Welcome.

The key purpose of this website is to provide a customized financial resource to my clients. In addition, it is intended to allow those who are seeking a new financial advisor to understand the nature, scope, and style of the services that I provide.

To meet this first objective, I expect to periodically add articles on planning and investment topics to the "Articles and Newsletters" link at the left. Other sections of this website that provide biographical information, a statement of my main areas of practise, descriptions of services available through Assante Financial Management, and links on topics of general financial interest, are intended to provide a basic description of the nature, scope, and style of my services.

Your feedback on the contents and usefulness of this website would be most welcome.

Having graduated from the University of Toronto's engineering science program and having received my MBA from the University of Western Ontario in 1973, I began my financial career as securities analyst with a major Canadian investment dealer in Toronto. I have been a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) since 1979, when I moved to Vancouver, and am also a Registered Financial Planner (R.F.P.) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).

Since 1992 I have conducted my planning practice as a member of Vancouver Financial Planning Consultants Inc. (www.vfpc.org). During this time, I have been actively involved on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Financial Planners (CAFP) and its successor, Advocis, serving as a member of the Executive Committee for both organizations for a number of years prior to 2005.

I have also acted as an expert witness and at various times have testified before the Ontario Securities Commission and in the Supreme Court of British Columbia as a financial expert.

My personal interests range from swimming, hiking, and skiing to photography and playing the violin.

If you wish to find out if my experience can help you achieve your financial goals please contact me at 604-685-1938 or send an email to jcripps@assante.com.

My goal is to help Canadian families and individuals develop and maintain financial independence from one generation to the next.

Accomplishing this task requires the execution of five main tasks: earning money; protecting oneself and one's family from the financial consequences of a loss of earning power; spending less than you earn in order to accumulate capital; investing accumulated capital in a prudent, competitive manner; and organizing one's tax affairs, both during one's lifetime and in one's estate, to optimize after-tax wealth.

I can help you deal with the latter four of these tasks.

I strive to serve two main groups of people. The first is families, in or near retirement, who want assistance in managing their financial affairs to ensure that they strike the right balance between current spending, long-term financial security, and tax-effective estate planning.

The second group is younger professionals, sometimes children of the first group, who are seeking guidance in developing and implementing comprehensive financial and investment strategies that will make them financially independent.

Founded in 1995, Assante Wealth Management is a leading provider of integrated wealth management solutions, designed to meet the needs and goals of individuals, families and businesses across Canada.

Our advisors and their clients are at the centre of our business and are supported by the exceptional investment management team and wealth planning group available through our sister-company, CI Investment Inc. and United Financial, a division of CI Private Counsel LP.

Be well-advised is our promise to you.