Our Expertise
Getting Started
Articles
Welcome to Smarter Financial Planning
Meet Derek Moran
Derek is a Fee For Service Financial Planner based in beautiful Kelowna, British Columbia. As a University of British Columbia graduate, former CFP, and
Registered Financial Planner (R.F.P.) , he has close to three decades of experience in the financial industry.
He’s an expert in his field and was awarded Advisor of the Year in 2004. He has contributed nearly one thousand times, over twenty years to reputable publications such as The Globe and Mail and National Post.
While Derek doesn’t directly manage client investments, he offers advice, empowering his clients to make well-informed decisions. Upon request, he can connect clients with the most suitable Portfolio Managers or equip them with resources to manage their own effectively.
Derek Moran's expertise extends across various financial matters, including pensions, insurance, retirement planning, tax strategies, estate planning, cashflow management and more. Derek is dedicated to delivering comprehensive, client-centric financial solutions to a diverse clientele. It was so nice seeing you today, and I really appreciate your help and advice, as always. I wasn't quite sure what to do with the proceeds from my house sale, and am a lot more confident now. I am always so glad to talk to you. I'm glad you don't think I'm nuts to keep a fair bit of ready cash in my bank account, but I will move it to a savings account. I trust you implicitly and am so grateful that you are there for me to lean on. You are my rock. Besides, I really enjoy your company.
Implicit Trust
It was really wonderful working with you and appreciate the time given in going through our financials and coming up with good suggestions and ideas for our future retirement. You have given us food for thought and will definitely give you a call if we need to discuss our financial concerns in the future. If any of our family or friends are in need of financial advice I am only be too happy to pass your information on to them.
Food For Thought
My first foray into working with a professional financial planner was a disaster. He leveraged most of my net worth to buy into projects he had designed...which turned out to make more money for him than any of his clients. The fiasco that ensued almost ended in a group law suit. I lost a bundle. When I finally got the courage up (and enough capital back) to search again for help, you can bet I looked long, hard, and very carefully. I called everyone I knew and even people I didn't know, looking for someone who was squeaky clean ethical and trustworthy, user friendly, and with the creativity and chutzpah to work with a woman with big dreams who is single, self-employed, and still a little bruised. Derek Moran has all of that. He knows I am proactive and need to control my finances, and so he wisely chose to take on more of a coaching role in our working relationship. He frames my options within the bigger picture of the economy. He asks me really smart questions, and ensures that before I take the next step, I know for certain it is safe. Derek doesn't use all the technical jargon that many professionals get stuck in - you know, the stuff that can really intimidate you. Goodness knows, there can be enough "internal noise" around your money stuff without having the added problems of someone who talks over your head or talks down at you. He makes things easy to understand. He respects that his clients are different than him and that our definition of financial security and success is different, and he works with it...without judgement. Derek was one of my finds in 2005.
Definitions of Success Vary
Many thanks for the patient and respectful manner with which you are coaching us. I know you were repeating many of the points you had already made, but the repetition is helpful. We are dealing with some short term memory issues which can make the decision making a bit cumbersome. Yes, we have been through the mill with this insurance decision. Thank you for helping to guide us away from the annuity and for your thorough investigation of the alternatives. It feels much more comforting to commit to a decision knowing we have had your input.
Patience, Respect, and Memory
I just wanted to let you know that we took your advice and bought and moved to a new house in the same neighborhood (instead of doing the big renovation on the old house). It has now been 1 year and it is very clear to me that, doing the math, moving was by far the cheaper (not mention less stressful) choice. I estimate the reno approach would have at least two times more expensive. Thanks again.
Great advice