marital status—whether it's marriage, separation, or divorce—comes with more than just emotional shifts.It r...
04/30/2026

A change in marital status—whether it's marriage, separation, or divorce—comes with more than just emotional shifts.

It reshapes your financial life in ways that aren't always immediately obvious.

Income, expenses, taxes, assets, liabilities—everything starts to look different:

• How should finances be combined (or separated)?
• Are beneficiary designations still appropriate?
• What happens to shared debts or jointly held investments?
• How does this affect your tax situation?
• Do your insurance and estate plans still reflect your reality?

These are deeply personal transitions, but they also carry long-term financial implications.

A financial planner's role here isn't just technical—it's about helping bring structure and clarity during a time that can feel anything but structured.

Because when life changes this significantly, your financial plan should change with it.

A job change is one of those moments that feels exciting, but also a bit uncertain.New salary, new benefits, new routine...
04/24/2026

A job change is one of those moments that feels exciting, but also a bit uncertain.

New salary, new benefits, new routines. Maybe even a new city or a different long-term path.

What often gets overlooked is how many financial decisions quietly stack up during a transition like this:

• Should you take a higher salary or prioritize better benefits?
• What happens to your pension or group RRSP?
• Do you transfer it, leave it, or convert it?
• Are there gaps in your insurance coverage?
• How does this impact your tax situation this year?
• Should your investment strategy change with your new income or goals?

These aren't always urgent decisions—but they are important ones. And once they're made, they can be hard (or costly) to unwind.

This is where a financial planner can add real value.

Not just by "managing money," but by helping you think through the trade-offs, avoid blind spots, and make decisions that align with where you actually want to go—not just where you are today.

Whether it's before you accept an offer or after you've started something new, having that conversation can bring clarity at a time when there's a lot of noise.

Big life changes deserve more than quick decisions.

They deserve a plan.

J'ai hâte de jouer au hockey avec des amis et de collecter des fonds pour une bonne cause vendredi ! Si vous souhaitez f...
03/25/2026

J'ai hâte de jouer au hockey avec des amis et de collecter des fonds pour une bonne cause vendredi ! Si vous souhaitez faire un don à l'association « Hockey Aide Les Sans-Abri », il n'est pas trop t**d !

Looking forward to playing hockey with friends and raising money for a great cause on Friday! If you are interested in donating towards Hockey Helps the Homeless, it's not too late! https://livesocial.seismic.com/arFNGF

Those who know me, know two things that I love are hockey and Disney. 10 years ago, I paricipated in my first hockey pr...
02/19/2026

Those who know me, know two things that I love are hockey and Disney. 10 years ago, I paricipated in my first hockey pro-am for charity and had a blast playing with former Montreal Canadien Hal Gill, while sporting incredible Toy Story themed jerseys.

This year, I will be participating in Hockey Helps the Homeless, to help find long-term solutions to end homelessness in our city. Looking forward to putting a team together with my friends, raising money for a good cause and finding out which pro we get the pleasure of playing with this year!

Side note: Hal Gill is responsible for the pass that led to the breakaway goal in this photo. When Skillzy tells you to cut to the middle at the opposite blue line, he WILL connect tape to tape with you!

https://livesocial.seismic.com/aqSfrb

⚠️ THIS IS NOT A HAPPY NEW YEAR POST ⚠️This is a "2026 To-Do" post. As the calendar flips to a new year, there are a few...
01/09/2026

⚠️ THIS IS NOT A HAPPY NEW YEAR POST ⚠️

This is a "2026 To-Do" post. As the calendar flips to a new year, there are a few things we can begin tackling on our financial checklist:

1️⃣ Registered Account Contributions

FHSA: for eligible first-time home buyers

TFSA: $7,000 is the 2026 annual limit

RRSP: the deadline is March 2, 2026, for the 2025 tax year

RESP: new year, new access to grants on eligible contributions

N.B.: Always confirm your available contribution room for registered accounts to avoid overcontributing.

2️⃣ Setting Goals & Objectives

Business targets? Renovations? Travel? Retirement? More time with family?

Work with your planner to establish clear goals and the steps you can take to meet them.

3️⃣ Review Your Situation

Is my portfolio properly diversified?

Do I have the proper insurance in place for all the "what if" scenarios?

As a business owner, am I taking advantage of the corporate strategies available to me, such as a PPP or corporately owned insurance?

These are just some of the things I am working on with my clients to start the new year. What are some items on your 2026 financial "to-do" list?

Sometimes we all like to believe we can "do it ourselves."Whether it's assembling IKEA furniture without the instruction...
12/10/2025

Sometimes we all like to believe we can "do it ourselves."

Whether it's assembling IKEA furniture without the instructions… tackling a home reno after watching two YouTube videos… or confidently saying, "I don't need a map, I know a shortcut."

Spoiler: those moments rarely turn out the way we pictured.

Financial planning is no different.

While DIY investing or planning can seem straightforward, the reality is that money touches every part of your life—taxes, retirement, insurance, estate planning, risk management, cash flow, and the emotions that come with all of it.

Working with a professional advisor doesn't just help you avoid costly mistakes—it helps you make the best possible decisions with the full picture in mind. A good planner can:

• Spot blind spots you didn't know you had
• Turn "I think I'm doing the right thing" into "I know exactly where I'm headed"
• Build strategies that hold up during both market highs and those "why is everything red?" days
• Coordinate your financial decisions so they work together, not against each other

Sure, you could manage it all yourself. But you could also trust that "shortcut" and end up adding 35 unexpected minutes and one very questionable dirt road to your trip.

If you want clarity, confidence, and a plan that actually supports the life you're building, working with a professional isn't a luxury—it's one of the best investments you can make.

And you'll never have to say, "I probably should've asked for help with that…"

Address

2020 Transcanada, Suite 200
Dorval, QC
H9P2N4

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15148325247

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Shawn Martel - CI Assante Wealth Management Ltd. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Shawn Martel - CI Assante Wealth Management Ltd.:

Shortcuts

Share

Category