This section is by PBY Capital

The List: Third-party pros who serve Canada’s enterprising families

These allies to family offices provide family coaching, cross-border help, business advice, philanthropic knowhow and recruiting services

A year ago, Canadian Family Offices published “The List,” a tally of nearly 80 multi-family offices in Canada. Now we follow that with another resource that’s designed to improve knowledge and awareness of the Canadian family office sphere: a list of third-party service providers.

Story continues below

Third-party businesses have become necessary allies to family offices and other wealth-management firms in meeting the complex needs of wealthy families. Below is our list of firms that offer this support and expertise in Canada. (We are not including investment advisory firms at this time as they will be afforded their own list at a future date.)

The following businesses provide family coaching and mediation, cross-border expertise, philanthropic knowhow, business management and recruiting help, among other services.

If you would like to be on a future version of this list, please email us at info@canadianfamilyoffices.com.

Consulting, counselling and coaching

A&O Partners, Vancouver and Toronto – This partnership of two Family Enterprise Advisors draws on a broad range of disciplines and practices to work with family enterprises and family offices worldwide on governance and generational transition. Information: linkedin.com/in/michelleosry and linkedin.com/in/shaunatrainor

Advanced Inclusion Inc., Toronto – Business consulting and executive coaching firm. Partners Wendy Smith and Craig Mckay have more than 60 years combined of financial-markets experience and offer business-focused advice and training on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and DEI-informed executive coaching. Information: advancedinclusion.com

Ambreen Bhaloo, of Ambreen Bhaloo Coaching
Ambreen Bhaloo of Ambreen Bhaloo Coaching

Ambreen Bhaloo Coaching, Toronto – Family Enterprise Advisor, facilitator and certified coach with lived family-business experience who works with enterprising families using a values-based approach, to build harmony and unity and develop the next-gen to be empowered and effective. Information: ambreenbhaloo.com

Blackwood Family Enterprise Services, Winnipeg – Advisory team for enterprise-owning families across North America. Expert guidance for the challenges of business growth, succession, life transitions, adaptation to wealth and philanthropy. Creating strategic alignment for families and their advisors. Information: blackwoodfes.com

Cindy Radu Advisory Ltd., Calgary – Family-wealth transition advisor who helps individuals, family enterprises and family offices navigate the complexities and opportunities of wealth, revealing how family and business structures impact family dynamics and wealth continuity. Information: cindyradu.com

Story continues below

Claire Sutton Consulting Inc., Vancouver – Consulting firm headed by a Family Enterprise Advisor who offers counselling, life coaching, divorce and marriage counselling, anger management and relationship advice. Information: clairesutton.com

Cole & Associates, Vancouver and Toronto – An independent, fee-for-service firm that provides family-office strategy and design for existing and newly forming family offices. Additional specialties include customized inheritor education and family communication and decision-making programs. Information: coleandassociates.ca

Craig Dowden leadership family business
Craig Dowden is a Toronto-based executive coach, keynote speaker and author.

Craig Dowden, TorontoWall Street Journal/USA Today bestselling author and award-winning keynote speaker offering leadership development and executive coaching services to family offices. Information: craigdowden.com

Crysalia, Montreal – Boutique consulting firm dedicated to helping enterprising families build their human capital as a means to grow and protect their relationships and financial capital for generations. Information: crysalia.ca

D3 Learning Solutions, Guelph, Ont. – FEA Daphne McGuffin provides personal and professional development services for family enterprises, family offices, entrepreneurial businesses, associations, not-for-profit organizations and their boards of directors. Information: d3learningsolutions.com

Family Office Exchange (FOX), Chicago – Empowering families across generations to manage enterprises and grow wealth. Offering industry benchmarking, education, peer connections and thought leadership. Founded in 1989, over 2,000 global families served. Information: familyoffice.com

The Family Stewardship Group, Calgary – Mission is to liberate and unify families in love and purpose. Employs coaching, training and facilitation services to resolve tough issues in wealth transition while building trust, alignment and health in relationships. Information: familystewardshipgroup.com

Gayla DeHart Family Enterprise Consulting and Facilitation, Vancouver – Consulting and facilitation services by a psychology PhD, business owner and executive coach in areas such as conflict resolution, family-business coaching, next-gen preparation, navigating relationships with non-family member executives, and governance. Information: gayladehart.com

Story continues below

Gerald Pulvermacher & Associates (GPA), international – A global boutique consultancy known for its work in leadership transitions at family businesses and family offices, coaching of the next generation, change management, leadership development and formation of governance structures. Information: gpulvermacherassociates.com

