Talk With Chris

Joe Wiggins recently shared a timely piece, “One Risk After Another,” (linked below) that speaks directly to what many investors may be feeling right now.

Given the current geopolitical backdrop, the core message is simple—and especially timely for client conversations right now:

•Markets are always climbing a “wall of worry” – risks rarely disappear; they simply rotate (inflation → rates → geopolitics → growth), and markets continue to function through that cycle.

•Headline risk ≠ portfolio risk – geopolitical events (like current Middle East tensions) tend to dominate news flow but are often short-lived in terms of long-term market impact.

•Investor behavior is the real risk – reacting to each new risk (selling, de-risking, or timing markets) is far more damaging than the risks themselves. This is a consistent behavioral pattern.

•Uncertainty is permanent, not episodic – successful investing isn’t about waiting for clarity; it’s about staying invested despite a constantly evolving risk environment.

•Portfolio construction matters more than prediction – diversification and discipline are the only reliable tools to navigate overlapping risks and shifting market narratives.

There is always “one more risk.” As a Wealth Advisor and Portfolio Manager, my job isn’t to eliminate risk, but to build portfolios that can withstand it—while helping clients stay disciplined and avoid reacting to noise.

One Risk After Another At any given point in time, there is one major investment risk that becomes the focus of everyone’s attention. Sometimes this will be a new and significant event (such as the war in Iran); other ti…

One of the questions I’m often asked is how a trust could benefit a family like yours.

It’s a great question—and the answer really does vary depending on each family’s specific situation. It’s not a matter of whether a trust can be set up, but whether it will have a meaningful, positive impact for you and your family. Trusts come up regularly in planning conversations, but they’re rarely well understood.

The latest edition of The Wealth Blueprint breaks this down and provides a great overview. Give it a read!

Understanding Trusts Understanding Trusts rusts are among the most flexible and strategically powerful tools available in Canadian wealth planning, and they are increasingly being used by business owners, professionals, and families who want to control how their wealth is managed, distributed, and protected. At its core...

Geographic diversification is not about owning more investments. It is about owning different economic drivers.

As many portfolios have become increasingly concentrated in U.S. equities and technology, international exposure plays an important role in reducing concentration risk and expanding opportunity.

Explore why global diversification remains a core component of resilient long-term portfolios in our latest insight.

Allocation Advantage - Second Edition - March 2026 box.com

I've been a bit quite on the socials through this volatility we find ourselves in. My time has been focused on my clients, the core of what matters to me.

I thought it would be timely to share this graphic which shows the history of markets and gives us a reminder to not lose sight of the big picture. Even with significant drawdowns, the market has ended in positive territory roughly 3 out of every 4 years.

This chart is a powerful reminder that staying invested through the ups and downs has consistently rewarded long-term investors. If uncertainty has you questioning your strategy, keep the long view in mind. Investment decisions should be made based on your financial plan, not emotion.

#wealthplanning #financialplanning #investments #stockmarket… | Chris Ward, CIM I've been a bit quite on the socials through this volatility we find ourselves in. My time has been focused on my clients, the core of what matters to me. I thought it would be timely to share this graphic which shows the history of markets and gives us a reminder to not lose sight of the big pi...

Will The January Effect Take Hold for 2025?

Some market stats for your Wednesday.

A positive market return in January bodes well for 2025 guidance. When returns are positive in January, Mr. Market is positive for the remaining 11 months 84% of the time with an average gain of 12%. What’s even more interesting? If you strip out the years where January was positive following a 20%+ year return, the remaining 11 months of the year were positive 100% of the time with an average return of 15%.

Now, we do have lots of headline risk with Trump this year, but strong statistics on our side can help us see through the noise.

Will The January Effect Take Hold for 2025? Some market stats for your… | Chris Ward, CIM Will The January Effect Take Hold for 2025? Some market stats for your Monday morning. A positive market return in January bodes well for 2025 guidance. When returns are positive in January, Mr. Market is positive for the remaining 11 months 84% of the time with an average gain of 12%. What’s even...

I wanted to share this as it provides a good summary on probate considerations and the sharing of assets with your children. It starts with a transparent conversation and from there, should include consulting with your wealth advisor and lawyer to ensure everything is structured properly!

Want to avoid probate fees by sharing ownership with your kids? Proceed carefully, experts say People often assume probate fees will eat significantly into their estate, but in reality they work out to 1.4 or 1.5 per cent of the total estate