About
Wagner, Livock & Associates Financial Services Inc. (WLA) is a firm providing financial services to Canadians. We have served our clients across multiple generations. Many of the relationships we hold today began with the parents and grandparents of the clients we work with now, a fact we take seriously, because it is only earned by decades of doing right by people. Our work is guided by four values. They shape how we make decisions, how we support one another, and how we show up for clients.
As an Associate Advisor, you play a pivotal role as a trusted financial expert dedicated to helping clients reach their goals through personalized planning and investment strategy. The work means understanding each client's situation in detail, developing tailored solutions, and guiding them through the complexity of managing their wealth. With a focus on long-term relationships and consistent service, this role is central to helping clients feel confident and secure about their financial future. Advisors are pivotal to the success of the firm. They directly drive client satisfaction, retention, and growth, and through expert advice, disciplined portfolio management, and lasting client relationships, they carry the firm's reputation as a trusted provider of financial services.
Service
Our commitment to exceptional client service shapes every interaction and helps us build lasting relationships.
Growth
We grow by expanding our knowledge, business, strengthening relationships, and delivering consistent value.
Compliance
We maintain the highest ethical standards and adhere to all regulations, ensuring trust and transparency.
Sustainability
We prioritize long-term solutions that balance financial wellness and social responsibility.
The Role
The Associate Advisor owns the advice relationship from the first discovery conversation, through implementation, and across every review that follows.
You work directly with clients, alongside our principal and senior advisors, and you are trusted with files that represent meaningful life decisions: retirement income, risk and estate planning, education savings, and the investment strategy that ties them together. The position reports to the management team and works closely with the firm's licensed advisors and support staff.
The Work
The advisor's week is structured around the client planning relationship. Most client engagements move through five stages, and you own the advice at each one. The day-to-day is a blend of scheduled client work, portfolio oversight, and business development.
1) Discovery and Client Engagement
- Meet with clients to gather detailed information on their financial position, goals, risk tolerance, and priorities, covering income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and existing portfolios.
- Identify and engage prospective clients through networking, referrals, and targeted outreach.
- Work with clients to define clear objectives, whether that is saving for retirement, funding education, buying a home, or planning a legacy.
2) Analysis and Plan Development
- Build detailed, customized financial plans covering budgeting, saving, investing, insurance, and tax strategy.
- Develop investment strategies matched to each client's goals and risk tolerance, with appropriate diversification to manage risk while pursuing target returns.
- Evaluate insurance needs as part of the wider plan, accounting for income replacement, debt coverage, and long-term care.
- Assess retirement income needs and recommend savings targets and funding strategies to meet them.
3) Presentation and Implementation
- Present recommendations in plain language, so clients understand both the strategy and the reasoning behind it.
- Implement approved plans by opening the necessary accounts, placing recommended products, and coordinating with accountants, lawyers, and estate professionals where needed.
- Support estate planning work, including wills and trusts, in coordination with the client's legal advisors.
4) Ongoing Management and Review
- Monitor portfolios and adjust them in response to market conditions or changes in a client's circumstances.
- Provide regular performance updates and recommend rebalancing or strategy shifts when warranted.
- Review existing insurance coverage on a set schedule and recommend adjustments as client needs change.
- Check in with clients regularly to track progress against their goals.
5) Education and Growth
- Deliver workshops and seminars on retirement, investing, insurance, and related topics to raise client financial literacy.
- Stay current on regulation, market conditions, and new products and strategies.
- Contribute to the firm's growth by deepening existing relationships and earning new ones.
What We Are Looking For
- A Life and Accident & Sickness Insurance license, obtained and in good standing, regulated by FSRA (Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario).
- A mutual fund or securities license (Investment Funds in Canada or the Canadian Securities Course), obtained and in good standing, regulated by CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization).
- A post-secondary degree, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
- Relevant client-facing experience in financial services, or equivalent experience in a role that demanded accuracy, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
- A strong ability to analyze financial data, interpret market trends, and build comprehensive plans.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex financial concepts in terms clients can act on.
- A strong working command of Microsoft Excel and comfort with planning and analysis tools.
- A genuine commitment to serving clients' best interests, with high ethical standards and a firm respect for confidentiality and trust.
Preferred But Not Required
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation.
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP) designation, obtained or in progress.
- Proficiency with CRM software such as Salesforce.
- Familiarity with CIRO-regulated dealer operations or managing general agency (MGA) workflows.
- Hands-on experience with income modelling, retirement planning software, or portfolio analysis tools.
Compensation and Schedule
The compensation for this position is a competitive base salary between $40,000 and $60,000 CAD per year, plus commission.
The base varies with job-related criteria, including relevant skills, experience, licensing, and professional accreditation. Increases are tied to performance, to continuing education, and to progression through licensing and designations. We are hiring for the long term, and we will pay appropriately for the capability that develops over time.
The regular schedule is 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern. The position is based out of our Kitchener office.
Benefits
We offer a comprehensive employer-paid benefits plan that includes extended health, dental, vision, and paramedical coverage, alongside life and disability insurance.
We also offer a competitive Group Savings Plan, Employer sponsored Deferred Profit Sharing Plan and paid time off.
How We Hire
The process moves through the following stages. At each stage we will communicate the outcome within five business days, whether we are asking you to continue.
- Resume review: Initial screening of applications against the criteria above.
- Formal application: Shortlisted candidates are invited to complete our application form.
- Virtual conversation: A 30-minute introductory conversation with a hiring manager.
- Aptitude assessment: A 30-minute proctored assessment covering the core skills of the role.
- Second interview: A deeper conversation, in-person with our CEO & CFO.
- Final conversation: An in-person visit to our Kitchener office and introductions to the team.
References and offer
Reference and background checks, followed by a written offer.
How To Apply
Please submit your application of resume and a brief cover letter on our Indeed page. In the cover letter, please tell us what drew you to the role and what you believe you would bring to it.
Pay: $40,000.00-$60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
- Wellness program
Application question(s):
- Are you located (residing) in the KW Region?
- Do you have previous work experience with Sun Life or another carrier in Canada?
- Do you have previous work experience with an Advisor or Advisor Group in Canada?
- Do you have an active or expired Canadian Securities Certificate (CSC) or Mutual Funds License?
- Do you have an active or expired Life, AD&D, Sickness License?
Work Location: In person