Korenblum Wealth Inc., Toronto – A boutique estate planning firm providing tax-efficient solutions and tailored financial planning for HNW/UHNW families and businesses. Specializing in estate/tax planning, business succession planning, philanthropic planning, etc. Information: korenblumwealth.ca

Leading the Way Consulting, Architecting Your Potential, Calgary – Results-oriented leadership development, executive coaching and facilitation services. Information: leadingthewaycoaching.com

LM2 Collective – Management consulting firm helps businesses identify and predict risk, refine strategies and focus on the right things at the right time. Also aids in leadership change, cross-generational dynamics, succession and continuity. Information: lm2collective.com/solutions

Photo of Monica Clare
Monica Clare is a consultant and coach from a business family.

Meyer Advisory Group, North Vancouver – Focused on developing family governance and constitutions, meeting facilitation, family employment and compensation and generational transition with next-generation development. Information: meyeradvisorygroup.com

Minni Sharma – Ontario-based registered psychotherapist offering compassionate individual and couples counselling to improve communication and strengthen relationships. Supports families navigating separation and divorce and drafting parenting plans. Information: guidingjourneys.ca

Monica Clare, Tillsonburg, Ont. – Consultant and coach from a business family who advises in such areas as business transitions, strategic support, change and conflict management. Information: monicaclare.ca

Next Chapter Lifestyle Advisors, Toronto – Non-financial retirement lifestyle planning and consulting for exiting business owners, professionals and executives. Education and resources for financial advisors. Keynote speeches and webinars for advisors and client-facing audiences. Information: nextchapterlifestyleadvisors.com

Story continues below

ORIA, Montreal – Sustainability of business families; guided process for intergenerational knowledge and skill development; establishment of family governance; support in managing complex family dynamics; professional development. Information: espaceoria.com

Rasul Learning Group Inc., Vancouver – Educational consulting services to families and students, including admissions coaching (college, law, medicine, dentistry, Masters/PhD), standardized test prep and tutoring at high school and university levels. Information: rasullearning.ca

Reichart Family Enterprise Advisors, Winnipeg – Chris Reichert, MBA, FEA, TEP, is a skilled family-meeting facilitator specializing in family governance and the complex “soft side” challenges that enterprising families often face. His approach is akin to “mortar”: not one of the stones but an impartial interface that helps keep structures strong. Information: reichertfea.com

Photo of Danielle Saputo
Danielle Saputo of River Tay Facilitation

The Residence at Homewood, Guelph, Ont. – Canada’s premier private treatment facility offering customized treatment for anxiety, OCD, depression, trauma and substance-use disorders, delivered by medical and clinical professionals. Information: theresidenceathomewood.com

River Tay Facilitation, Peterborough, Ont. – Family Enterprise Advisor, facilitator, educator and coach Danielle Saputo is your accountability partner to holding intentional conversations, helping families stay accountable to their continuity planning and aiming to create a safe space for families and advisors to  learn, grow and find common threads that make a family. Information: daniellesaputo.com

RM+C (Roly Morris + Company), Vancouver – Leadership development consultant offering executive coaching and mentoring, management consulting and family-enterprise advising. Information: rolymorris.com

Sangha Worldwide, Stoney Creek, Ont. – Offers expertise in business strategy, growth, scaling and succession. High-performance personal and team training, coaching and advising. Information: purdeepsangha.com

Story continues below

Smith Advisory Services Inc., Toronto – Services tailored to complement a family’s evolving needs,  such as direction (vision and strategy), decisions (governance, managerial systems and supporting structures), development (facilitation, collaboration and education) and/or dynamics (discreet family matters, complex problem-solving). Information: smith-advisory.com

Steve Legler, Independent Advisor to Families – Family wealth transition guidance, coaching, facilitation, mediation. Specializing in the human aspects of preserving a family’s wealth and relationships. Information: stevelegler.com

Trella Advisory Group, Toronto – A global team of experienced advisors who help multi-generational family enterprises grow and evolve. They simplify complexity, addressing challenges such as succession, leadership, conflicts, wealth transfer and governance. Information: trella.ca

Tutors International, worldwide – Specializes in private tutoring, working with family offices to support clients’ educational needs. Also assists during travel and relocation and with home schooling. Information: tutors-international.com

Francesco Lombardo wealth advisor family business
Francesco Lombardo of Veritage

Veritage, Toronto and international – Family coaching and advisory firm for wealth-owning families that builds the family’s capacity to thrive emotionally and financially. Humanizes succession and transition through development of relational safety, offering bespoke solutions and workshops designed to help families communicate with clarity and honesty. Information: Veritage.ca

Watson Board Advisors, Toronto and Vancouver – Helping founders and boards recruit the right CEOs and directors, support leadership and ownership transitions, establish effective governance frameworks, strengthen governance through education and positively shape the future of their organizations. Information: watsoninc.ca

Cross-border, asset location and global mobility

Canada Business Consulting (CBC), Toronto – Supporting international entrepreneurs and companies in expanding and establishing business operations in Canada, specializing in end-to-end business solutions. Information: canadabusinessconsulting.com

Story continues below

Cardinal Point Wealth Management, Toronto and Calgary – Independent cross-border wealth-management firm that focuses on providing personalized investment, estate, tax and cross-border financial planning solutions to affluent individuals and families. Information: cardinalpointwealth.com

Henley & Partners, Montreal – A global consultancy in residency-by-investment and residency-by-citizenship programs. Active in 60 countries worldwide. Information: henleyglobal.com

Jacob Law, Toronto and Munich – Law firm specializing in Canada-Germany cross-border legal matters, working closely with family offices in both countries. Information: jacoblaw.com

Lesperance & Associates, Montreal – Supporting family offices in designing and implementing international tax and residence strategies. Information: lesperanceassociates.com

Stonehage Fleming, Toronto – Advisor to leading families and wealth creators worldwide, providing Canadians and their domestic advisors with high-impact strategic family-office advice, operational support and execution for their cross-border activities. Information: stonehagefleming.com/people/ralph-awrey

Business and financial services (non-investing)

2hemispheres Consulting Inc., Toronto – This “outsourced family-office CFO” helps entrepreneurs transition from the focus on building their business to legacy planning, transitions and wealth preservation. Information: linkedin.com/in/jenniferrhee/

B. Riley Farber, Toronto – Retained executive search firm offering single- and multi-family office talent acquisition, coupled with bespoke leadership coaching and development services. Information: brileyfarber.com

Chamberlain Family Office Advisors – In addition to private company buying/selling advisory, assists in family office formation, financial and legal advice, creation of and service on boards of directors, tax and estate planning. Information: thechamberlainadvisors.com

Cindy David Financial Group Ltd., Vancouver – Boutique estate planning firm offering tax-effective solutions and customized financial planning services for affluent families and businesses. Specializing in business succession and continuation by helping owners transfer their interests in a tax-efficient manner. Information: cindydavid.ca

Story continues below

Jamie Herman of Fruitman Kates LLP, Toronto – Tax accountant helps families recruit and train finance staff for their new or existing family office. Also sets up internal organizational structure, processes and procedures. Information: fkllp.ca

Jennings Valuations – Nova Scotia-based Dan Jennings advises business owners in the small and medium-size private-company space on financial matters, specifically business valuation, M&A (buy- or sell-side) and financial diligence on acquisitions. Information: jenningsvaluations.ca

WDS Capital & Associates Inc., Sidney, B.C. – Works with founders and family offices to meet challenges, among them tax planning, succession planning including training of the next-gen, strategic business management, cash-flow forecasting, networking connections. Information: wdscapitalinc.com

MPA Morrison Park Advisors Inc., Toronto – With 30 years in investment banking, Stephen MacCulloch advises companies on M&A and capital raising. Offers experience and understanding of the dynamics of investment managers and family offices on succession planning that includes bringing in new capital or shareholders. Information: morrisonpark.com

Norton McMullen Corporate Finance Inc., Toronto – Specialized M&A firm helping high-net-worth families purchase private businesses in Ontario. They provide buy-side advice to help family offices pursue direct private-equity investing. With 100-plus transactions in the last 15 years, they support a business acquisition from end to end. Information: nmcf.ca

Objective Financial Partners – With over 30 years of experience, Nancy Grouni, CFP, PFP, provides incorporated business owners with holistic, ongoing financial planning services. Includes planning to help ensure a tax-efficient business sale, as well as post-sale tax, estate and financial planning services. Information: objectivefinancialpartners.com

Spring Planning, Vancouver – Building on a family’s values, they collaborate with clients and their professional advisors to create a plan and provide ongoing guidance, ensuring family members can live their best lives. Information: springplans.ca

Story continues below

Warren Business Development Center Inc. (Warren BDC), Toronto – Specialists in assisting business owners with faster, more efficient sale of their small- to medium-sized businesses. Sellers typically enjoy annual sales from $2 million to $25 million. Offers coaching to aid owners with increasing company value pre-sale. Information: warrenbdc.com and ericgilboord.com

Philanthropy

Charitable Impact, Vancouver – Canada’s leading donor-advised fund, created in 2011 to simplify giving to registered Canadian charities. Supporting financial professionals by integrating charitable donations and asset-management solutions into their service offerings, it has facilitated over $1.4 billion in donations. Information: charitableimpact.com

Karma & Cents Inc., Calgary – Philanthropic advisory firm and social impact lab helping individuals and families achieve their philanthropic goals. Appreciating the intricacies of family dynamics and understanding how family, business and enterprise intersect, offers insight on managing social capital and planning legacy. Information: karmaandcents.com

PearTree Canada – Assists philanthropic high-net-worth individuals and families to give more efficiently and strategically combining two Canadian tax credits – Flow-Through Shares and the Charitable Donation Tax Credit. Reduces the after-tax cost of giving while funding mining-exploration jobs. Information: peartreecanada.com/

philanthropy charity giving back wealth
Sharilyn Hale of Watermark Philanthropic Counsel

Watermark Philanthropic Counsel, Toronto – Watermark helps those who want to give well, engage their families and channel their wealth and influence for good. With expertise in philanthropy strategy, project management and corporate and family governance, they are trusted by new philanthropists as well as those with a charitable legacy. Information: watermarkpc.com

ER Associates, Toronto – Certified capital-raising specialists serving the faith-based, not-for-profit world for 40 years with fund development as well as communications, marketing, strategic planning, estate planning and emphasis on healthy teams via conciliation, conflict management, family coaching or as a philanthropy consultant. Information: erassociates.org

Story continues below

Law and mediation

Boutet Family Law & Mediation, Toronto – Legal firm of a family-law lawyer, accredited mediator and Family Enterprise Advisor specializing in collaborative divorce law, out-of-court negotiation and family mediation for separating and divorcing couples. Information: boutetfamilylaw.com

Clark Wilson LLP, Vancouver – Working with your key family members and advisors, they deliver trusted legal expertise across 34 areas of business law and private client services. They protect and grow your family legacy through one discreet, convenient single point of contact. Information:  cwilson.com/practice/family-office-legal-services

New Solution Mediation, North Vancouver – Darrin Hotte is certified as a Family Enterprise Advisor and Family Mediator (FMC) who also specializes in de-escalation. He is pleased to facilitate, coach and train families and teams who are working through complex, critical decisions. newsolutionmediation.com

Recruitment and HR

AP Executive, Toronto – A global search agency specializing in family-office recruitment. With a strong global presence and recruitment experience spanning more than 30 years, they pride themselves on providing discreet, tailored staffing solutions. Information: ap-executive.com

Photo of Andrew Mushore
Andrew Mushore of B. Riley Farber

B. Riley Farber, Toronto – Retained executive search firm offering single- and multi-family office talent acquisition. Information: brileyfarber.com

Gilmore Partners, Toronto – Since 1985, Gilmore Partners has been handling retained executive searches for single-family offices and their portfolio companies across North America. Information: gilmorepartners.com

Massey Henry, Toronto – North American executive-search firm focused on the financial services sector. Experienced team of industry leaders and recruitment specialists offers talent assessment, coaching, succession planning and executive-search services. Information: masseyhenry.com

McDermott + Bull, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto – Global executive search firm with expertise in aligning family offices, private equity firms and portfolio companies with exceptional leaders across North America and Western Europe. Information: mbexec.com

Story continues below

Persuit Group Inc., Toronto – North America-based executive search firm specializing in talent-advisory services and executive recruitment for North American family offices. Information: persuitgroup.com

Skye Blue Inc. – North American-based boutique financial services firm specializing in executive recruitment for Canadian family offices. Information: skyeblueinc.com

StevenDouglas, Toronto – Boutique search and interim-resources firm serving clients from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, including family offices. Information: stevendouglas.com

Thorek/Scott and Partners, Toronto – Boutique executive-search firm that partners with investment management, real estate and financial-services firms, including family offices. Information: thorekscott.com

Tipping Point Global Executive Search, Hamilton – Middle-market, private-equity and family-office executive search firm sourcing candidates globally for clients across Canada, the U.S., the UK and Europe. Information: tp-hr.com

Compiled by Sarah B. Hood for Canadian Family Offices.

If you’d like to see your firm on this list, send its name, a short description (30 words max), your business’s geographic location in Canada and website to info@canadianfamilyoffices.com.  

Inclusion on this list does not imply any kind of endorsement from Canadian Family Offices.

The Canadian Family Offices newsletter comes out on Sundays and Wednesdays. If you are interested in stories about Canadian enterprising families, family offices and the professionals who work with them, but like your content aggregated, you can sign up for our free newsletter here.

Please visit here to see information about our standards of journalistic excellence.